David Walker Brings “The Juice” To The Bucs

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David Walker wasn’t the edge rusher many were talking about pre-draft. But that doesn’t mean now that Walker has been drafted that can’t be an effective part of an improved Bucs pass rush.

Measurables

David Walker is one of the more unique body types you will find for an NFL edge rusher.

While Walker’s length is an outlier on the low end of the spectrum all-around, he has the mass and movement skills to give him an opportunity to make up for it. His overall Relative Athletic Score from Kent Lee Platte’s system is 8.62. Walker features some explosive traits that you see him leverage in games. Despite his sturdier frame he can still corner with lose ankles and surprisingly fluid hips.

New Bucs OLB David Walker Photo by: USA Today

Advanced Stats

David Walker generated 55 pressures on 351 pass rush snaps in 2024, resulting in a 15.7% pressure rate. With 151 career pressures on 947 opportunities, his career pressure rate is 15.9%. His 21.0% pass rush win rate was 9th among all qualifying college edge rushers last year according to Pro Football Focus. He posted 27 run stops and a 9.5% stop rate in 2024 which ranked 17th in college football among all edge defenders. Between his total pressures and 130 career defensive stops and his one pass break up he created a plus play for his defense on 15.6% of all of the snaps he played. That’s an incredibly productive player.

Against just two Poer five opponents in his career, Oklahoma State and Ole Miss, Walker produced 7 tackles, 6 pressures and 5 stops. That’s an 11.5% pressure rate and a 15% stop rate against elite college competition.

David Walker’s Traits

As I mentioned earlier, David Walker can corner well for his size, providing high-side upside that the Bucs have struggled with in recent years. He clears the arc with a violent rip to disconnect from tackles.

But Walker is not a one-trick pony. And bend isn’t even his best trick. To win as often and as well as he has Walker has acted as a bully. He easily converts speed to power with natural leverage.

Where a lot of rushers require a long runway to generate that kind of pop, Walker can do it from close quarters. He adds active hands to keep offensive linemen from attaching to him.

But more than anything, what impresses me most about Walker is his footwork. The footspeed he generates helps him set up tackles for counters. He has impressive change-of-direction skills. This gives him multiples ways and directions in how he can get into the backfield as both a pass rusher as well as a run defender.

Walker’s run defense is a strong calling card for him. His short, dense frame paired with his strong play strength helps him set a heavy edge. He keeps his eyes in the backfield so he can make plays on ball carriers. He can stack and shed blocks with his strong hands, often throwing tackles to the side before quickly chasing down the play.

As a fourth-round pick, he is not a perfect pass rusher. His lack of height is going to be something he will constantly have to work around. And despite a strong showing at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, it still remains to be seen whether he can win against a truly elite caliber of competition. But as a day three pick, few pass rushers offer a stronger mix of high-ceiling/high-floor upside.

What’s The Vision

Until the Bucs find long-term reliable, high-end pass rushing options it makes sense for the team to keep throwing darts at the board. A lifetime ago I used to work as a merchant marine. They had a saying for new deckhands just learning the job. “If you can’t tie a knot, tie a lot.” David Walker represents the Bucs’ most recent attempt to tie a lot. With Haason Reddick and Yaya Diaby manning the first team edge rotation, Walker will fit into a rotation with Anthony Nelson and Chris Braswell as second-line rushers.

Central Arkansas Olb David Walker

Central Arkansas OLB David Walker – Photo by: USA Today

The team has high hopes for Braswell. Nelson is a solid depth piece, but he has a low ceiling. Reddick is only under contract for this season. For the long-term future of the team’s roster building, they need someone to emerge with Diaby. Tampa Bay has already started to entertain the idea of finding ways to get Walker on the field in pass rushing situations in 2025. Assistant general manager Rob McCartney said as much in his post-draft press conference.

When asked about the impact he think the draft class can have he responded, “I think when we’re starting and we’re stacking the board trying to figure out best player versus need, it does come into play there. Obviously, I think Emeka [Egbuka] is going to have a big impact for us. I think both corners are going to play a lot. And I think we’re excited about trying to find [David] Walker a way to get on the field, and it’s probably going to be third downs come early.

“We do – as everyone said – we do feel good about that room with Yaya [Diaby], Haason [Reddick], ‘Nelly’ (Anthony Nelson), ‘Bras’ (Chris Braswell Jr.). So, he’s going to have to really prove himself, but I think he’s got the ability to do it. Then, I think the D-line, too – he (Elijah Roberts) is going to be able to get into the rotation pretty quickly, and again, also on the third down stuff, but I think Elijah is going to have a good chance to help us, too.”

Walker should be able to fit in as a standup outside linebacker in the Bucs’ attacking 3-4 scheme. He doubled his coverage reps from 36 in 2023 to 72 in 2024, which will help him adjust to head coach Todd Bowles’ multiple scheme that asks his edge rushers to drop to flat zones, hook zones and occasionally run the seam. But most pressingly, the team should want to get a guy who can do this on the field to find out how much can translate to the next level.

The truly interesting evolution will be in how multiple the Bucs may be able to get with the additions of Walker and 5th round pick Elijah Roberts. I could see Tampa Bay using some sub packages that feature Walker mugged up in the A gaps as part of a NASCAR or inverted look package on 3rd downs to challenge an opposing offensive line’s communication and blitz pickup responsibilities.

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