When Quay Walker was selected as the first of two first-round picks by the Green Bay Packers in 2022, there was considerable debate about the value of his position. Despite the potential for Walker to be a good player, it was challenging to justify using a first-round pick on a position considered one of the least valuable in the NFL today.
However, with Walker’s performance so far this season, the discussion on positional value seems irrelevant. In the first two weeks of his third NFL season, Walker has underperformed, raising doubts about his place as a starter. According to Andy Herman, who evaluates every Packers player, Walker ranks as the lowest among the team’s four off-ball linebackers with significant defensive snaps, trailing behind Eric Wilson, Isaiah McDuffie, and rookie Edgerrin Cooper. PFF ratings also show Walker slightly ahead of McDuffie but significantly behind Wilson and Cooper.
Linebacker grades through 2 weeks:
Mine:
Wilson: +1.35
McDuffie: +0.95
Cooper: +0.50
Walker: -1.65PFF:
Wilson: 95.3
Cooper: 77.3
Walker: 48.3
McDuffie: 46.6— Andy Herman (@AndyHermanNFL) September 16, 2024
Wilson, primarily a special teamer with veteran experience, has performed well in limited snaps, including a pick against Anthony Richardson and strong run defense. He ranks as the second-highest graded off-ball linebacker, just behind Fred Warner, while Walker is 85th. Cooper performed well against the Philadelphia Eagles but saw fewer snaps in week 2 compared to fellow rookie Ty’Ron Hopper. PFF rankings for the linebackers are as follows:
– Eric Wilson: 95.3 (2nd)
– Edgerrin Cooper: 77.3 (16th)
– Quay Walker: 48.3 (85th)
– Isaiah McDuffie: 46.6 (95th)
Despite being drafted as a developmental player, Walker, now in his third NFL season and entering the final stretch of his rookie contract, shows little progress. His PFF grade of 48.3 is the lowest of his career, and his coverage (52.3) and tackling grades (37.1) are also at career lows.
Some fans have suggested moving Walker to edge rusher, but his pass rush grade of 56.4 is also the worst in the league. On Sunday, Walker missed an easy interception that could have sealed the game, a play head coach Matt LaFleur acknowledged left Walker upset with himself.
A disappointing performance from Quay Walker. #Packers pic.twitter.com/AyxlnbSK9v
— Tyler Brooke (@TylerDBrooke) September 17, 2024
Through the first two weeks, Walker has missed 18.2% of his tackle attempts, a stark contrast to his 6.6% miss rate from 2023. A major issue has been his role in the defense. Walker has generally excelled as an instinctive player but struggles when required to think too much. With the Packers not adding a true middle linebacker, Walker has been forced into that role, including handling the green dot for defensive calls from coordinator Jeff Hafley. Reverting Walker to a role that suits his strengths might be the last chance to salvage his performance, but as it stands, the entire defense is being negatively impacted.