Hopes are high for the defense of Green Bay Packers after a successful first year trained by Jeff Hafley, mainly thanks to the ability to play their fresh security, Xavier McKinney. After spending the first four seasons with New York Giants, McKinney signed a lucrative offer to join Packers and enjoyed a breakthrough season in which he took second place in NFL with eight interceptions.
However, McKinney was not the only member of the Green Bay defense who was successful under Hafley. Before he suffered an ankle injury at the end of the season, inside the Quay Walker Linebacker played one of the best football in his career.
This led McKinney to very bold comments about Walker’s game in a recent interview.
“I think he is one of the best linebackers in the league,” said McKinney during the performance at NFL Spotlight podcast with Ari Meirov. “There are many things that he can do, which many linebackers cannot do. I think it will continue to improve. I think he will continue to develop as a player. In the future, he will be the best lines in the league. You can save it. “
It was a very high praise for the player who had been criticized for years. Packers developed a Walker with 22 selection in 2022 NFL Draft, hoping that he would anchor the measure of defense through its athleticism and fun. While Walker sometimes played an elite game, his inconsistency was a problem.
Linebackers are rarely called in the first round, and when they are, the expectations are high. Walker turned out to be a productive starter, but he has not yet received any All-PRO remuneration or has not been appointed to Pro Bowl.
It seems that Green Bay has the upcoming star in Edgerrin Cooper, although Walker still has a chance to develop in the fresh program. Hafley used Walker’s skills as lightning at a higher pace to facilitate escalate the Packers rush. He ended with 2.5 bags and 14 pressure this year, and his ability to enter the back room also paid off in a running game with nine struggles for loss. Over the years, Walker had no problem raising attacks, leading the team in the third season in a row, despite the lack of time.
The area where Walker must improve is to make changing games. In 2024, he failed to force or regain a single fumble or leave with interception, despite the dropping of what should be an uncomplicated choice against San Francisco 49ers in the week 12. According to statistics and ESPN information, it was the fourth rejected choice of Walker . Three seasons.
Despite this, coaching staff and general director are still applauding Walker, discussing his influence.
“I think Quay continued to jump and (he is) another guy who was struggling at the end of the year because of injuries, but this year he had a really influence on us. He is still a great leader for us, ”said GM Bran Gutekunst during a press conference ending the season.
We will learn more about what Gutekunst soon feels about the future of Walker. Because he enters the fourth year of his debutants’ contract, the team will have to decide whether to pick up the Fifth Year option Walker out of season. The fifth year option would cost USD 16,060,000 in 2026 and would be fully guaranteed. If the Fifth Year option of Walker is not received, he will have to take advantage of the next season to justify the second contract.
It does not sound as if McKinney wants to lose Walker as a teammate in the near future, but it will not be his decision when time comes.
