The Green Bay Packers' front office is going to be busy once the 2025 season comes to an end. A young roster like Green Bay's is always full of players ready for their first big contract.
It's no different this year, as Green Bay has three of ESPN's top 25 upcoming free agents. Anytime that's the case, it's tough to pay everyone their due. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler doesn't think the Packers will be able to hold on to everyone.
General manager Brian Gutekunst will have to work some magic at the bargaining table to prove Fowler wrong. That might be easier said than done when it comes to his left tackle, though.
Packers' offensive line depth will be tested if Rasheed Walker departs
Starting left tackle Rasheed Walker, a 2022 seventh-round pick, was ESPN's second-ranked free agent offensive tackle in the upcoming free agent class. At just 26 years old, though, he was the youngest offensive lineman mentioned.
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Young left tackles who can play at even an average pace still draw huge money on the free agent market. Fowler pointed out one of the more glaring recent examples with Dan Moore Jr. signing with the Tennessee Titans last offseason with a four-year, $82 million deal. Moore was 26 last offseason, and while he was coming off his best season in Pittsburgh, few would call it above average, least of all Steelers fans.
"One NFC executive says Walker is better than Moore and will get 'paid paid' as a result," Fowler wrote. "He's a consistent three-year starter on a good team, and the Packers have found him to be a hard worker."
Walker didn't buy himself a lot of favor with Packers fans when he started talking about an undefeated season two weeks into the season. With the offensive line sharing much of the blame for the Packers' inconsistencies on that side of the ball, Walker has a bit of a spotlight on him.
According to PFF, Walker has allowed the most sacks, three, and pressures, 22, on Green Bay's offensive line. Those numbers might push Walker out of Green Bay, but they likely won't keep him from signing a big contract on the open market like Moore did last year.
Hopefully, the Packers are as prepared as they seem to be for Walker's possible, if not eventual, departure. Last year's first-round pick, Jordan Morgan, and this year's second-round pick, Anthony Belton, should be in line to battle for the spot if Walker does head to the free agent market to find his big payday.