Veteran left tackle Rasheed Walker departing the Green Bay Packers this offseason so he can start elsewhere was always the likely outcome. The club seems set on giving 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan a shot to step in, though they expected to be rewarded for this move.
Boy, did Walker and the Packers misjudge his free agency. They anticipated a massive payday would break them up and leave a 2027 compensatory pick in the third-round range behind. Alas, things didn't go as planned, which understandably has both sides feeling like they got the short end of the stick, especially Green Bay.
After being projected to secure $20-plus million annually, Walker settled for a "prove-it" deal with the Carolina Panthers. Their agreement was a bad sign for the Packers from the outset. However, new details of the partnership put Green Bay in a brutal spot.
Rasheed Walker contract revelation is worst-case scenario for the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay went from thinking they'd fetch a mid-round asset to likely getting nothing for Walker. Talk about a disappointing turn of events. For what it's worth, the good news is that the Packers should hit the four comp pick maximum either way.
Nevertheless, it was initially reported that Walker and the Panthers settled on a one-year contract "worth up to" $10 million. That already had Green Bay in jeopardy of missing out on a premium comp selection they once looked forward to collecting. But a more comprehensive breakdown of his pact with Carolina (h/t KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson) suggests the Packers may not get anything in return.
Walker has a 2026 base salary of $4 million, with most of his money being tied to incentives. His agents ostensibly tried to dress up the numbers and make their client's price tag look better than it truly is. And frankly, the Packers probably wish they hadn't seen the actual terms.
The fallout of Walker landing in Carolina for a bargain is a massive loss for the Packers in isolation. His exit was supposed to give Green Bay relief; recouping value for him was a supplement to pivoting to Morgan.