Mykal

Walker

Walker was recently waived by the Falcons but will now attempt to make the Bears’ 53-man roster. Walker, 25, was a fourth-round pick by the Falcons in 2020 and totaled 107 tackles and two interceptions in 16 games last season. Walker is coming off a career year with the Falcons, making the team’s decision to cut him a bit curious. He should have a chance to stick on the Bears’ roster if he performs well in camp.

Walker started 12 games for the Falcons a season ago but was released in a corresponding move to the signing of former USFL defensive player of the year Frank Ginda. The 25-year-old will hit the open market with just over three weeks until the start of the regular season.

Walker (6’3/230) was a captain and two-year starting outside linebacker at Fresno State, earning first-team All-Mountain West honors twice after transferring from D-II Azusa Pacific. He made 96 tackles and 9.0 TFLs while as a redshirt senior while rotating from edge rusher to inside linebacker. Walker’s size will prevent him from playing on the edge in the NFL, and he may be too inexperienced at linebacker to earn meaningful snaps off-ball, but his experience as a special teamer increases his odds of sticking on an NFL roster. He tested in the 43rd percentile at the NFL Combine, showing 4.65 speed with a 33-inch vertical.

Walker was a big part of the Fresno State defense, and finished the 2019 campaign with 96 tackles, four pass breakups and 2.5 sacks. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound defender has versatility, as he lined up as a linebacker and defensive end for the Bulldogs at times. Zierlein has some concerns about his play strength and burst, but also notes that he has above-average field awareness and finishes well. "[Walker] has core special-teams potential, Zierlein writes in his summary, “and might be able to challenge for a late roster spot because of it.”

Walker (6'3/227) was a first team All-Mountain West selection as a defensive end last season, but with the Bulldogs losing both Jeff Allison and George Helmuth at linebacker the standout pass rusher was moved to ILB. But he’ll still have opportunities to rush off the edge, as Fresno State will look for matchups that it can take advantage of defensively. “With our defensive structure, we can put people in different places, so he’ll still be in position (to rush the quarterback),” HC Jeff Tedford told David Lombardi of The Athletic. “That’s the whole idea: to create matchups from time-to-time.” The rising senior linebacker finished 2018 with 87 total tackles (14 for loss), 4.5 sacks, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception. Walker was also impactful on special teams, as he blocked two kicks.