10 Most Important Packers: #9 Quay Walker

Player: Quay Walker - Linebacker

Rank: 9th

Progress:

Quay Walker was a departure from the way the Green Bay Packers have typically done things under both Ted Thompson and Brian Gutekunst.

Off-ball linebackers were mostly an afterthought as the team trotted out the Nate Palmer's and Jamari Lattimore's of the world.

Occasionally they'd find a solid if unspectacular performer like AJ Hawk or Blake Martinez.

Rarely, if ever, did they have someone on the inside that was a game-changing talent.

That was the goal in theory when they did what most pundits that followed the team for years swore they never would.

When the Packers were on the clock at 22nd overall, conventional wisdom thought the Packers might follow their normal trends.

George Karlaftis, a pass rusher was available. The same was true for a plethora of receivers, where the Packers certainly had a need after trading Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Instead, it was Walker.

A source said at the time in regards to their thinking, "Quay all the way."

The Packers loved Walker. Enough to do something they typically had not done.

The results have been inconsistent to say the least.

Walker's rookie season ended in disaster when he was ejected for the second time of the season.

That was something he worked hard on through the offseason, learning meditation habits from cornerback Jaire Alexander.

Meditation helped curb negative thoughts.

"Just calms me down and puts me in a mind state where I’m calm and not really thinking about anything,” Walker explained on Friday, two days before facing the New Orleans Saints in the home opener at Lambeau Field last year.

Walker was not ejected from a game in his second season, and started with a bang. He intercepted an errant throw by Justin Fields and showed off his return skills for a pick-six in the season opening 38-20 win over the Chicago Bears.

Unfortunately, Walker finished the year with more dropped interceptions, than caught.

When Joe Barry was fired, it seemed clear the Packers had the goal in mind of getting the most out of their athletically gifted, but inconsistent former first-round pick.

Jeff Hafley mentioned Walker by name in his first press conference.

He hired Anthony Campanile and Sean Duggan. Both coaches have extensive history and are well respected for their work with linebackers.

“Quay is a talented player. As we build this thing, we're going to make sure he's in a position to make a lot of plays,” said Hafley. “So whatever we feel, as we piece this together, where that is, that's where we'll put him.

It remains to be seen where Walker ends up when the reps are live, but it's clear the Packers have big expectations for their third-year man.

Why is He Important:

Walker is the elder-statesmen among linebackers in terms of snap counts.

De'Vondre Campbell was released this offseason and signed in San Francisco.

Every other linebacker is either a former backup or a rookie.

Isaiah McDuffie and Eric Wilson are currently listed as starters next to Walker .

Both players have had solid camps, but neither has the potential to be a dynamic play maker like Walker.

Walker's athletic ability and closing speed give him limitless potential. That's the type of player the Packers were searching for when they picked Walker. It has not worked out as of yet.

There is still time. If Walker can reach his potential, Green Bay's front seven has the potential to be incredibly dangerous.

Potential Replacement:

This is a big year for Walker. After being drafted in the first round, he's had an up-and-down career.

The Packers responded by hiring two linebacker specialists as coaches, and drafting two linebackers in the top-100.

Walker could be part of a dynamic duo with Edgerrin Cooper, or looking at Cooper as someone to replace him.

That'll be the question that is left up to how Walker plays this season. The ever-important 5th-year option decision will take place this offseason. Whether the Packers pick that up or not will likely depend on how he plays this year.

If he does not play well, that option likely won't be picked up and Walker will enter his fourth year in a lame-duck situation.

Related: 10 Most Important Packers: #10 Christian Watson