Things change quickly in the National Football League. One year you’re a Pro Bowl player and fan favorite, the next you’re a cap casualty. It doesn’t always come down to performance, either.
Each season, great players are told their team can no longer afford them — which could be the case with two Falcons free agents. Tight end Austin Hooper and linebacker De’Vondre Campbell are both the kind of players that general managers salivate over, but they may be forced to sign elsewhere due to Atlanta’s salary cap situation.
On Friday afternoon, the Titans released former Pro-Bowl tight end Delanie Walker after seven seasons in Tennessee. Walker, 35, has been slowed by injuries over the last two years. Prior to that, though, he was a model of durability and missed just eight combined games over the previous 11 seasons.
Walker has been one of the elite pass-catching tight ends since signing in Tennessee back in 2013. From 2014-2017, he averaged 70.5 catches and 893.7 yards per season. His best year came in 2015 when he grabbed 94 balls for 1,088 yards and six touchdowns.
Now, there’s no guarantee Walker will ever be a top-tier tight end ever again. However, his age and lack of production over the past two seasons will make him an affordable option in free agency that has a great deal of upside if healthy.
Since the Chargers franchise tagged Hunter Henry and with Austin Hooper unlikely to return, the Falcons need to be looking for low-risk, high-reward free agents.
Walker, who played in a scheme that got him the ball in Tennessee, could be a great fit in Dirk Koetter’s offense as defenses focus on slowing down wide receivers Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley.
Here are some of Walker’s best plays while with the Titans:
Love to see it!
Mariota ➡️ Delanie Walker 🔥#NEvsTEN
(via @NFL)
— PFF (@PFF) August 17, 2019
There are obvious age/health concerns with Delanie Walker, but he immediately becomes one of the top TE available this offseason following his release from the Titans, particularly with Henry getting tagged by the Chargers.
PFF's 6th highest graded TE from 2015 to 2017 pic.twitter.com/gtan7s4LrP
— Ben Linsey (@PFF_Linsey) March 13, 2020
Delanie Walker (@delaniewalker82) scores his 2nd touchdown of the quarter! #TENvsCLE pic.twitter.com/rMitBlXWQR
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) September 8, 2019
Thank you @delaniewalker82 YOU were a key piece into turning and transforming what this team, city and franchise is from when you first inked that deal to sign here and to now. So much respect for you as a person and for the athlete you are. You will and always will be a #Titans pic.twitter.com/Xvjgd6xHsd
— Kegan (@kegan_pierce) March 13, 2020
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