The Green Bay Packers came into training camp with two starting offensive linemen in need of some added financial security in left tackle Rasheed Walker and right tackle Zach Tom. However, finances and draft history likely dictated that only one of them could be compensated.
Tom has become one of the finest right tackles in the league, even earning elite status in the eyes of many. The Packers needed to make sure he was taken care of, even if that deal came at the cost of some of their more experienced veterans.
Tom agreed to a four-year, $88 million contract extension with the Packers that keeps him in town as one of Love's top protectors for the immediate future. Having used Top 60 picks in consecutive years on offensive linemen in Jordan Morgan and Anthony Belton, Walker likely sees the writing on the wall.
The Packers are already preparing for a world in which Walker isn't around for the long haul. Rather than holding on to him and watching his value decrease, why not rip off the Band-Aid and kick off the youth movement with Belton as the left tackle?
Packers should consider Rasheed Walker trade after Zach Tom extension
Walker has already emerged as someone who is much better than the prospect Green Bay used a seventh-round pick to select as a dart throw. The former Penn State has emerged as a very consistent starter who can hold his own in the eyes of Pro Football Focus.
With the new CBA restricting practice time, it's even tougher to find quality offensive linemen. The Packers could end up getting an asset back for Walker, as teams who are desperate for offensive line help and have money to spend might jump at the chance to bring him into the fold.
The Packers, meanwhile, can throw Belton right into the starting lineup and let his natural power as a pass protector keep Love upright in the pocket. This will help them avoid a Jason Spriggs situation, wherein the second-round pick wastes away on the bench and never gets the chance to develop.
Green Bay is telegraphing their intentions with the Tom extension. They were presented with a choice to feasibly keep one of these two players on a long-term deal, and they chose Tom over Walker. The Packers might do well to expedite Walker's departure and move on with a younger, new-look offensive line.