The Green Bay Packers still haven’t decided on fifth-year options for linebacker Quay Walker and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt, but general manager Brian Gutekunst confirmed the team is expecting to keep both players — via the option or an extension — in Green Bay past the 2025 season.
Walker and Wyatt, two first-round picks from the 2022 draft, are both starters in the defensive front for Jeff Hafley. Their long-term roster statuses are important to know for understanding needs ahead of the 2025 NFL draft, and it’s clear the Packers are planning to keep Walker and Wyatt around long-term.
“For both those guys, whatever mechanism we use, we’d like to keep those guys around for ’26 and beyond,” Gutekunst said on Monday. “So whether that’s doing the fifth-year option or extending them, one way or another, we’re planning on doing that, we’d like to do that.”
The deadline to exercise the fifth-year option on 2022 first-round picks is May 1. Based on the league’s formula for determining the options, Walker’s fifth-year would cost the Packers $14.75 million in 2026, while Wyatt’s would cost $13.92 million.
An extension is possible if not likely for both, and there is recent history in the Packers passing on the option for an extension. Gutekunst declined Jordan Love’s fifth-year option and instead signed him to a short extension before he took over as the starting quarterback in 2023. Extending Walker and Wyatt, especially based on performance during their first three seasons, likely makes more sense financially than the expensive fifth-year option.
Walker was the 22nd overall pick in the 2022 draft. Still only 24, Walker has 43 starts and three straight seasons with over 100 tackles. Wyatt was the 28th overall pick. He’s now 27, but he produced 10.5 sacks and 20 quarterback hits over the last two seasons. Neither has been a consistently dominant player but both have shown flashes of high-level play.
Wyatt’s status is of particular interest to this year’s draft. The class is well stocked with quality defensive linemen, but the Packers are expecting to keep Wyatt, a three-technique and former first-round pick. It’s possible the Packers will avoid targeting a true three-technique and will instead focus on the versatile interior defenders who can play on the nose and the three-technique, such as Oregon’s Derrick Harmon.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers expecting to keep Quay Walker, Devonte Wyatt past 2025 season via option or extension
The Green Bay Packers still haven’t decided on fifth-year options for linebacker Quay Walker and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt, but general manager Brian Gutekunst confirmed the team is expecting to keep both players — via the option or an extension — in Green Bay past the 2025 season.
Walker and Wyatt, two first-round picks from the 2022 draft, are both starters in the defensive front for Jeff Hafley. Their long-term roster statuses are important to know for understanding needs ahead of the 2025 NFL draft, and it’s clear the Packers are planning to keep Walker and Wyatt around long-term.
“For both those guys, whatever mechanism we use, we’d like to keep those guys around for ’26 and beyond,” Gutekunst said on Monday. “So whether that’s doing the fifth-year option or extending them, one way or another, we’re planning on doing that, we’d like to do that.”
The deadline to exercise the fifth-year option on 2022 first-round picks is May 1. Based on the league’s formula for determining the options, Walker’s fifth-year would cost the Packers $14.75 million in 2026, while Wyatt’s would cost $13.92 million.
An extension is possible if not likely for both, and there is recent history in the Packers passing on the option for an extension. Gutekunst declined Jordan Love’s fifth-year option and instead signed him to a short extension before he took over as the starting quarterback in 2023. Extending Walker and Wyatt, especially based on performance during their first three seasons, likely makes more sense financially than the expensive fifth-year option.
Walker was the 22nd overall pick in the 2022 draft. Still only 24, Walker has 43 starts and three straight seasons with over 100 tackles. Wyatt was the 28th overall pick. He’s now 27, but he produced 10.5 sacks and 20 quarterback hits over the last two seasons. Neither has been a consistently dominant player but both have shown flashes of high-level play.
Wyatt’s status is of particular interest to this year’s draft. The class is well stocked with quality defensive linemen, but the Packers are expecting to keep Wyatt, a three-technique and former first-round pick. It’s possible the Packers will avoid targeting a true three-technique and will instead focus on the versatile interior defenders who can play on the nose and the three-technique, such as Oregon’s Derrick Harmon.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers expecting to keep Quay Walker, Devonte Wyatt past 2025 season via option or extension
