As we approach rookie minicamp later this month, final knee-jerk assessments of the NFL Draft class are being made. For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers it doesn’t sound like there’s a lot to hate, especially when it comes to one of the team’s Day 3 picks.
ESPN’s Louis Riddick listed of the most underrated players taken in the draft and among them was David Walker, who the Bucs selected in the fourth round. It’s a round that has been good to Tampa Bay lately, with Bucky Irving being picked in that round a year ago which means Walker has some big shoes to fill.
It seems that all early indications are that he’ll likely live up to the hype.
Walker drew comparisons to Shaq Barrett as soon as he was drafted, something that will no doubt strike the right chord with Bucs fans. Having Riddick endorse the pick the way he did should only help Walker’s stock as he heads into an offseason he has a chance to own.
"It's interesting because with [Walker's] dimensions, they had a pass rusher there who was pretty good for them by the name of Shaq Barrett," NFL Network’s Charles Davis said while breaking down Walker’s tape. "Very similar dimensions to David Walker."
Tampa Bay announced him as a linebacker even though he was listed as an edge rusher, which implies he’s going to be used in a hybrid role. This means he’ll be learning from Haason Reddick, who has something of his own to prove after signing with the Bucs in free agency.
Walker was a late-round pick and Reddick is a former Pro Bowler looking to prove the doubters wrong, which makes them a perfect pairing for one another. Fans were wondering who Lavonte David might tutor to be his successor but it’s Walker who could end up filling Shaq Barrett’s shoes — along with Yaya Diaby — with some help from a savvy vet like Reddick.
A telling stat from last year was how the Bucs were 2-5 in one-score games and having the 11th ranked pass rush likely didn’t help move the needle in the right direction. Walker is here to help fix that not only this year but provide a foundation for the future.
It’s a lot to ask of a Day 3 rookie, but the Bucs are built to foster the kind of talent he has. Fans will want to keep an eye on him at camp over the next few months.
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