The Green Bay Packers have a decision to make when it comes to left tackle Rasheed Walker - and it’s not exactly a simple one. According to recent league chatter, there’s a scenario being floated where Green Bay could use the franchise tag on Walker with the intent to trade him. It’s a bold concept, and while it might seem like a long shot, it’s not entirely off the table.
Here’s the logic: quality offensive tackles don’t exactly grow on trees, especially in free agency. When one becomes even remotely available, teams take notice.
Walker, still just 25, is coming off a season where he started 16 games and played in all 17 for the Packers. While Pro Football Focus graded him as the No. 53 tackle out of 84 qualifiers, that kind of availability and starting experience still carries weight in a league constantly hunting for reliable protection up front.
Walker’s rookie deal - a four-year, $3.74 million contract with a modest $80,873 signing bonus - is now in the rearview mirror. That means he’s set to hit unrestricted free agency for the first time this offseason. And while he wasn’t a household name coming out of Penn State (he was a seventh-round pick in 2022 and earned an honorable mention All-Big Ten nod back in 2020), he’s carved out a legitimate role on the Packers’ offensive line.
Now, here’s where things get tricky. The projected franchise tag number for offensive linemen is steep - somewhere in the $27 to $28 million range, fully guaranteed for one year.
That’s a massive jump from what Walker has been earning, and it’s a number that comes with real consequences for the cap sheet. If Green Bay were to tag him and couldn’t find a trade partner, they’d be on the hook for that full amount - a tough pill to swallow for a player who’s still developing and not yet in the top tier at his position.
One league source summed it up this way: “I don’t feel like Gutey is motivated enough to tag Rasheed. Finding a partner at that number is tough, but it’s possible.”
That’s the gamble. There’s a narrow window where a tackle-needy team might be willing to take on the tag number or negotiate a tag-and-trade deal, but it would require the right fit and timing.
Walker’s inclusion in the Top 100 for 2026 NFL Free Agents underscores his value in a thin market. He’s not a franchise cornerstone just yet, but he’s proven he can hold down a starting job in the league. Whether the Packers see him as part of their long-term plans - or as a trade chip to extract value before he walks - will be one of the offseason’s more intriguing subplots in Green Bay.
For now, all eyes are on how the front office plays this. The franchise tag window opens soon, and with it comes a wave of decisions that can shape a roster for years. Walker’s situation is a perfect example of how even mid-tier players can create ripple effects in a cap-driven league.