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Even with the NFL draft months away, it is never to early to start looking at some of the many prospects that will be future NFL players. There will be more comprehensive profiles completed, and Big Boards assembled as the draft draws closer, especially after the offseason All Star events and NFL Combine are completed, and more tape is studied. However, this preview series will give a brief view at this point to some of some of the popular players we will hear about as potential first or second round picks in April, and if they could be a fit for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Walker is an absolute mammoth of a man with his 6-6, 345 pound frame. As you would expect, he is an absolute anchor on the defensive interior, but he is more athletic for his size than you think. Believe it or not, there are reps where he drops into coverage, displaying that trait. While he can perform that way in some exotic calls, he is best on the interior as a gap plugger and double team eater. The key to his game is power and size, but he does have good feet to stay balanced and to be able to slide laterally to make plays. He does have some pass rush ability by being able to push and collapse the interior, but he will need to improve his hands and technique in this area to give his game more versatility than just power, but with his size, power will always be his game. He does exhibit good quickness off the line, but I would not necessarily consider it a regularity that he converts this to power in his initial punch. He seems more comfortable, and has the size and strength, to absorb the initial contact, decipher the play, and then use his power to either stone wall the linemen, or push up field generating broken pockets or TFL.
One initial caveat to his game ironically is his size. While he is already an impressive force, his overall frame might be maxed out for weight and keeping that in check will be imperative in an NFL training program. His overall stamina is pretty good as he can stay in for all 3 downs, but as he gets older, he might transition to be an early down run specialist in the Tony Siragusa or Sam Adams mold. However, he is more athletic than those players so, as long as he is diligent to improve strength while not adding weight, he can become dominant on the interior.
Projections for this player are polarizing at this stage, and his selection could be based on team need and timing in the draft. Walker might be viewed by some as strictly a two down nose in a 3-4 scheme, which would be a mistake. He is to talented to be regulated to a minimal initial role or specific defense. Depending on the post season workouts and combine, I would project him to be drafted somewhere between late round one and mid round two. However, a team that would be looking for a 3-4 nose or a 4-3 interior space eating 3 tech could pull the trigger earlier, but he is not going to be a complete DL in the mold of Derrick Brown or Chris Jones.
Walker could be a perfect fit for Jesse Minter and the Chargers scheme. With his penchant for running light boxes in order to play a two safety shell, Walker could be that interior space eater that has the power and size to take on double teams and plug gaps to let his teammates make tackles. He would immediately become an upgrade over Ogbonnia or Egboigbe. I am not sure if he would last late into round 2, where he could be a target, but with Harbugh’s trench obsession, he could be an option at the end of round 1. Maybe his size and non-eye popping numbers at the combine, adding to the fact that some executives and scouts might view him as a situational player only, can have him slide down to the end of round 2. But as most scouts say, you can’ t teach size, and boy does he have it.
I wouldn’t take him in the 1st at all as I don’t see the value to him there relative to other prospects who will be available. I also think someone like TJ Sanders or Walter Nolen are better early round DT’s if the team feels the need to go that way early.
It’s a solid DT class so I imagine they’ll look to upgrade but unless someone falls to them with their 1st rounder, I think that DT comes in rounds 3-5. Getting Walker in the 3rd would be a nice get.
@duck07 I have not done my full position breakdown yet, and until I get a little deeper in my research, I won’t know which position groups are the deepest IMO. I am also a big believer that DL is a sweet spot for second wave FA and roster cuts, but it would be nice to have a solid, young core guy or two there that would need to come from the draft. I do think a DL in Walkers mold is what this unit needs, especially with the penchant to run light boxes in favor of a two safety shell. Like I said, DT would not be my Rd1 target, but as we saw in last years draft, Harbaugh prioritizes the trenches, so there is some rationale that DL, even if not Walker, becomes the Rd1 choice.
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