Panthers Sign Rasheed Walker To One Year Deal
The former seventh round pick is coming off his worst season as a starter.
By PackerAaron
The Carolina Panthers are taking a one-year swing on former Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker, signing the 2022 seventh-round pick after a rocky 2025 campaign in Green Bay.
According to Pro Football Focus, Walker graded out in the bottom tier of starting tackles in 2025, posting an overall grade in the sub-60 range. His pass-blocking performance was particularly problematic, as PFF charted him among the league leaders in pressures allowed at the position. That inconsistency became a real issue as the season wore on.
To Walker’s credit, there are still traits worth betting on. At 6’6” with good length and mobility, he’s shown flashes as a run blocker and has the athletic profile teams look for in zone-heavy schemes. That’s likely what Carolina is banking on with this short-term deal.
For the Panthers, this is a classic low-risk move: a young lineman with starting experience who might benefit from a change of scenery.
For the Packers, Walker’s departure closes the book on what had been a success story for a former 7th round pick who became a starter at a premium position until crashing down to Earth in 2025.
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Comments (24)
golfpacker61
March 13, 2026 at 04:12 pm
WOW! what a gut punch this is. For Walker definitely, but this really hurts GB in the comp pick we were projected to get for losing Walker. It begs to ask the question, should the Packers have tried to resign him at that price? I wonder if we were in contact and could have gotten him cheaper because of familiarity with the Packers. We still could have traded him in season for at least a 3rd round pick.
I guess the "experts" really missed on this one. Projected is a word thrown around alot this time of year. Most of the "projected" salaries are way off from what is thought to be. I really hoped GB would be a player for Charlie Kolar-Ravens TE, projected to get under $2 million annually. He signed for $8 million annually so they missed the boat and the ocean on that one.
Several hopefully cheaper FAs I would like to see GB approach would be:
Devin White-LB-Raiders-174 tackles-projected $2 million
Antonio Gibson-RB-Patriots-does everything well- projected $1.1 million
Zach Ertz-TE-projected $2 million
A J Epenesa-Edge-Bills-an upgrade on Enagbare for 1/2 the price
Another veteran CB-preferably young, has starting experience and viable stats, many options are available for under $2 million-preferably upgrades on current Packers
I would take another shot on Trevon Diggs on a 1 year prove it deal @ $3 million with incentives.
dblbogey
March 13, 2026 at 04:26 pm
'We still could have traded him in season for at least a 3rd round pick." Yes, teams are dying to give up a 3rd rounder for an average pass blocking and terrible run blocking LT.
Starrbrite
March 13, 2026 at 09:08 pm
I like many of your ideas. I frankly never felt Walker was anything special.
I hope we add one more FA—but I think we may be finished?
joejetson
March 13, 2026 at 04:18 pm
Haven't seen the $ number. That would factor into the compensation formula.
GregC
March 13, 2026 at 04:20 pm
They are saying it's $10 million with incentives. So maybe a 5th or 6th round pick for compensation. Wow, the experts really screwed the pooch on predicting this one. It was supposed to be a secret that he had a bad season. Somebody blabbed.
EricTorkelson
March 13, 2026 at 04:50 pm
Could be about right GregC as far as a comp pick ... I thought Walker would garner only a 6th or 7th but the Packers may have to give a couple of there late comp picks up if you figure in the players they signed.
NJMagic
March 13, 2026 at 05:27 pm
Disappointing for comp picks... but clearly shows GB made the right decision.
Hieronymus
March 13, 2026 at 05:31 pm
So would you rather have Rhyan at 3 yrs / $33 million or Walker for 1 yr / $10 million? Not exactly the same position, but I am certainly not making the choice the Packers made.
GregC
March 13, 2026 at 06:32 pm
I'll take Rhyan. I think Morgan will be about as good as Walker, but Monk would not be as good as Rhyan. Plus I was just done with Walker. Still a surprise that Rhyan got more per year than Walker, though.
dobber
March 14, 2026 at 06:08 am
I don't think the comparison works: if the Packers had signed him and bought out Walker's ability to test the market they would've had to have given him a contract way different from what he got from Carolina.
PeteK
March 14, 2026 at 07:47 am
Rhyan has only 11 mill guaranteed.
Since'75
March 15, 2026 at 10:01 am
Details always matter.
HarryHodag
March 13, 2026 at 07:23 pm
Apparently they saw Walker's post-season game against the Bears when he was truly awful. If he can hold up it will help Bryce Young who was a tackling dummy most of the year due to a weak line. Rumor was among the talking heads he was asking for too much money given his 2025 performance.
stockholder
March 13, 2026 at 09:48 pm
The Panthers got a deal -@ 1 year 10mil.
Had Walker not had that gun charge.
His market would have been much higher.
Truthfully another golden opportunity
that Gute blew.
The guy is a fighter.
He will do well in Carolina.
PackerBackerAZ
March 13, 2026 at 10:24 pm
You really believe that his being charged, while trying to do the right thing, lowered his offer and not his abysmal 2025 season play? He goes to court March 16th and I expect the charges to be dropped.
Gutekunst didn't blow the Walker walk. Morgan will play better than he ever did.
If he was such a fighter, why did he play so bad in 2025?
dobber
March 14, 2026 at 06:10 am
Agreed, a gun charge like that doesn't move the needle on his contract.
stockholder
March 14, 2026 at 06:41 am
Yes- I blame Banks.
When one part of the line breaks down.
Others will follow.
!0 mil is Damn cheap for a LT.
And if no one takes his place .
Love will get hurt.
The priority was protecting Love.
Lt is now a glass jaw.
PeteK
March 14, 2026 at 07:52 am
Yes, it is a gamble, but I believe that the coaches saw something in Morgan or else they would have made a move in FA.
Since'75
March 15, 2026 at 10:03 am
It might not be over, they could still make a move in the draft early on for a LT.
EricTorkelson
March 14, 2026 at 08:17 am
Sorry stock, my prediction some younger lineman possibly draft pick will come in and beat Walker out ...
dobber
March 14, 2026 at 08:32 am
I agree. He looked checked out for stretches last fall. Maybe he takes this as a wake up call, he picks up his game, and he goes on to look good. Maybe he takes his $10M and rides off into obscurity.
But I reiterate: if the Packers had pursued and signed Walker, it would've been before the market set this value and probably 4 years, and it would look like a tremendous overpay and commitment compared to his Carolina deal. It's silly, Stocky, to compare this deal to what the Packers would've likely paid him.
Since'75
March 15, 2026 at 10:08 am
Dobber is on the ball...again.
Always like reading Dobbers post.
Since'75
March 15, 2026 at 10:04 am
IMO...that gun charge was a non factor
LambeauPlain
March 14, 2026 at 09:56 am
The NFL has valued Walker as no better than a one year bridge LT for a needy team.
Yet for the Packers OL coaches he started for nearly 3 years, even after drafting a lifelong, highly ranked LT in the first 2024 round.
And that the Packers would not even bring him back for a $10 million total (including incentives!) as a swing T speaks volumes. Average pay for NFL tackles is $4-$9 million. Wouldn't they value Walker's knowledge and system experience for a little bit of premium in $ and incentives?
As Packers' OL question marks remain...again.