The Green Bay Packers have had their share of offensive line problems this season. Elgton Jenkins just hit injured reserve. The injuries have been there all year and refuse to go away. Aaron Banks has disappointed – all $77 million of him.
In that context, availability and starting experience are especially valuable commodities. That’s what left tackle Rasheed Walker has given them. He has been superbly average. And heading into free agency this offseason, that might be more than enough to win him a frighteningly large paycheck.
According to an anonymous NFC executive, Walker could be looking at a contract that exceeds the four-year, $82 million deal that Tennessee’s Dan Moore, a comparably mid-tier tackle, netted last cycle.
As ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes, “big money awaits even average tackles.” Per Fowler, that executive expects to see Walker be “‘paid paid.’”
In his fourth NFL season, 43 starts into his career, Walker is the epitome of doing
Walker’s plus pass grade comes through in a 94.3% success rate, observes Bowen. That ranks seventh, a lot better than just average. He also “has the footwork and mobility to match speed on the edges.”
That said, Walker is not without fundamental flaws. “His technique could still improve, and he lacks a strong anchor,” Bowen also writes. It all adds up to a solid, perhaps slightly above-average player at an important position.
Whether the Packers believe he is worth over $20 million per year remains to be seen. In 2025, Walker is making $3.4 million in the final year of his rookie deal.
The New Orleans Saints are finalizing preparations for the stretch of the 2025 season, with roster moves settling in and young players carving out their first real roles. But away from the practice field, one surprising off-field decision has drawn national attention.
As the franchise locks in its 53-man roster, focus should be squarely on football. Yet, the personal lives of rookies often become intertwined with the spotlight, especially when outside distractions collide with the demands of the NFL.
This week, a first-year Saint made a headline-grabbing decision unrelated to football. For him, staying in New Orleans’ long-term plans meant not only competing on the field, but also managing the pressures of celebrity attention off it.
That rookie is running back Audric Estimé, who recently secured a spot on the Saints’ 53-man roster after being elevated from the practice squad. Shortly after that milestone, he ended his relationship with a well-known social media celebrity, an online star with millions of followers and a massive global audience.
The influencer built her brand through music, lifestyle content and viral posts that turned her into one of the most recognizable young digital personalities. Her reach and visibility inevitably brought heightened scrutiny onto Estimé as he adjusted to life in the NFL and tried to solidify his role in New Orleans.
The rookie explained his choice candidly in a private conversation that has since circulated among team circles:
“Right now, I need to focus on building my career with the Saints. There were too many cameras, too many eyes on my life off the field. I need peace, I need focus – if not, I will lose my chance and get left behind in New Orleans.”
Fans immediately reacted across X and Instagram, some applauding Estimé for putting football first, others sympathizing with his former girlfriend and questioning the pressure placed on young players to sacrifice their personal lives. The split fueled debate over the challenges rookies face in balancing relationships with the ruthless demands of professional sports.
For Audric Estimé, cracking the 53-man roster is only the beginning. By cutting ties with distractions and the glare of social media celebrity culture, the rookie signaled that his priority is clear: proving himself in the Saints’ backfield and earning trust in New Orleans for years to come.