It's not the massive multi-year deal everyone expected when free agency began, but former Green Bay Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker has found his new team.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Walker is signing a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers. It's reportedly a $10 million agreement, which falls well short of initial expectations and will likely result in the Packers netting a much lower compensatory draft pick than the third-rounder many projected.
Despite there being rumored interest from the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns, Walker follows in Yosh Nijman's footsteps by swapping Green Bay for Carolina. He should get a chance to start immediately at left tackle, giving him an opportunity to put in a strong season and land a multi-year contract next year. For the Packers, it confirms the start of the Jordan Morgan era.
Rasheed Walker's departure puts Jordan Morgan in pole position to start for Packers
The Packers arguably stretched Morgan too thin during his first two seasons in the league. He played exclusively at left tackle in college, but many wondered whether he'd need to shift inside at the NFL level due to his arm length.
Green Bay seemingly agreed, giving him an opportunity at right guard this past season. The move backfired, as the 2024 first-round pick lacked consistency and looked uncomfortable in an unfamiliar position.
RELATED: Why it took longer than expected for Rasheed Walker to land a deal in free agency
Late in the year, Morgan took advantage of an opportunity to cover for the injured Zach Tom at right tackle, and he showed encouraging signs.
Enough, it would seem, for the Packers to let Walker hit free agency.
Walker made 48 starts as David Bakhtiari's replacement, performing admirably and exceeding expectations as a seventh-round pick.
The Packers will need to add tackle depth. For now, it's Morgan, Tom (who is recovering from a significant knee injury), and Darian Kinnard, whom the Packers re-signed this week. Beyond that, they lack depth.
There's also no guarantee that Morgan will make a seamless transition into the left tackle role, so providing some competition makes sense.
But it's fair to assume it's now Morgan's job to lose. He has shown flashes of first-round potential over the past two seasons, but he hasn't had a consistent opportunity at any position.
That should change now. The Morgan Era is underway, and it's a sink-or-swim moment. Morgan gets an opportunity at his natural left tackle position, and it's up to him to make the job his for good.