Picking twice in the first round is a luxury—until the contract decisions start piling up. The Green Bay Packers tipped the first domino by exercising Devonte Wyatt's fifth-year option, but it may lead to a costly long-term mistake with Quay Walker.
Wyatt and Walker played together in Georgia's championship-winning defense before reuniting in Green Bay in the same rookie class.
Neither player has reached their lofty first-round expectations despite logging a combined 91 appearances for the Packers.
FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz reports that the Packers have picked up Wyatt's option, tacking on $12.5 million in fully-guaranteed money to his rookie contract.
The Packers have time before the deadline to exercise Walker's option, but it would add almost $15 million of fully-guaranteed money to their 2026 salary cap. The alternatives? Sign Walker to a long-term deal, or let him hit free agency next offseason.
GM Brian Gutekunst hinted at the former, but it would be a roll of the dice.
Packers handing Quay Walker a multi-year extension could come back to haunt them
Not picking up Walker's cap-hitting option is the easy part. Deciding what's next is more complicated.
Gutekunst said he wants to keep Walker and Wyatt "beyond" 2026, strongly hinting at a multi-year extension for both players.
The Packers shouldn't rush into a decision on Walker.
He still has one year remaining on his rookie deal. Yes, in theory, the closer he gets to hitting free agency, the higher his asking price, but the Packers should wait it out and make a decision later on.
Packers cap expert Ken Ingalls estimates that it will cost the team in the region of $12-17 million per year to extend Walker's deal — that's concerning. It's up there with the highest-paid at the position.
It's a significant sum of money to commit to, with a massive extension for right tackle Zach Tom on the horizon.
Through a combination of missed tackles and inconsistent run defense, Walker's play led to calls from Packers fans to bench him. His performances showed promising signs of improvement later in the year, but he still has everything to prove.
"Quay Walker is so hilariously bad you have to think the Packers are only keeping him out there as a social experiment," Ollie Connolly of The Guardian wrote during a brutal performance against the Chicago Bears.
By season's end, Walker's overall Pro Football Focus grade ranked 127th of 190 linebackers. He was 92nd for run defense and 132nd in coverage. It hardly screams long-term extension.
Can the Packers find similar production on Day 3 of next year's draft? It's possible. Eric Wilson, who the Packers let walk for nothing in free agency, outperformed Walker for stretches last season.
Green Bay has a rising star in Edgerrin Cooper and improved its depth by bringing back Isaiah McDuffie and signing Isaiah Simmons. The team hopes 2024 third-round pick Ty'Ron Hopper can contribute more this season.
Walker will play a featured role this year. That's not in question. But why rush into a long-term decision on his future now? The Packers should give him the season to prove himself before deciding what's next.
It sounds like Gutekunst has other ideas and has made it clear he wants both players back long-term. Picking up Wyatt's option may prevent the team from exercising Walker's — and it will likely lead to a multi-year extension that the Packers may live to regret.
