Linebacker Quay Walker is among the Green Bay Packers' anticipated losses in free agency, where he will command a yearly salary easily north of $10 million. His departure is all but confirmed after the Packers landed a trade for Zaire Franklin. Alongside the incoming Franklin, Edgerrin Cooper is a star, and Isaiah McDuffie slots in as a capable starter.
That doesn't mean other teams won't pursue Walker avidly in the open market. For Packers fans, the Miami Dolphins make almost too much sense as a Walker destination. Former Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is installed as head coach, and Jon-Eric Sullivan, a former Packers executive, is Miami's general manager.
On an episode of the Chris Simms' Unbuttoned podcast, the ex-NFL quarterback also linked Walker to his old coordinator down south, labeling the fit in his "perfect couples" segment on free agency. It's an unsurprising fit given Walker's ties to the new regime, and Simms also believes the match would mesh well from a scheme standpoint, given the rest of Hafley's new defense.
Simms sees Yin and Yang opportunity with Walker and Brooks on Dolphins defense
Simms made his case for why Walker and the Dolphins are a perfect match in free agency.
"It's a GM and a coach that are from Green Bay. I do believe Jeff Hafley liked Quay Walker and what he could do there," Simms said. "I know they got Jordyn Brooks, but them together is freaky in the middle. Brooks is unbelievable in the run game and not so good in the pass game, and Quay Walker is probably the opposite. So, it's a little balance there. That's one that made sense to me."
Specifically, Walker is excellent in the pass rush (not so much in coverage), recording 2.5 sacks in each of the past three seasons. According to Pro Football Focus, his 12 pressures put him just outside the top third at his position.
To Simms' point, Brooks would help offset Walker's well-documented struggles against the run. In Green Bay last season, he posted a PFF grade near the bottom 15 percent. Brooks, meanwhile, ranked third in the NFL.
Walker could also diversify Miami's linebacker corps with his experience as a middle linebacker. That's more up Hafley's alley based on his defensive schemes in Green Bay, versus the Dolphins' dominant looks last season featuring a combination of inside and outside LBs.
One thing Walker will bring, wherever he ends up, is sheer production. The former 22nd overall draft pick has amassed 100 tackles every season, including a career-best 128 last year in 14 games. Pro Football Reference credits him with 24 tackles for loss since 2023.
A serviceable starter in any case, he flashed promise with the Packers despite an at times frustrating final season. Just being solid might be enough in Miami. Pairing Walker with an All-Pro first-teamer in Brooks could help reconfigure a defense that ranked 27th in EPA per play last season, tiding the Dolphins through what looks to be a retooling period in 2026.