Mid-February in Green Bay usually involves two things: sub-zero temperatures and Brian Gutekunst meticulously weighing the value of homegrown talent.
As the 2026 franchise tag window opens, the spotlight in Titletown has shifted away from Jordan Love’s record-breaking extension and toward the man protecting his blindside in Rasheed Walker.
The Left Tackle Conundrum
Walker has been one of the NFL’s most surprising success stories. A former seventh-round pick who was thrust into the starting lineup following David Bakhtiari’s departure, Walker has started nearly every game over the past two seasons. In 2025, he ranked 15th among all tackles in pass-block win rate and allowed just five sacks in 588 pass pro snaps.
However, "competent" is about to get expensive, and for a player who was a seventh-round find, paying top-of-the-market money for a single season is a massive departure from the ways in which the Packers have done business in years past.
The Case for the Tag
The argument for tagging Walker is centered on the safety of Jordan Love. With the Packers firmly in their Super Bowl window, the last thing Gutekunst wants is a question mark at left tackle.
While the team drafted Jordan Morgan on night one in 2024 to be the eventual successor, Morgan has largely served as a versatile sixth man. If the Packers aren't convinced Morgan is ready for the full-time move to the left side, the tag on Walker acts as the world’s most expensive insurance policy for their $220M quarterback.
The "Tag and Trade" (or Walk) Reality
The more likely move would be a Tag and Trade. The 2026 pure tackle market is thin, both in free agency and the upcoming draft. There's flex pieces, but finding pure tackles is a difficult search and a team desperate for a 26-year-old starter might be willing to part with a late Day 2 pick to secure Walker’s services.
Conversely, the Packers have a long history of letting middle-tier starters walk to recoup compensatory picks. If Walker hits the open market and signs a deal worth $19M+ per year, Green Bay would almost certainly net a 2027 third-round compensatory selection -- a hallmark of Gutekunst’s roster building.
The Packers rarely use the tag; they haven't applied it to a non-kicker since Davante Adams in 2022. And while Walker has been a pillar of stability, the hefty tag is likely too rich for a front office that prides itself on finding value in the draft.