Another Bouquet For David Walker
July 16th, 2025
Rookie edge rusher David Walker.
Remember when a guy in the Buccaneers’ 2025 draft war room yelled, “That’s how you win a Super Bowl?”
Joe sure does. And it wasn’t a late-arriving Uber Eats driving angling with Team Glazer for a fat tip.
It was outside linebackers coach Larry Foote celebrating the drafting of fourth-round pick David Walker, the edge rusher out of Central Arkansas.
We’re still about 12 days from Walker wearing pads in an NFL practice for the first time, but another seasoned NFL man is very high on Walker, too. Joe’s referring to former Washington Redskins head coach and Tampa high school standout and Arena league Hall of Fame quarterback Jay Gruden, who spent seven years as a Bucs assistant coach under his brother Jon.
Now co-hosting the Clean Pocket podcast, Jay Gruden gushed about the Bucs’ 2025 draft and how general manager Jason Licht is so good at finding high character players with talent.
After initially not liking the Bucs’ Emeka Egbuka pick in Round 1, Gruden admitted to changing his mind and realizing it was a wise move. Then he praised other Bucs picks but said Walker is his “key” pick of the Tampa Bay draft.
“The guy you gotta really look at is this David Walker cat. Have you seen that guy at the Senior Bowl?” Gruden said. “This guy is an explosive guy off the edge. … I think this is a great pass rusher. They needed another pass rusher, and I think this guy for a fourth-rounder is going to come in and make an immediate impact.”
Joe liked Jay Gruden’s comments, especially since he’s unlike his brother. Jay Gruden doesn’t love every player like Jon Gruden claims to, and he’s unafraid to say it.
As for Walker, Joe can’t pretend to know if the guy can play. But Joe does know Licht said second-year edge rusher Chris Braswell will “shock” fans this season, in a good way.
July 16th, 2025 at 6:56 pm
When you don’t have enough talented depth on a football team it hurts in more ways than one. Not only does it hurt when that backup has to play but it hurts competition and the starters aren’t on the fine line they need to play their best. It’s really obvious to me that our depth has improved over these last couple of seasons. And I think it’s in the right places. Not sure yet about Oline and of course we could always use another grizzly bear Defensive Tackle. But we’re shaping up into a very good football team. And I ain’t kidding!
July 16th, 2025 at 7:07 pm
David Walker is a very good football player
Can’t wait to see him in action
July 16th, 2025 at 7:12 pm
This kids‘ tape screams “violence” and I hope it can translate sooner rather than later. 3-Time FCS DPOY in two different conference. Obviously against lesser competition, but the tale of the tape says Walker can be a solid pro at the very least.
July 16th, 2025 at 7:16 pm
All I know about Walker is he was nursing a hammy for June camp. This reminds me of the hype around Kancey who hasn’t been healthy to start his first 2 seasons in the league. Hope this is a minor injury, and this is behind him. But we’ve seen this with Dennis too, and Wirfs knee was a none issue till it was.
July 16th, 2025 at 8:11 pm
It’s Mid July and players have had 5 plus months to get healthy and fix their issues. I don’t care if you’re a College player ot Tristan Wirfs, if you aren’t ready to play opening day, you screwed up.
It’s your start time, your job, you don’t call in sick, hurt or anything else. You had 5 months to get right.
It’s a matter of commitment and what’s important to you. I’ve never missed a day of work, sprained ankle, sprained Achilles, flu, shingles and I was a UPS driver. I was backed by a union and had sick days, you don’t miss work. People are counting on you, so don’t give me all the soft tissue, arthscoptic or anything else.
5 months to get ready for your start time. Rub dirt on it and get to work or move the hell over.
Go BUCS!
July 16th, 2025 at 8:25 pm
Walker gives me the warms. Already. Until he’s asked to drop in coverage like Braswell was in TC because the boss wants everyone to be a Swiss Army knife. But the army seems to love cheese, so……
July 16th, 2025 at 8:26 pm
Walker is already 25 years old. He is listed as 6″2′ and 260 pounds. Haasan Reddick is listed as 6″1′ and 240 pounds. Shaq Barrett was listed as 6″2′ and 250 pounds. We might only want to “rent” Reddick for one year if Walker is what Foote hoped for. We shall see.
July 16th, 2025 at 8:59 pm
I highly doubt Walker pushes Reddick for playing time but he could push YaYa. This is not supposed to be a knock on YaYa’s talent but motivational push to finishes his sacks.
July 16th, 2025 at 9:22 pm
Braswell is more likely to give someone a Shocker than to shock any of us fans.
July 16th, 2025 at 9:36 pm
Kenton
“Not only does it hurt when that backup has to play but it hurts competition and the starters aren’t on the fine line they need to play their best.”
That is an excellent point!!! I’m sure I’m not the only one to overlook it.
It reminds me back in the day of that last SB team when guys talked about “iron forging iron”.
July 16th, 2025 at 9:55 pm
Walker hasn’t played a down in the NFL yet he is being hyped as the next Lawrence Taylor. I’ll wait to see him in action before I gush about a 4th round pick. Hope the hype is right. We will see.
July 16th, 2025 at 10:40 pm
Went from 0 edge to a stacked deck….. GO BUCS!
July 16th, 2025 at 11:27 pm
Injuries hurt every team. The best coaches adapt. The other ones don’t, but have fans that make injury excuses.
July 17th, 2025 at 1:20 am
LOL Its that time of year again and hope runs high on all of our dudes. Imagine if everyone lives up to the hopes? Wow! I like what I saw of Walker in Mobile. Quick and powerful.
Licht is pretty straight with the media when he can be. So Braswell may get it going in year two. Could we be four deep at edge? Wow! That would be awsome!
Go Bucs!
July 17th, 2025 at 1:34 am
Depth is a quality of a team that goes to the Super Bowl. I recall the Bucs first SB team shuttling linebackers in and out on those oppressively hot games. The Bucs were fresher than the competition. By how much? Enough to win it all.
July 17th, 2025 at 2:40 am
Gipper Says:
July 16th, 2025 at 9:55 pm
Walker hasn’t played a down in the NFL yet he is being hyped as the next Lawrence Taylor. I’ll wait to see him in action before I gush about a 4th round pick. Hope the hype is right. We will see.
——————–
I was thinking the same thing. Most of the time hype leads to disappointment. I hope this is not the case.
July 17th, 2025 at 5:12 am
David Walker has a relentless motor. Watch and see.
July 17th, 2025 at 6:48 am
I’ve mentioned this before, and I’ll say it again.
This guy hits like a freight train.
Go watch some of his tape.
I’ll admit there’s a huge difference and big upgrade between Central Arkansas and the NFL.
But, if David can take his level of play to the NFL level, I’ll feel sorry for any QB he blindsides.
And that QB will be seeing stars… once he picks himself up off the ground and figures out what happened to him, lol.
July 17th, 2025 at 7:42 am
He is a little short and slow compared to other higher ranked edge rushers but his atheletism is graded higher than the number 4 edge James Perace out of Tennessee and that is saying something.
July 17th, 2025 at 10:03 am
I wouldn’t count out Braswell. It’ll click for him.
July 17th, 2025 at 1:26 pm
Steal of the draft, #51 Walker is going to an absolute stud for Tampa and will be starting sooner than later.
July 17th, 2025 at 1:43 pm
Am I the only one that just went, “Oh no, this is bad.”
Gruden is the WORST evaluator of draft talent. Historically horrific. He may be the worst evaluator of talent ever (Matt Millen included). I don’t like hearing his praise on any of our rookies.