Linebacker should be at or near the top of the Dallas Cowboys’ offseason priority list. There are plenty of intriguing options in both free agency and the draft, but there’s one name they should steer clear of: Green Bay Packers veteran Quay Walker.
The Packers drafted Walker back in 2022, and at one point, he looked to be one of the next premier players at his position. Now, Walker is an unrestricted free agent, and the Cowboys need to avoid him at all costs.
Walker’s year-over-year decline in Pro Football Focus grades is hard to ignore. Even in 2024, it was a tale of two halves, as his average grade jumped 18% from 54.7 over his first eight games to 64.5 across the final six. That late surge doesn’t completely erase the broader downward trajectory.
And in 2025, Walker arguably had the least effective year of his career with a 48.5 PFF grade that ranked 74th out of 88 players at his position. PFF numbers aren't exactly the make-or-break benchmark for a player, but this is all Cowboys fans need to see.
The Dalals Cowboys should avoid Packers LB Quay Walker at all costs
PFF ranked Walker as the 140th free agent on their big board. Just for reference, that's two spots behind Tyler Huntley, the backup quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens.
"Walker’s time in Green Bay didn’t match his first-round selection with a 46.0 overall PFF grade through four seasons. He particularly struggled in coverage in 2025, permitting 653 yards when targeted, the fifth-most for any linebacker. Teams approaching Walker could be interested in his age (25) and low missed tackle rate, but his collegiate abilities have yet to fully translate at the next level."
Walker has an athletic frame, but he's struggled mightily in coverage in his career. His career-high of 128 combined tackles last season may look impressive, but his unreliability in coverage isn't worth it.
The Cowboys could've used Walker last season to make up forKenneth Murray's horrendous field vision, but they really need a true field general and a potential jack-of-all-trades if they truly want to change this defense.
According to Spotrac, Walker's market value is a three-year, $24.8 million contract. That’s not the type of investment Dallas should be making if there are real questions about his consistency. The four-year Georgia product has flashed at times, but the week-to-week reliability hasn’t been there.
The Cowboys have several other routes to go. With new defensive coordinator Christian Parker in the fold, a reunion with Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean makes a lot of sense. The draft has plenty of fish in the sea as well, like Sonny Styles, C.J. Allen, and Jacob Rodriguez, among others.
There are plenty of major decisions on the table this offseason, but Jerry Jones should cross Walker off the list if he hasn’t already.