While undersized and older, he could still be a gem in the middle rounds.
The Cincinnati Bengals desperately need pass-rushing help, even if Trey Hendrickson is back long-term. But with the star defensive end’s status up in the air, they really need to find another guy who can consistently get to QBs.
David Walker out of Central Arkansas might be flying under the radar of a lot of scouts because he doesn’t stand very tall. But he can really move, and he could add a lot of oomph to a pass rush without a first-round or second-round commitment.
David Walker
- Height: 6’ 1”
- Weight: 263
- Age: 24 (turns 25 in June)
- Year: Senior
- School: Central Arkansas
- Hometown: Stuttgart, AR
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.69
David Walker is a DE prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 8.62 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 279 out of 2012 DE from 1987 to 2025.https://t.co/GMUgixjU8l pic.twitter.com/lz2m6uSKaQ
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 31, 2025
Background
Walker was not highly regarded when he was coming out of high school, so he ended up in Division II Southern Arkansas. He then transferred to Central Arkansas, where he thrived immediately, notching 12 sacks in 2022.
Last year, he became the first-ever player to win the Buchanan Award in the school’s 29-year history. He finished the season with 10.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, 23 TFLs, and 55 total pressures.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Walker is exceptionally athletic. He uses his hands well on his way to ripping through offensive lines, making him an outstanding defender against both the run and the pass.
The problems with Walker are related to his size and his arm length (31 7/8”), which could hurt his chances of finding success against the larger linemen of the NFL.
Outlook
Andrew Winter of Gridiron Grading came on our show to talk about Walker and said the Bengals could get him with the 81st pick, maybe even in the fourth round, even though he has a high second-round grade on him.
About the higher age, Winter pointed out that, like the Los Angeles Rams after losing Aaron Donald, the Bengals could draft older pass rushers to upgrade the pass rush more quickly.
Walker seems like a solid option for a Bengals team looking to get immediate production after failing to upgrade its defensive line in free agency.
Watch below for more of our video analysis of Walker.
You can also listen on iTunes or by using the player below.
