PFF Tribe: David Walker Is “No Fluke”
October 20th, 2026
Tribal drum beats.
Joe doesn’t know if Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht is going to screen shot this story and text it to Team Glazer, or if Licht is going to run screaming back to his office and lock the doors.
If the PFF tribe likes something, that’s often the kiss of death with NFL front offices.
So here is something that may shock you: The PFF tribe believes no pass rusher in the NFL is more dangerous right now than David Walker. You read that last sentence right.
The PFF tribe performed their rain dance in order to try to find out who the most successful pass rusher is. Their hocus-pocus came up with Walker. No, really. Per the tribe, no NFL pass rusher has a better pass-rush win-rate than Walker at 26.3 percent.
That means at least once every four snaps Walker wins at the point of attack.
Yes, a Bucs edge rusher. Yes, a guy in his first healthy year in the league. Dang.
On Sunday, per Pro-Football-Reference.com, Walker had 28 snaps on defense. Steelers drama queen quarterback Aaron Rodgers put the ball in the air 49 times on Sunday against the Bucs.
For Walker to not have more snaps is just irresponsible.
And you know what, if Walker isn’t on the field for at least 35 snaps on Sunday at Carolina to chase after that midget quarterback the Stinking Panthers have, then that tells Joe the Bucs are in the process of tanking.
What else would you call it if the defensive coordinator doesn’t put his best players on the field when healthy?
(Do the Bucs have their eyes on Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith or Texas defensive end Colin Simmons?)
Walker has logged 99 defensive snaps through six games. He leads the Bucs in sacks with four, highlighted by dropping Rodgers twice on Sunday.
The David Walker breakout is no fluke at this point after beating both Steelers tackles for a sack yesterday. He leads the entire NFL in pass-rush win-rate per @PFF (26.3%) pic.twitter.com/QwH5WDVs1I
— Mike Renner (@mikerenner_) October 19, 2026
October 20th, 2026 at 3:57 am
It’s not tanking, bowles is just a moron.
October 20th, 2026 at 4:02 am
Bowles doesn’t value sacks because he doesn’t know how to defend against his kryptonite: 3rd and long. Its best we let them rush for a few yards and set up for 3rd and 2 than have to defend a 3rd and 10+, which seems to be an automatic 1st down for every team.
October 20th, 2026 at 4:22 am
Now that I’m early to a comments here’s my take on Walker. Joe, do not give Bowles credit for Walker. Walker is like what? 26? He’s been developing for years. He’s polished, clearly. Bowles hasn’t ruined him yet. Once we get a real DC that actually values a pass rush, these guys will eat. We got a steal in Walker, hopefully he stays this way.
October 20th, 2026 at 4:31 am
Ken, good post. Seems like the Bucs give up a ton of 3rd and long. Not sure how that compares to Walker being on the field or not, but I’d like to see the stats.
October 20th, 2026 at 5:01 am
We might as well embrace the losing now
Shed players over 25 and on High Contracts
Get a high draft pick
Get a new Head Coach
Get a new OC
Get a new DC
What could go wrong!!!
October 20th, 2026 at 5:20 am
I think Bowles is a buffoon, but its hard to argue with how Walker is currently being used. He’s fresh every time he’s on the field and producing at a crazy rate with his snaps.
It can go the other way too, give him more snaps and watch his effectiveness go down.
I can see what Bowles is doing and its not wrong…which pains me to say a little bit.
October 20th, 2026 at 5:37 am
Walker could play every snap on defense, and this team would still be 1-5. There’s more problems on this team, and in this organization than Walkers snap count.
October 20th, 2026 at 5:41 am
Gotbucs, I guess this falls under the category of you never know unless you try. I’m kind of a believer in play the hot player. If he plays 75% or even 66% of the time and underachieves then you can say look see what happens. I think fans would like to see for themselves since we really have little to cheer for.
October 20th, 2026 at 5:48 am
Except we’ve never seen him with more snaps, so really you’re just talking out of your, well you know, the place man. And I have ZERO faith in bowles or anyone on his staff to make that determination.
Besides, this defense already has too many part time players:
Injury: Kancey, Morrison, AWJ
Conditioning/fat/happy/lazy: Vea
October 20th, 2026 at 6:04 am
Coaching malpractice.
October 20th, 2026 at 6:11 am
It’s funny – when PFF grades a player high (Wirfs, Walker) everyone agrees with their analysis…
However – when they are honest and grade most of our starters very low folks @ JBF call them horse manure.
You can’t have it both ways fellas.
October 20th, 2026 at 6:35 am
I am going to look at the positive.
The Bucs will have a new coach, hopefully a better coach, next year. No more Bowles.
Our EDGE rush is looking good, not just Walker, who looks awesome in the highlight with his pressures and a TFL, but Bain too, a sack and tipped pass for an INT to A Rob.
I dont agree with the premise that our players suck. Its the coaching. Like everyone said Drake Maye was no good at the beginning of this season. What? Did he forget how to play? Well Maye is playing better now.
No one disagreed that the Bucs had a top 3 O-line at the beginning of the season. I dare you to show the post where you said before the season our O-line sucked. Zac changed to HIS system, which sucks. Do we have some changes we need to make? Of course. Every team does.
Zac was at best average in ATL with top end talent. He has proven he sucks as an OC. Next year will improve with new coaches. I am going to enjoy watching Walker and Bain grow this year.
October 20th, 2026 at 6:42 am
Marine Buc, can’t is one of those words that many of us don’t like the sound of. More than a few times I’ve said to myself, “Marine Buc can’t be right about that”. And then you’re right again. Which cancels out the validity of “can’t” once again.
What about the little train that keeps saying, “I think I can, I think I can”. Sometimes a little attitude adjustment is all we need, Marine Buc.
Come on, Marine Buc! Try to be more positive. I think you can, I think you can!
October 20th, 2026 at 6:42 am
the only sack that matters this season is the glazers sacking bowles.
October 20th, 2026 at 6:55 am
@ Kenton
I didn’t think I was being negative…
All I said was that most of our players are graded very low by PFF – which is true.
Besides – our team is 1-5.
Please tell me Kenton what exactly should I be “positive” about?
Here – I will be “positive” just for you – this team is positively a dumpster fire and it will get worse once our beloved fullback Baker returns as the starter.
Is that better?
October 20th, 2026 at 6:56 am
Go Rays!
Go David Walker!
October 20th, 2026 at 6:57 am
Who would be the best head coach that is NOT a defensive head coach. Enough of that. We need a stud offensive minded HC who can them hire a stud defensive coordinator.
October 20th, 2026 at 7:07 am
@ Todd
Byron Leftwich.
5 years ago he was a head coaching candidate for about 5 minutes…
October 20th, 2026 at 7:07 am
Steven #55
What could go wrong?
Licht being here to make draft picks.
October 20th, 2026 at 7:30 am
Diaby has had a few big plays but Walker should replace him in the starting lineup. He’s one of the best defensive players we have!
October 20th, 2026 at 7:51 am
i agree with ken
October 20th, 2026 at 7:56 am
Going into Week 7 and Joe is already talking next year’s draft. Shocking? To some maybe.
Sad news is, many of us are not the least bit shocked. The Bucs have been stockpiling ineptitude for the past few years. It was only a matter of time before it reared its ugly head.
In the interim between now and Draft Day, we can only hope the Glazer boys purchase enough ink to stamp Licht’s exit visa with Todd’s.
When Jim Irsay passed away in early 2025, his daughter Carlie took ownership of the team and decided to run things herself. Not being a football junkie, she learned and studied and gave it her all. Last year, her first, the Colts started hot until Daniel Jones went down. This year, with Jones healthy, things have not looked good, culminating in a loss to Tennessee last week.
With that, Carlie didn’t hesitate to show ten-year veteran GM, Chris Ballard, the door … IN MID SEASON! I wish that sort of boldness existed around here.
But it won’t. The Glazer boys are too nice, and would never do that to Jason Licht, who has a worse career W-L record than Ballard. Here, that sort of dysfunction gets you into the Ring of Honor.
Unfortunately, NFL owners cannot be fired for not winning. So we all are stuck hoping for divine intervention or another unexplained epiphany that might wake the Glazers up from their current streak of bad decision making.
October 20th, 2026 at 7:57 am
Not a fluke
He’s a barracuda
October 20th, 2026 at 8:04 am
What would you call it you would call it Todd joe.
October 20th, 2026 at 8:26 am
Coaches are control freaks. You can add to that foible that if it is not Bowles idea, he will resist it. These are common character flaws but they do not lead to successful head coaching.
October 20th, 2026 at 8:30 am
I don’t buy that. What incentive does Todd Bowles or the rest of the coaching staff have by tanking? The last time the Bucs legitimately tanked was in 2014 and we all knew Lovie Smith was coming back. No such certainty exists with Bowles or Jason Licht for that matter.
Besides, I would argue tanking doesn’t work. I can’t think of a single team who tanked and then ended up in the Super Bowl with the player they tanked for.
October 20th, 2026 at 8:41 am
@gotbucs there were several crucial third downs in the fourth quarter last game where Walker wasn’t on the field. Explain this?
October 20th, 2026 at 8:52 am
JD and Jerimiah Smith would make a great young combo for years to come. JS, THurst, JMac, Tez. After his horrible performance on Sunday, EE needs to be shipped off in the fire sale.
October 20th, 2026 at 9:01 am
Joe … ‘Do the Bucs have their eyes on Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith or Texas defensive end Colin Simmons?’
Oh please please please … NO.
This is supposedly the year of the quarterback. IF we end up picking in the Top-5, for heaven’s sake use that top pick to grab a QB for the future. Last time we had a Top pick (2015), there were really no fantastic QBs in the pickins. This time there will be. Let him mostly sit in 2027 (except for maybe some periodic cleanup duty) to observe & learn, then start in 2028 … HOPEFULLY.
October 20th, 2026 at 9:01 am
Walker, Tucker, Hurst should be getting more snaps…. We are “accidentally tanking “ thanks to coaches ineptitude.
October 20th, 2026 at 9:02 am
And for the record, I was wrong about Walker. Just got tired of the hype before he actually made a single move play.
October 20th, 2026 at 9:18 am
PFF is a joke. This time though, their score for Walker is in line with what almost everyone, even the casual observer, saw on the field. Anyone with half a brain could see it. Proof that even PFF can occasionally be right. The guy has 4 sacks in minimal snaps and leads the team. He has over 30% of the teams total sacks!
October 20th, 2026 at 9:26 am
Gee if they play him more snaps, teams may have to start double teaming or chipping him with a tight end. Maybe that’ll help the other guys. That’s been what the pass rush has been missing, a guy that the other team has to fear.
October 20th, 2026 at 10:26 am
… and Joe has went on record before saying he doesnt believe in PFF data. Yet here we are, using it for a story. Tsk, tsk, tsk….
October 20th, 2026 at 10:31 am
Maybe, just maybe, Bain is ready to break out, with pressure on Dak forcing a bad throw on the Cowboys’ last possession, a sack against Rogers, and a tipped pass that led to an interception against the Steelers. Put Yaya as the other inside linebacker since he is not getting home and we usually find him in that area anyway
October 20th, 2026 at 10:41 am
Questioning Todd Bowles’ use of his players is what fans do, but he gets paid to do it and we don’t. Clearly Walker doesn’t do the other things as well as the other players and that’s what matters most.
October 20th, 2026 at 12:39 pm
This is way, way, way overlooked.
October 20th, 2026 at 12:40 pm
Define “data.”
Joe has always said he’s OK with their stats.
Joe for years has hammered the PFF tribe for their dumbass grades.
There’s a difference. A major difference.
The PFF tribe got bought out last year (and had a massive layoff as a result). The company that bought them from Cris Collinsworth told him he can keep the name and the dumbass grades, which they wanted nothing to do with. Just gave it away.
That should be a tipoff.
October 20th, 2026 at 2:03 pm
gotbbucs Says:
October 20th, 2026 at 5:20 am
“I think Bowles is a buffoon, but its hard to argue with how Walker is currently being used. He’s fresh every time he’s on the field and producing at a crazy rate with his snaps.
It can go the other way too, give him more snaps and watch his effectiveness go down.
I can see what Bowles is doing and its not wrong…which pains me to say a little bit.”
Bro, and Joes, we have NOT seen Walker get the majority of snaps in a game yet, so HOW do we know he will be less effective with more snaps??
Freakin’ play this guy, Bowles. (If you don’t, you’re a moron)
October 20th, 2026 at 2:04 pm
Find out, Bowles.