The Kansas City Chiefs recently traded for Joshua Uche from the New England Patriots. Uche adds depth and some extra juice to Kansas City’s pass rush, but he hits free agency after the 2024 season.
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach could search for more long-term pass rush production by adding new talent through the 2025 NFL draft.
Central Arkansas Bears linebacker David Walker, who recently earned Reese’s Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week honors, is an intriguing prospect capable of generating production early in his career.
Walker wins the natural leverage battle at 6’2″, 260 lbs. He explodes off the line of scrimmage to push offensive tackles vertically or exchange gaps quickly. Walker generates pop on contact to knock linemen backward and create space for rushes through the B-gap. He showcases some twitch to elude blockers and leave offensive linemen grasping at air.
Walker’s pass rush plan includes two-handed swipes, rips, ghosts, swims and speed to power. He attacks and deconstructs pass blocks with ferocious and hyperactive hands. Walker wins on the outside track with his initial burst and by sinking his hips at the top of the stem to bend around the corner.
David Walker has been a menace for FCS blockers (15.5 TFL).
All three of his forced fumbles on Saturday came in the second half and showed off his chase speed/effort and finishing strength. This is a Sunday player. https://t.co/97YTgzDXYA pic.twitter.com/YfuTUHUypo
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) October 28, 2024
Walker plays with a high motor in run defense. He starts on the backside of run plays and tears across the back of the offensive line to make tackles on the play’s frontside. Walker rips at the ball to strip the carrier during the tackle. He forced three fumbles against North Alabama earlier this year.
Walker’s arm length and competition level limit his ceiling as a prospect. He faces nothing close to NFL-caliber players at Central Arkansas, and his arms measure below 32 inches. Many teams won’t draft offensive or defensive linemen in the top 100 unless their arms are 33 inches or longer.
Central Arkansas goes on the road to face Utah Tech on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 3:00 p.m.