Green Bay Packers' left tackle Rasheed Walker is making waves in free agency, projected by Spotrac to command a hefty $20.3 million annually. That's nearly $7 million more than the next tackle, Braden Smith of the Colts. Yet, Walker's 2025 performance leaves much to be desired, and he's not exactly the slam-dunk signing teams in need of offensive line help might hope for.
Interestingly, ESPN's latest "best fit" list, curated by analyst Aaron Schatz, doesn't feature Walker at all. Instead, five other offensive linemen find their ideal team matches.
Packers fans might not be shedding tears over this omission, especially given Walker's projected price tag. This exclusion hints that teams might not get the value they're expecting if they shell out big bucks for him.
Walker’s market value seems inflated when you consider his recent output. However, a few factors play in his favor.
He's an established starter and, at 26, is younger than many free agents, which boosts his earning potential. He's entering his prime years, a factor that teams will weigh heavily.
His absence from Schatz’s list is partly because not every team is in the market for a tackle. Of the five linemen paired with teams, four are guards or centers.
The lone tackle, Smith, is linked to Arizona. Walker, meanwhile, remains a "top remaining free agent" and was part of ESPN’s earlier top 50 list.
The big question is whether Walker can justify a potential four-year, $80 million contract. His 2025 season was underwhelming, with a Pro Football Focus grade of 64.6, placing him in the bottom 42% of tackles. His run-blocking was even less impressive, with a 55.4 grade, ranking in the bottom 20%.
Adding to the concerns, Walker racked up nine penalties, tying for 17th-most among linemen. While he performed slightly above average in pass protection, he still allowed five sacks and 34 pressures, ranking 64th and 67th respectively at his position.
Despite these stats, Walker has proven himself a solid starter over the past three seasons. His youth and experience provide a rationale for his expected payday.
However, there's a reason he's overshadowed by Smith, who, despite being older at 29, offers similar performance at a potentially lower cost. Walker's next contract will be a gamble-one that teams will have to weigh carefully.