When the Green Bay Packers entered their offseason, many believed that they would be big players in free agency, particularly targeting the wide receiver position. Of course, this was because of the torn ACL suffered by Christian Watson and the drop issues that plagued the other wide receivers on their roster.
Instead, though, Green Bay signed cornerback Nate Hobbs and offensive guard Aaron Banks. The Hobbs signing was somewhat expected due to the cloudy future of Jaire Alexander in Green Bay, but the Banks deal left many fans scratching their heads.
Josh Myers, who had been the Packers starting center since he was drafted in 2021, was not retained and signed a one-year deal with the New York Jets, where he will probably be a backup interior lineman. With Myers gone, Green Bay plans to move two-time Pro Bowl left guard to Elgton Jenkins to center and insert Banks at left guard.
This decision, though, means that another starter’s days in Green Bay are probably numbered.
The Green Bay Packers Will Have Rasheed Walker Compete with Jordan Morgan at Left Tackle
Last year, the Packers shocked many of their fans by taking Arizona left tackle Jordan Morgan with their first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The move was a surprise because Zach Tom and Rasheed Walker had, in the minds of many, locked down the tackle positions.
During training camp, Walker competed with Sean Rhyan at right guard while also taking reps at tackle. However, it was soon clear that their first round pick’s best chance of getting regular playing time was at guard.
Unfortunately, a shoulder injury limited him to just six games in 2024, all of which he played at right guard. Now that there have been some changes along the line, though, the Packers are preparing for another one.
During the NFL owner meetings this past week, general manager Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters that Morgan would be competing with Walker for the starting left tackle job.
Former Green Bay Packers Star Bryan Bulaga Does Not Think the Team Will Keep Rasheed Walker After 2025
While Green Bay had Morgan take reps and play at guard last year, it is understandable that they would not have used a first round pick on him if they did not intend for him to play tackle. And since Tom is widely regarded as one of the best right tackles in the NFL, that would mean that Walker will not be retained when his rookie contract ends after the upcoming season.
This is what former Green Bay right tackle Bryan Bulaga believes, as he told the “Wilde and Tausch” show on ESPN Milwaukee.
“For him, it’s a predicament. Because you’ve got to win the job and play well, because it’s your contract year,” Bulaga said. “Let’s just be real. Green Bay is probably not going to pay Rasheed to play left tackle after this year. Even if he plays really well, that’s probably not going to happen.
“So for him what’s most important for him is to play and play the best that he can and put the best tape possible out there for 31 other teams to see and give himself an opportunity to go somewhere and get paid and play well somewhere else.
“That’s what I would be telling him. ‘You need to fight as hard as you can to win that job again so that you can earn your spot on the field. You understand what’s going on here. You don’t have to be Einstein to figure it out.
“It’s the business of the NFL. It’s not a personal thing. When you draft a guy in the first round, they have intentions for him. And when they signed Banks, that changed everything in how they’re going to do this.
“But it’s all in Rasheed’s hands with how he handles it and how he takes on that competition once training camp starts. I would just tell him, ‘You’re playing for a future deal here.’ And that should be motivation enough. That’s the way I would handle it.”
Bulaga, for what it is worth, also said that Walker is a solid tackle. While he is not among the best in the NFL, the former Packers star praised him for being reliable.
And if everyone is being honest, Walker has overachieved in the NFL as a former seventh round pick. If the Packers do not keep him around to play left tackle after the 2025 season, he almost certainly will get an opportunity elsewhere.
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