The Tampa Bay Buccaneers began the third day of their 2025 NFL Draft efforts by selecting Central Arkansas outside linebacker David Walker in the fourth round, with pick number 121 overall. Walker was extraordinarily productive on the collegiate level, amassing 39.0 sacks, 82.5 tackles for loss, 244 tackles, six forced fumbles and eight passes defensed, and the Buccaneers believe he can carry that over to the next level despite playing at a smaller school.
"His production, not only sacks but TFLs and tackles, the guy was just dominant on that level of competition," said Buccaneers Vice President of Player Personnel Mike Biehl. "Sometimes you worry about the lower level of competition, but he goes to the Senior Bowl and he was dominant there too, going against some of the best linemen in the country. He plays so dang hard; that's just going to be part of his calling card, too, which we love."
The Buccaneers opened their draft on Thursday night by adding to an already potent passing attack with the selection of Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka. Since then, they have turned their attention to defense, with cornerbacks Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish arriving on Day Two and Walker now adding some juice to the team's edge rush rotation. The 6-1, 263-pound Walker gets off the line quickly and converts speed to power but also uses his hands well and can bend and dip around blockers.
View pictures of David Walker, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 121st overall pick in the 4th round of the 2025 NFL Draft
National team defensive lineman David Walker of Central Arkansas (33) runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Central Arkansas defensive lineman David Walker runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Central Arkansas defensive lineman David Walker participates in a drill during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, February 27, 2025 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Central Arkansas defensive lineman David Walker runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Central Arkansas defensive lineman David Walker runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Central Arkansas defensive lineman David Walker runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Central Arkansas defensive lineman David Walker (DL72) poses for a portrait at the NFL football Combine on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 in Indianapolis. (AJ Mast/AP Content Services for the NFL)
Central Arkansas defensive lineman David Walker runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Central Arkansas defensive lineman David Walker runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
National team defensive lineman David Walker of Central Arkansas (33) runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
"He's probably more of a power guy but he's definitely athletic enough that he can win in different ways," said Biehl. "He's a really instinctive rusher and he just kind of knows how to use his hands. Again, with his power and his effort he's going to be able to win with that, but I think he has more than that, too."
Walker's lack of prototypical size and arm length for the edge rush position likely contributed to him remaining on the board to start the third day of the draft, but Biehl says the three-time All-American is "one of those guys that just defy the boxes they get put into at times." In that regard, Walker reminds Biehl a bit of Shaquil Barrett, a former undrafted free agent with the Denver Broncos who set the Buccaneers' single-season record and led the NFL in sacks in 2019 with 19.5.
"Just from the instincts and the savvy that he has as a rusher, it's a lot like Shaq," said Biehl. "If you look back at Shaq, he was actually undrafted and a lot of it was he didn't fit the typical mold of an outside 'backer. He was successful because of his instincts as a rusher, his savviness, his hand usage – the things that you can't really teach. We think David has a lot of those things."
