The Green Bay Packers are currently staring at a spreadsheet that could define the next five years of the franchise.
As the focus turns towards April's NFL Draft, GM Brian Gutekunst faces a singular, franchise-altering question: What is the true market value of Rasheed Walker?
For a former seventh-round pick, Walker has been a revelation. However, as he enters free agency, his valuation has become the most polarizing topic in Green Bay. Is he a serviceable starter worth a modest $6.9 million per year, or is he about to become the latest beneficiary of the NFL’s "left tackle tax," with projections now soaring toward $15 million annually?
The Value vs. Pedigree Debate
The dilemma lies in the discrepancy between Walker’s draft pedigree and his production. Those eyeing the lower $7M figure see a solid player who benefits from a great system. But the reality of the 2026 market is harsh.
Last year, the Tennessee Titans handed Dan Moore Jr. -- a player with worse tape than Walker -- a contract worth over $20 million per year. In a league where half of the starting left tackles now earn at least that much, Walker’s camp will undoubtedly be looking for more money.
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If the price stays low, re-signing Walker is a "no-brainer." But if the bidding war hits double digits, the Packers have a "Plan B" that is equally risky: Jordan Morgan.
The Morgan Contingency
Because the Packers traded their 2026 first-round pick in last year's move for Micah Parsons, they don't have the luxury of drafting a blue-chip replacement. Instead, they are forced to look at Morgan, their 2024 first-rounder out of Arizona.
For Morgan, he spent 2025 proving his versatility at guard, but the coaching staff has remained adamant in that they believe he's a tackle.
If Walker’s price tag balloons, the Packers must decide by March if they trust Morgan to protect Jordan Love’s blindside. And while moving Morgan to LT solves the cap crunch, it then leaves a hole at guard and puts a sophomore in charge of the most important protection spot on the field.
The Packers spent the last year in an aggressive Super Bowl or Bust window. However, even an All-Pro defense led by Parsons can’t save a team if the quarterback is under constant duress. By April, Gutekunst must decide if Walker is a "system player" he can replace with a cheaper internal option, or a cornerstone worth paying up for.
In Green Bay, the "Draft and Develop" philosophy is about to meet its most expensive challenge yet.