Packers start busy stretch with huge extension, and should have more roster activity in store over the next few days

Quay Walker's extension

The Packers didn't exercise Walker's fifth-year option, but that's just because the linebacker price tag ($14.751 million) included some edge defenders listed as outside linebackers. General manager Brian Gutekunst has said multiple times he wants to keep the former first-round pick beyond 2025.

"My expectations are really, really high [for Quay Walker]," Gutekunst mentioned. "The only reason we didn't do the fifth-year option is a lot of the outside linebackers are calculated into that number, so it didn't make a lot of sense. We're going down that road with him to see if we can make that happen."

Last season, his third in the NFL, Walker had 14 pressures and 31 stops. He allowed a 96.6 passer rating when targeted, much better than the 109.8 rating he had allowed in 2023. Even though he hasn't lived up to his draft status, Walker showed some signs of improvement in 2024.

Some comparable off-ball linebackers, like Nick Bolton and Jamien Sherwood, got deals around $15 million a year. Patrick Queen received $13.6 million on yearly average last offseason. It's a lot of money based on Walker's production, even though the front office seems to like the projection for his future.

Elgton Jenkins' adjustment

Jenkins is moving from left guard to center, but before that he wants a contract adjustment. That happens because the offensive lineman has $32.8 million left on his deal for the next two seasons, but nothing of it is guaranteed—and the contract includes a jump from $12.8 million in salary in 2025 to $20 million in 2026, generating a potential cap casualty if things don't go right this year.

The Packers don't philosophically like to give out extensions for players with more than a year left on their deals, especially for a piece going to his third NFL contract. ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reported that the Packers would be more comfortable talking about a real extension later in the season, when the player is more established at center.

However, an adjustment including some incentives or making the structure more player-friendly would be reasonable.

Right now, the biggest domino has fallen for the Packers. But there is still work to do—and extensions are always on the table for a draft, development, and retention franchise.