Packers facing potential $82 million price tag for home-grown success story

Jarrett Bailey

Packers facing potential $82 million price tag for home-grown success story image

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Green Bay Packers are in the midst of a rough patch. After a dominant 2-0 start that looked as if Green Bay would be the best team in the NFL throughout the 2025 season, the Packers are 5-3-1 after losing two straight games to the Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively. 

The Packers only scored 20 combined points in those two losses, and their offense needs to figure out how to score points. And while that will rightfully be the top focus, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler looks ahead to free agency and at what the future could hold for the top free agents of 2026. Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker is amongst the top free agent tackles, and Fowler projects that an $82 million deal would be the starting point for a long-term deal.

"The expectation is that Walker hits free agency, where big money awaits even average tackles (Dan Moore Jr.'s four-year, $82 million deal with Tennessee last March is a prime example)," Fowler writes. "One NFC executive says Walker is better than Moore and will get "paid paid" as a result. He's a consistent three-year starter on a good team, and the Packers have found him to be a hard worker. Green Bay already paid its other tackle, Zach Tom."

Walker going from seventh-round pick to quality starting offensive tackle is a great story. Will it continue in Green Bay, or will he take his talents elsewhere? We have several months before that becomes a focus, but it is something the Packers will need to figure out when the time comes.

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