David Walker On Track For “Full-Go” At Start Of Training Camp
June 17th, 2026
For those unaware, the Buccaneers drafted a small-school edge rusher in Round 4 last year and hyped him up like he was an early-second-round steal.
That man was David Walker out of Central Arkansas. And yes, Walker is a man. He turned 26 this month and has yet to complete an NFL practice in pads.
Walker blew his knee out (ACL) last July.
He’s been on the field during spring sessions (shorts and t-shirts) and has been able to crank it up athletically over the past 10 days.
Today, Todd Bowles gave Walker a ringing endorsement.
“Judging by the last week, week and a half, he’s really come on and looked like his old self,” Bowles said. “So you can see the athleticism and the speed come back. So, you give it another couple of weeks and get to training camp, I expect him to be full-go and the guy that we drafted.”
What a mystery Walker is. Few, if any, Bucs fans watched him play college ball. But many fans saw Bucs edge rusher coach Larry Foote explode on Walker’s draft night and declare him a Super Bowl cog. Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht literally has acknowledged trying not to gush publicly over the guy.
Walker is now roughly seven weeks from putting those pads back on.
June 17th, 2026 at 2:12 pm
rooting for walker big time….still an unknown at this point, but hoping he avoids injury and see the field
GO BUCS!!!!
June 17th, 2026 at 2:30 pm
Super Bowles will have him coached up to be reminding us of Joe Tryon-Showinka in no time.
June 17th, 2026 at 2:36 pm
I expect Walked to be a bonus….and will likely replace Braswell
June 17th, 2026 at 2:42 pm
3.28=💩🤡
June 17th, 2026 at 2:53 pm
He’s a short, thick, angry player. Like Bain.
I think Bain and Walker are going to be a nasty 2 man punch.
Add in Yaya, Mohammed and Braswell.
Plus, Nelson?
Damn. That’s a very deep group of OLB.
I think Yaya like Bain also has the potential play inside sometimes.
Yaya needs to watch some JPP film when JPP would kick inside.
June 17th, 2026 at 2:54 pm
This is who I’m most excited to see how, when, where and with whom Walker fits into the lineup with.
June 17th, 2026 at 3:11 pm
“ Larry Foote explode on Walker’s draft night and declare him a Super Bowl cog. Jason Licht literally has acknowledged trying not to gush publicly over the guy.”
Just knowing where these two statements came from alone, should give any smart rational person a very good reason to pause. I mean, you’re definitely taking the ‘under’ and betting the exact ‘opposite’ on this one hahah. I think Lickt got confused and took the WRONG “Walker.” THIS is the perfect example for WHY we are lacking on “ELITE-talent” throughout this entire roster. Could’ve had BIG DEONE. JL should’ve been falling all over himself by that point in the draft, while trying to jump up a few spots to GET HIM, But, NO. He takes the freaking LAZY WEAK route and does what’s COMFORTABLE, by just standing pat. It has absolutely KILLED US.
He could’ve had a 6’7”/350lb, 21-year old, FREAK (with an extremely high motor). Who was an ELITE Top-30 5-‘STAR’ 17-year old RECRUIT, coming out of HS. Who came right in and DOMINATED “THE SEC” as an 18-year old TRUE Freshman, when he was 1st-Team Freshman ALL-AMERICAN. Then, was 1st-Team ALL-SEC and 3rd-Team ALL-AMERICAN, as just a 19-year old. As a 21-year old NFL ‘ROOKIE’ just this past season, HE was named to the ALL-ROOKIE TEAM. He was a projected 1st-Round PICK, and potentially even Top-10, going into his Junior season. He was unblock-able for the BILLS last year, during the second half of their season and The Playoffs. We could’ve had HIM. We should’ve had HIM.
June 17th, 2026 at 3:26 pm
BIG Deone had an even BETTER season than VEA did last year, and in only about HALF the total number of snaps. And, he DOMINATED the line of scrimmage in Playoffs, even shoeing off his hands, quick reflexes, AND pure freakish’ athletic ability, by snagging himself a HUGE INT. He was absolutely UNBLOCK-ABLE 1-on-1. You just CAN’T. It’s IMPOSSIBLE. And, it was ALL they could do to just ‘halfway’ maintain HIM, even when it was 2-on-1.
June 17th, 2026 at 4:14 pm
You guys are cooked. Specifically Teacherman! Yeah blinded by reality if you think this guy is anything like what Bain is to be lmao.
Not even close to the same talent!
Then you say, “Add in Yaya, Mohammed and Braswell.
Plus, Nelson? Damn. That’s a very deep group of OLB.”
No, absolutely not acceptable group for nasty deep talented group of defenders. No it just isn’t. Nelson is average at best pass rusher and Braswell is a bust.
YaYa should be a DD sack artist, but he’s legit the only one who meets that criteria, Mohammed had a lucky break in Detroit, but that’s not to be guaranteed once in TB to be replicated.
Anyone who says this group is special is nuts. As long as no injuries come regular season they’ll be fine.
Walker may not even make the team tbh. JPP was signed to practice squad and he probably will be way better come mini camp, training camp, and preseason.
June 17th, 2026 at 5:02 pm
Yes, I’m sure the player from a third rate college that can’t stay on the field is going to storm the NFL.
That’s how you win the SB!!!!
Hahahahahaha!!!
June 17th, 2026 at 5:41 pm
Right on, LynchMob50. Like the juco WR with the drops is going to replace Mike Evans!
ROTFLMAO