Bucs Do As Promised: Got An Edge Rusher, David Walker
April 26th, 2025
Bucs new edge rusher David Walker.
OK, this is very interesting to Joe.
David Walker of Central Arkansas, an outside linebacker/edge rusher, had a stat that blew Joe away: Walker, in four years at Central Arkansas, had 82 tackles for loss.
This guy lived in backfields.
Twice in the past three years Walker had double-digit sacks, including 12 as a sophomore. He also played in no less than 11 games in all four years at Central Arkansas. So the man is durable.
Last night Bucs vice president of player personnel Mike Biehl said the Bucs were going to focus on pass rushers. With their first pick on Day 3 of the draft (fourth round), the Bucs upheld their promise.
Props to Bucs general manager Jason Licht for continuing to swing for a quality edge rusher.
ABSOLUTELY FEROCIOUS‼️🏈 Former high school coach of @UCA_Football NFL Draft hopeful, David Walker (@dwalkeerr33) speaks on the work ethic of the Stuttgart native ahead of hearing his name called. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/UOHi3X8eKI
— Gary Burton JR (@GaryBurton_JR) April 25, 2025
April 26th, 2025 at 1:19 pm
HEAT !
April 26th, 2025 at 1:21 pm
The guy is about the same size as Dwhite Freeney. Watching his film, that’s who he reminds me of. As I recall Freeney turned out pretty good.
April 26th, 2025 at 1:22 pm
He is a slam dunk
April 26th, 2025 at 1:24 pm
Can’t wait seems like he would go well with Kancy and YaYa I expect more sacks this year.
April 26th, 2025 at 1:26 pm
I’ve been waiting for Bucs to trade back.
Not what i had expected, Licht deserves the benefit of the doubt.
Go Bucs!
April 26th, 2025 at 1:26 pm
Looks like a decently high upside, rotational pass rusher. Don’t mind it at all. Prob would have been drafter higher if he was 2-3 inches taller.
April 26th, 2025 at 1:27 pm
Let’s go!
April 26th, 2025 at 1:30 pm
25 years old on June 3rd and did his damage against Non-NFL talent. Not sure what they saw in this guy over Sawyer, Sorrell and skipping Poo Paul when the LB’s are flying off the shelf. TWENTY FIVE YEARS OLD ON 6/3/2025
April 26th, 2025 at 1:31 pm
I watched some YouTube highlights… he was going against NOBODIES!
I am trusting the Bucs thinking his game translates to NFL lineman
But gezzo pizzo he was going against NOBODIES !
April 26th, 2025 at 1:32 pm
Love this quote from his high school coach:
“Ferocious – Absolutely Ferocious. The offensive linemen wherever he goes – are gonna hate him – because of the way he practices…”
April 26th, 2025 at 1:33 pm
Based on the tape at the Senior Bowl, he has a lot of power! Another small school diamond in the rough? I’m excited to see what he can do.
April 26th, 2025 at 1:34 pm
He shredded at the senior bowl against top tier talent. This is a great pick.
April 26th, 2025 at 1:36 pm
Jthv. He went to the senior bowl n showed out!!!
Exactly how. Marpet. Cappa. Goedke. Mauch got here. Kid has talent everywhere
April 26th, 2025 at 1:36 pm
I’m not gonna pretend I know this guy. I was hoping for Sawyer, but Licht deserves the benefit of the doubt. Hopefully, he can be a rotational pass rusher.
April 26th, 2025 at 1:37 pm
No please please draft 2 mlb’s in a row
April 26th, 2025 at 1:39 pm
Everyone freaking out he played against nobodies. Marpet, Mauch, Goedeke also played against nobodies. They all turned out pretty good. Pass rush ability translates at any level. Knowing this, and having an eye for talent is why none on this site are NFL scouts, evaluators. Leave it to the pros at One Buc, they know better than us.
April 26th, 2025 at 1:41 pm
Player’s from small schools rarely face strong competition…yet Jadon Licht always scores big.
I could care less about level of competition.
What? Is he NOT supposed to well? Come on, now.
This kid has 39 sacks in college.
Age only matters a little, because players play longer now. In 5 years, they’ll play even longer.
April 26th, 2025 at 1:44 pm
Every year, same thing. It’s guaranteed.
The amateur gms populating this board cry because Licht didn’t draft their mancrush or the guy “the youtubr experts” rated higher.
Every year, you are usually wrong.
April 26th, 2025 at 1:49 pm
Larry Allen came from a small school. Just saying. Beast is beast!
April 26th, 2025 at 1:51 pm
They past on Sawyer, good job! Went to the Steelers two picks later, but what do they know about d-linemen…lol
April 26th, 2025 at 1:52 pm
Quote from Zachary McKinnell on FCS Football Central site
“Walker established himself as the most dominant defensive player at the FCS level over the past three seasons. He capped his college career by winning the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the nation’s top defensive player in the FCS.
Walker finished his career as a three-time unanimous FCS All-American selection. In one of the most impressive feats in college football, Walker was also named the conference Defensive Player of the Year in three consecutive seasons.
In 34 career games, Walker recorded 191 total tackles, 63 tackles for loss, 31 sacks, eight pass breakups, and six forced fumbles.”
April 26th, 2025 at 1:57 pm
The guy showed he can get after the quarterback that he can make tackles for loss he put up pretty decent numbers at the combine and showed up well the Senior bowl when he was going against top talent. Just because you came from a small school and played against lesser competition doesn’t mean you don’t have the physical tools and skill set to be a successful NFL player.
April 26th, 2025 at 1:57 pm
only thing , every1, has to be concerned about, is offensive growth/stability, which they addressed, 1st round. 2nd, DEFENSE upgrades. cb/edge, was always an issue, last year. THINK. this pick, is edge or middle(lvd replacement). as always, in the draft, has skills, but in the words of kevin costner, its a character thing for me
April 26th, 2025 at 2:00 pm
Well, I’m starting to like this old guy already.
April 26th, 2025 at 2:00 pm
Should have traded up for Skatebo.
April 26th, 2025 at 2:03 pm
Hey, I was hoping the Bucs would grab Captain Jack, but looking at some of the highlights this kid had at the Senior Bowl against the “elite” talent, he definitely turned some heads. Licht seems to have a knack at finding small college diamonds in the rough. Lets give him a chance before writing him off.
April 26th, 2025 at 2:03 pm
Pretty stout build. Wonder if he could be a ILB candidate.
April 26th, 2025 at 2:05 pm
This guy is a competitor. Considering that he came from a small school, I’m impressed with his combine results, he put up some pretty good numbers. He has a chip on his shoulder. Squatted 600 lbs n impressively bull rushed 💪🏽 over OL at the senior bowl, n negative, they weren’t small school linemen. We got a steal.
April 26th, 2025 at 2:06 pm
cant win, if offense isnt FIRE, which it is(was). Cant plan for new receiver(tape) , Cant plan blocks(opponent off), via bad year(reddick). cant design routes, via new dbs/edge. all question marks now, for opponents. Master level drafting
April 26th, 2025 at 2:07 pm
Wrong Walker. A ‘trade-up’ to secure the other “Walker,” would’ve been the Homerun we desperately needed. 6’7”-331lbs and JUST TURNED ‘21-years old’ last MONTH. 7.5-SACKS and 12.5-TFL as a SOPH (while constantly being double and triple-TEAMED), in THE SEC. But, we stand pat (as usual) for the 25-YEAR OLD, from where was it again, Central Arkansas!? It just seems-like, we’re not even trying. No movin and shakin, nothing bold. Just the same old boring, being content with mediocrity. And, that is really hard to understand, for a team you’d ‘think’ would be trying to get over the hump and take that next step. Not a good draft, at all. I’m done with it. Over it. I don’t care what they do next.
April 26th, 2025 at 2:16 pm
But, but, but they didn’t draft my guy!….In my best Sandler voice, “Aahhhh Shut Up!!”
April 26th, 2025 at 2:18 pm
Watch his Senior Bowl tape. He is undersized but uses it to his advantage. I wouldn’t be surprised if he pushes Braswell and Nelson for snaps right away. People complaining about ILB don’t seem to understand that we already have greatly improved the room with a healthy Dennis and the veteran Walker, and that ILB is one of the easiest positions to replace with a cheap and serviceable FA if we need to when Lavonte retires. No worries!!
April 26th, 2025 at 2:28 pm
And, for the record (to all of these ‘homers’)… I was ecstatic with last year’s draft and thought ALL 5-PICKS (yes, even Bras) were HOMERUNS. While, I had to educate almost EVERYONE (who was freaking-out and going nuts) about JMac really being WR1a to Odunze, before getting injured. But, Barton was the OBVIOUS #1-Pick, and the rest were all pretty easy no-brainers. The Tykee pick surprised me a little, BUT I was real good with it! This year’s draft has been an ENTIRELY ‘different’ story. I don’t know know what they were thinking. And, NO… I am not “outraged.” Just dazed, puzzled, and bored to the point, where I no longer care. I thought we had a real good opportunity, with a tight ‘window’ here in THIS Division, currently. And, a great shot at earning a first-round bye and having home-field advantage. THIS Year. Now, I’m not seeing-it.
April 26th, 2025 at 2:28 pm
I was hoping Swinson, but like the look of this guy as well… competition scares me a bit.
Interesting that no ILB as they are flying now.
Bring on THOR in round 5!!! THOR Griffith for the front come on!
April 26th, 2025 at 2:34 pm
I didn’t read up on this guy before the draft, but man, do I like what I’ve seen.
His pro comparison, height/weight/style – Shaq Barrett
Ultra productive pass rusher, yes at a lower tier school, but someone said “pass rushing translates regardless of the level,” and that is true, so long as you have the physical abilities, and other than being short, he does.
The hit rate on edge rushers at this point of the draft is ridiculously low – but I really like this guys profile and production compared to getting some stiff who went to a bigger school and never did anything. As a lottery ticket, I quite like it.
April 26th, 2025 at 2:34 pm
MelvinJunior… enjoy rooting for your real team… Saints
or is it Falcons? Maybe Panthers?
Hard to tell…but you’re on the wrong site.
April 26th, 2025 at 2:36 pm
Hopefully he makes a difference on Sundays in a 1 score game, no one else has recently.
April 26th, 2025 at 3:00 pm
Awesome pick! Then we landed Elijah Roberts!!
Double dip CB, Double dip D line….Oh yeah!! Plus we got our WR….oh man, im so happy 🙂
April 26th, 2025 at 3:01 pm
Please don’t compare him to Freeney. Freeney ran 4.39 not 4.69. And this dude is 25. I hope be pans out but this dude is as big and fast as he’ll ever be.
April 26th, 2025 at 3:05 pm
He didn’t play against nobodies at the Senior Bowl, Simple Jacks. That’s the point Joe makes. Good grief.
April 26th, 2025 at 3:14 pm
lol, bro don’t hurt our offensive linemen in practice. We need them healthy. Save it for our enemies, especially the Saints. Just beat them to a pulp, drag em off and beat em some more. I can’t help but think of Sapp here.
April 26th, 2025 at 3:30 pm
Kind of a combo of Elvis dummerville and Khalil Mack. Size wise with dummerville, and Mack played at a smaller school and was also known for his TFLs.
April 26th, 2025 at 4:24 pm
alright. fully think, all commenters, never played football, ever. a 4.3 40, even a 5.0, is faster than you can get off couch. Height? Doesnt matter, if you destroy who is in front. body, does, quick twitch, does,
April 26th, 2025 at 7:07 pm
Sawyer is stiff as hell can’t get to the QB limited pass rushing ability at least that’s what the scouting report says which do you want QB pressures or another Tryon