The Green Bay Packers’ future at left tackle just might be former Penn State Football standout Rasheed Walker, and that future could be now.
Walker, chosen by the Packers in the seventh-round of the 2022 NFL Draft, could be in line to inherit the starting left tackle job as soon as this offseason, presuming Green Bay moves on from veteran David Bakhtiari, in a move to create much-needed cap space ahead of NFL free agency beginning on March 13.
Through his first two seasons, Walker has already impressed and earned the trust of his teammates and the Packers’ staff.
“He’s a dog, man,” veteran Packers offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins told the Packers’ official website. “He’s athletically gifted. The mindset that he comes with on Sunday … it’s very special. He definitely grew a lot from his first couple games to the stretch (run) that we made.”
Walker made 15 starts during the 2023 season, allowing six sacks but garnering a solid 74.1 run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus, paving the way for a Packers’ rushing offense that averaged 112 yards per game.
As last season went along, Walker says he got significantly more comfortable in the Packers’ offense.
“I used to overthink a lot,” Walker admits. “Be studying a lot before the game and trying to do a bunch of pass sets. It got to a point I just didn’t do (anything). I’d just sit in my locker until the game, and not listen to no music. Just chill, relax.”
Prior to arriving in Green Bay, Walker capped his collegiate season with a stellar 2021 campaign the Penn State stalwart make 10 starts en-route to a Third-Team All-Big Ten selection.
In 2024, Walker’s time to shine could be coming. Bakhtiari is slated to count $40.5 million against the cap this season, but the Packers would only create a $19.1 million dead-money charge if they release him this offseason. If that’s the direction the organization heads in, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst is confident Walker can step in without skipping a beat.
Gutekunst called Walker “a warrior out there,” and the 24-year-old may be out there much more often, beginning in 2024.
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