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GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 13: Rasheed Walker #63 of the Green Bay Packers reacts to a play during a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Lambeau Field on October 13, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Cardinals 34-13. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The Green Bay Packers‘ offseason has really been centered around one thing and one thing only, compensatory draft picks.
The Packers won’t have a first round pick – at least currently speaking – until 2028, so the desire to make up some of that draft capital with extra selections given to the team as a result of departing free agents this offseason is as real as it has ever been.
And Green Bay did not do too badly. Despite neither Malik Willis nor Rasheed Walker getting as much as fans expected; both were considered strong candidates to net GB one of the elusive third rounders with a potentially blockbuster free-agent deal; the team still ended up with two fourths, a fifth and a sixth round pick in 2027, in addition to their other 7 picks already present.
However, the team got some news that at first would have seemed fairly alarming. Ari Meirov reported on Wednesday that Walker’s already unexpectedly small 1 year, $10 million deal with the Carolina Panthers is actually worth $4 million, with incentives that can take it up further.
Rasheed Walker Only Set to Earn $4 Million in 2026
“The #Panthers deal with LT Rasheed Walker is a 1-year, $4M deal.” Meirov wrote on X on Wednesday. “He can make more via incentives.”
This lays in stark contrast to the original reporting that made it seem like the deal was closer to double-digits.
Sources: The #Panthers are signing former #Packers LT Rasheed Walker to a 1-year deal worth about $10M.
The reduction in his annual average salary would take the Packers’ compensatory pick from a sixth round pick to a seventh rounder. Whilst not devastating, it certainly would not be a particularly desirable thing to happen due to a mere reporting error.
However, luckily for Green Bay, the outcome is unaffected as that particular Packers’ compensatory pick was already due to be cancelled out with their signing of Benjamin St. Juste on a two year $10 million, according to Over the Cap.
So despite the change in the value of the deal, the Packers’ awarded compensatory picks are not set to change, unless something specific changes in the league’s calculation formula.
Rasheed Walker Earning Far Less Than Expected?
Let alone $4 million per year, many in the Packers media and around the league were shocked that the former seventh round pick was *only* set to make $10 million in 2026, after rumors of a multi-season $20 million/year deal were floated around over the past couple of months prior to the start of free agency.
Some believe that the excessive 4 year $82 million contract given to Dan Moore Jr. – which has not looked great in hindsight, one year on – may have spooked other franchises and made them think twice about doing something similar for another good-but-not-great left tackle hitting free agency.
But for a team like the Panthers, who are using him as a stopgap left tackle, with Ikem Ekwonu likely out for much of the coming season, a one year deal under $5 million is a total bargain, even if the incentives end up paying him more.
If he shows out in 2026, it could be Carolina that gets rewarded with a big compensatory pick for his departure next offseason.
Daniel Arwas Daniel Arwas is a sports writer who covers the NFL for Heavy.com. Daniel began his career in sports writing in 2022 and has covered the NFL and college football for Gridiron Heroics and The Hammer. More about Daniel Arwas
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