David

Walker

Walker tore the ACL in his left knee during training camp last year, ending his rookie season before it began. The Bucs had high hopes for him and coach Todd Bowles plans to line him up all over the formation this summer to see how versatile the second-year player can be this season. Per Bowles, Walker’s quickness and speed have already returned.

Buccaneers beat writer Rick Stroud was the first to report the injury. Walker, who the Buccaneers drafted with the No. 121 overall pick in this year’s draft, will now redshirt his rookie season and hope to be back in action for 2026. The former Central Arkansas pass-rusher totaled 10.5 sacks in his final season of college ball and displayed high-end athleticism at the NFL Scouting Combine. The Buccaneers will likely take a look at another pass rusher or two to add to the roster with Walker now out for the season.

Walker (6’1/263) brings jarring production from the FCS ranks, headlined by 82.5 tackles for loss and 39 sacks across four seasons. The 2024 Buck Buchanan Award winner and three-time conference Defensive Player of the Year, Walker exploded onto the draft radar with relentless effort and a rocked-up 263-pound frame that generates violent lower-half torque. His 2024 PFF grades paint the picture of a well-rounded disrupter: 94.6 overall, 92.6 in run defense, and 94.0 as a pass rusher, with a staggering 47 stops and 12 sacks. He’s a natural leverage winner with a powerful bull-rush, low pad level, and the eyes to diagnose blocking schemes. He graded highly in disruption metrics — 33.8 percent of his career tackles came in the backfield. However, concerns remain: Walker lacks length (31.88” arms) and ideal size, which may limit his scheme versatility. He faced only two Power 4 opponents and will be a 25-year-old rookie. Still, his 8.63 RAS shows legit NFL explosiveness. He’s got Carl Lawson vibes — short, sturdy, and twitchy with rotational value early and upside as a 3-4 OLB.