Friday Cheese Curds: Understanding contract decisions on 4th-year Packers

The Green Bay Packers have a good problem to deal with: having too many players that they want to give contract extensions to from a recent draft class. The class in question is from 2022, when the team selected Georgia defenders Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt in the first round.

The Packers could have given both of those players option years for 2026, but chose to exercise the option on only Wyatt. In a recent interview, general manager Brian Gutekunst said that the team chose not to give the option to Walker because of how the NFL defines linebackers. In short, the league lumps 3-4 edge rushers in with all off-ball linebackers when calculating those option amounts, inflating the number for the latter group, which is paid less than pass-rushers.

Wyatt, on the other hand, got his option year for 2026, but that doesn’t mean that Walker is on his way out next offseason. He is one of a few players that the Packers are prioritizing in contract negotiations, along with 4th-round pick Zach Tom. The team also has plenty of tough decisions coming on other players as well, with wide receivers Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, guard Sean Rhyan, and left tackle Rasheed Walker all heading into the final years of their rookie contracts.

Who gets a deal done first? My money is still on Tom, but the Packers have been vocal about wanting to come to an agreement with Quay Walker as well. Don’t expect anything to be signed prior to training camp, but there is at least a decent chance that someone might sign before the regular season starts.

Packers working on contract extensions for OL Zach Tom, LB Quay Walker | Packers Wire
Brian Gutekunst confirmed that discussions about new contracts for both of these 4th-year players are in the works, while noting that the NFL’s rules around positions are the only reason why they did not use a 5th-year option on Walker.

All Signs Point to Breakout Season for Packers Defender | SI.com
Meanwhile, the Packers did pick up the 5th-year option on Devonte Wyatt, and they are expecting a big breakout from him to help the pass rush.

Green Bay Packers hosting third annual ‘Girls Flag Open’ event | WFRV
With girls’ flag football becoming more popular throughout the country, officials with the Green Bay Packers announced the team will once again be hosting its ‘Girls Flag Open’ event.

Were late 1950s Packers drafts Lisle Blackbourn’s or Jack Vainisi’s? | Packers.com
Unfamiliar with those names? Blackbourn was the team’s head coach prior to Vince Lombardi while Vainisi was a talent scout, but the coach had final say on draft picks during that time.

Minnesota’s Hormel sues Wisconsin’s Johnsonville over stolen trade secrets | Star-Tribune
Yikes. There’s nothing like a good, old-fashioned sausage war involving intellectual property.