The Las Vegas Raiders have recently signed Green Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker. Let’s get to know Walker more:
Forever connected to old friend:
Walker was teammates with fellow new Las Vegas free-agent addition Nakobe Dean at Georgia. They won a National Championship in 2021, just before they were drafted. Walker and Dean were in contact on the first-day of legal tampering and they both agreed with the Raiders within moments of one another. Also, another college teammate, cornerback Eric Stokes, re-signed with the Raiders hours before Walker and Dean did.
Mixed bag:
Walker is a quality player, but there are mixed signals on just how good. People who covered the Green Bay Packers have stated he was solid but didn’t make enough play to justify re-signing him. He is getting $40.5 million over three seasons for the Raiders. He is, however, fast and has coverage ability, but that doesn’t always show up. He is, though, a sure tackle and he has worn the green dot for the Packers’ defense, so there are things to be excited about for the Raiders, who have lacked at linebacker for years.
Some Raiders’ history:
Walker was already a transactional piece involving the Raiders. The Packers selected Walker with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2022 draft. That was the first-round pick the Raiders sent Green Bay in the Davante Adams trade that offseason. The also sent the No. 53 pick to the Packers in the trade. They used that pick to trade up and take wide receiver Christian Watson at No. 34. So, the Raiders are getting some delayed value from the pick from the Adams’ trade that didn’t really work out.
Back with another star Bulldog:
Walker isn’t in Las Vegas with just Dean and Stokes from his Georgia days, there is also young tight end Brock Bowers. Even though, Bowers played just one season with Walker, he left quite an impression. Walker said teammates knew Bowers was special after about a week of 7-on-7 practice. Now, Walker gets an up close look at an elite NFL tight end.
Some early wildness:
Walker had a shaky start to his NFL career and was earning a reputation and a problem player. He was ejected after an altercation on the sidelines with Buffalo Bills’ coaches after making a tackle and in the final game of the season, Walker was ejected for pushing a member of the Detroit Lions’ medical staff. He was the first NFL player in 20-plus years to be ejected from two games. However, he has had issues since and has shown leadership traits. The Raiders shouldn’t anticipate any issues from Walker, who turns 26 in May moving forward.
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