Is David Walker Simply A Smokescreen?
April 22nd, 2026
Joe is trying to get inside the head of Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht.
All offseason, Licht professed his love for last year’s fourth-round pick edge rusher David Walker. He blew out his knee in training camp and never saw one snap all last year.
Beginning at the combine, Licht spent quite a bit of energy and oxygen waxing poetic about the traits and skillsets of Walker, who hails from Central Arkansas.
Joe always felt funny about the offseason hype Licht had for Walker because Walker has yet to finish a padded practice for the Bucs. Exactly why was Licht so excited for a guy who has yet to shed a block in practice, forget a game?
Joe chalked it up to Licht’s habit of giving everyone at One Buc Palace a shoutout for morale and nothing more.
So, is Walker a smokescreen? Additionally, is Al-Quadin Muhammad, a guy who had double-digit sacks for the Lions last year but never started a game, is he all that?
The reason Joe asks this is if all the folks who are pointing at the Bucs drafting Miami edge rusher Akheem Mesidor in the first round, well, we all know who is going to get the bulk of the snaps if the Bucs draft Mesidor.
Hint: It isn’t going to be Walker and it isn’t going to be AQM. No team invests a 15th overall pick and the money that comes with such a pick for him to have a season ticket at games, sitting right next to the medical (?) peep show tent.
So Joe is trying to figure out if spending Team Glazer loot to buy AQM and all the public glossing for Walker is/was just a massive smokescreen?
Anyway, as Joe chews on that, Jenna Laine of ESPN is pretty sure Mesidor is coming to Tampa. In an NFL Nation mock draft where the beat writers of each team pick for the team they cover, Laine selected Mesidor at No. 15.
Jenna Laine’s pick: Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami
The Bucs haven’t had an edge rusher with double-digit sacks since Shaquil Barrett in 2021. General manager Jason Licht has been very open about this being a position they have not had great success in drafting. Mesidor gives them the production they’ve needed — 12.5 sacks, 17.5 tackles for a loss and four forced fumbles in his final college season — and coach Todd Bowles indicated he would not have a problem selecting a player who is 25 years old.
Here’s another angle: Licht has made it widely known he is craving to trade down. Was signing AQM and building up Walker just CYA moves by Licht in case he doesn’t get his man on the edge at No. 15?
The drama is what sells the draft. We will all find out in less than 48 hours. Tomorrow night!
April 22nd, 2026 at 7:02 am
Cheech and Chong enters chat.
April 22nd, 2026 at 7:03 am
No more.nonsense about middle.round draft picks and their potential. It isn’t working for Licht.
Go get the pass rusher at 15 or trade up if you have to.
April 22nd, 2026 at 7:08 am
Same moron that moved up in the 2nd for a kicker and wasted a 2nd on a backup QB, if not for Brady and BA he would’ve been fired years ago
April 22nd, 2026 at 7:39 am
Walker will fit right in with Lichts last 10 wasted picks on the D line.
Looks Like an All Pro As long as it’s not in a game, or in front of people.
Sounds about right.
Hopefully we draft another midget or tweener with our top pick.
I’ve given up up on our office after drafting a real NFL caliber Linemen
But we are building a fantastic PeeWee football D-line!
April 22nd, 2026 at 7:43 am
Guzzie is right on the money , except he left out trading back when he could have selected Devin Lloyd at LB-In the words of BB “What a Maroon”.
April 22nd, 2026 at 7:57 am
All we know about Walker is what’s on tape from his college career and of course what people say about him. And what people say isn’t always accurate or even true.
The guess here is that the Bucs drop back in the draft, scoop up Kayden McDonald as the heir apparent to Tevita Tuliʻakiʻono Tuipulotu Mosese Vaʻhae Fehoko Faletau Vea and some how get J Rod in the second round.
April 22nd, 2026 at 7:58 am
Is that his favorite color?
April 22nd, 2026 at 8:01 am
Davis Walker and Mohammad are both DPRs. They aren’t three down OLBs and together they don’t add up to one so the Bucs are truly in need of drafting at least one of the many pass rushers in this draft.
When it comes to Mesidor I haven’t liked a consensus pick for the Bucs so much since Mike Evans but if he is gone Faulk plus one more year of JPP on the roster could be something. Faulk is a ball of clay that happens to be the exact same size as and moves like JPP except he has all his fingers. I know his tape and production are meh but so is pretty much every other option at 15 and Reese is going top 3 without ever forcing a turnover. This isn’t as awful a draft as it first seemed but it is all but headless. If Mesidor is gone and no one wants to trade for 15 I’d only really be pleased with Thieneman at 15. He is a better prospect than any DT is this draft and will give the Bucs twice as many snaps for the pick. Safety isn’t a need or a position worth spending a first rounder on but Thieneman would be a strong step toward making the middle of the field a no fly zone.
Remember when Schiano and Dominic traded their first rounder in a weak draft for Revis and were feeling so clever talking up their “No fly zone.” That went off like a wet fart but I think a trade for Maxx Crosby would work out significantly better. I’m not hoping for this but I am remaining open to all avenues. The Seahawks are trying to swing a trade for Myles Garrett. Maybe the Bucs should too?
Gabe Jacas, Zion Young, R. Mason Thomas, Romello Height or Derrick Moore could fill the void in round 2 but each have limitations.
Michael Heldman from Central Michigan is a day 3 player who I think is the most underrated pass rusher in the draft. He is a Bosa brother style player who, like Mesidor, is older but brings a level of refinement of his body and pass rush toolkit that will translate to year one impact.
I can’t wait to see David Walker in action for the Bucs but based on his size, draft position and injury the Bucs ought to be drafting as if he didn’t exist. There is no shortage of options, thankfully, but there aren’t many realistic top flight options like Mesidor and Crosby.
April 22nd, 2026 at 8:06 am
Did any of his teammates go to his BIRTHday party???
April 22nd, 2026 at 8:06 am
Nope on Missthedoor
April 22nd, 2026 at 8:13 am
I’m always saddened when I see that pic above taken on 12/7/41. I’ll bet the survivors who witnessed THAT smokescreen were shell-shocked.
Anyways, back to Bucs…got a good feeling about the draft and what JL can bring this year. I pray we land a few studs and ballers, and that’s all we can hope for.
Go Bucs ! ! !
April 22nd, 2026 at 8:14 am
That IS a pic of Pearl Harbor, yes Joe? Sure looks like it.
April 22nd, 2026 at 8:15 am
25 years old, a full grown man against men his last year in college
Product of the system and players around him
If he was HS why didn’t he come out 2-3 years ago?
Tom Stimus special !
April 22nd, 2026 at 8:19 am
I ain’t saying but
My perception of Diego Pavia was so far off and influenced by the media portrayal at the end of last season
WATCH the Jon Gruden YouTube channel interview with him
I would take a chance in the late rounds with him
April 22nd, 2026 at 8:23 am
“Faulk is a ball of clay that happens to be the exact same size as and moves like JPP except he has all his fingers.”
Funny you make this comp, because this is exactly how I feel about Malachi Lawerence. DE size with OLB athleticism that can set the edge, but also bend the edge rushing the passer.
I’d take Lawerence and his motor over Faulk, who tbh as of right now is a style(style, not raw talent-there’s a difference) of player we have in Nelly with a little more athleticism in my opinion.
Agree about drafting as if David Walker doesn’t exist, but it also lines up with opening the door in camp for guys to compete for the spot opposite of Yaya. Worst case you’ve got a player decent enough to start sitting, but on the flip side you could have a 3rd OLB to work into a line up siutationally.
Mesidor, in my opinion brings a little more value with being able to work inside/out, but I like Lawrence because he’s younger and his motor runs just as hot as any OLB in this draft.
April 22nd, 2026 at 8:35 am
I think edge and LB in the first couple rounds
April 22nd, 2026 at 8:36 am
But not necessarily in that order.
April 22nd, 2026 at 8:48 am
If they take Messidore at 15 it’s because they couldn’t trade back. I think we need a stud LB more than an Edge. CJ Allen or Jacob Rodriguez is better at 15 for me than an Edge because the difference is minimal between Messidore and half a dozen other Edge players that will be available in rounds 2-3. Once you get past
Rodriguez it leaves only Hill as a day one starting LB.
Can’t wait to stay up tomorrow night to see us trade back
April 22nd, 2026 at 8:49 am
No telling what Licht will actually do. I wouldn’t be surprised with Sadiq or Ioane. Hope he picks Mesidor, McDonald or Allen, but defense doesn’t seem to be a priority to Licht. One thing for sure, it will probably be a player that no one thought about. lol.