David Walker 2025 NFL Draft: C Arkansas EDGE Scouting Report
In this talented 2025 NFL Draft class, David Walker is an EDGE rusher to keep on your radar. He’s a talented prospect from Central Arkansas with an explosive first step. Today, we’ll break down his NFL outlook with this in-depth scouting report. Additionally, we will be breaking down his strengths, areas for improvement, and his potential draft grade.
David Walker 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Walker emerged as a dominant force at the FCS level after transferring from Division II Southern Arkansas to Central Arkansas ahead of the 2022 season. A multi-sport athlete in high school (football, basketball, soccer), Walker flew under the recruiting radar before carving out an exceptional college career.
Impressively, Walker’s trophy case boasts three consecutive First-Team All-American honors, three straight conference Defensive Player of the Year awards, and the 2024 Buck Buchanan Award as the FCS’s top defensive player. With 31 sacks and 63 tackles for loss across three seasons at Central Arkansas, including a monstrous 2024 campaign (10.5 sacks, 23 TFLs, 55 pressures), Walker’s production is undeniable. His invite to the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl offers a critical proving ground against higher-tier competition.
Furthermore, Walker’s frame is compact and powerful, with a low center of gravity that fuels his leverage advantage. At 6’1” and 263 pounds, he’s built more like a fireplug than a traditional long-limbed edge rusher. His unofficial arm length (around 31¾ inches) and wingspan (77 inches) are below the NFL prototype, raising questions about his ability to extend and disengage at the next level. However, his explosiveness shines through in testing: a 4.69-second 40-yard dash, a 35-inch vertical, and a 9’10” broad jump highlight his burst and lower-body power. A maxed-out frame suggests limited room for added bulk without sacrificing agility.
HT: 6007
WT: 263
HAND: 928
ARM: 3178
40: 4.69
Strengths:
- Explosive First Step: Walker’s get-off is electric, allowing him to attack gaps and stress tackles’ kick slides instantly. His initial burst turns speed into power seamlessly.
- Natural Leverage: His shorter stature becomes an asset when he plays with proper pad level, letting him slip under blockers and collapse pockets with bull rushes.
- High Motor: Relentless in pursuit, Walker chases plays sideline-to-sideline and finishes with violence, often targeting the ball for strips (four forced fumbles in 2024).
- Pass-Rush Toolkit: Shows a developing arsenal—rip moves, two-hand swipes, and a chop that disrupts blockers’ hands. He’s adept at setting up inside counters off his outside rush.
- Run Defense Instincts: Quick to diagnose and explode into gaps, Walker disrupts backfield flow and holds his own against tight ends and pulling linemen when aligned wide.
- Production Pedigree: His stat sheet screams playmaker, with consistent double-digit sacks and TFLs against FCS foes, signaling a nose for the ball.
Areas for Improvement:
- Limited Length: Sub-32-inch arms hinder his ability to stack and shed NFL-caliber linemen, often leaving him tangled when he can’t win early in the rep.
- Bend and Flexibility: Lacks elite hip fluidity and ankle bend to consistently turn tight corners around the edge, sometimes getting upright and pushed past the quarterback.
- Pass-Rush Polish: Relies heavily on athleticism over a refined plan; his counters can stall mid-rep, and hand placement needs consistency to beat pro tackles.
- Competition Questions: He dominated FCS opponents but has minimal tape against Power 4 linemen, leaving uncertainty about his translatability until Senior Bowl reps are evaluated.
- Frame Ceiling: At 263 pounds, he’s likely at his physical limit, potentially capping his power upside against bigger NFL blockers.
Conclusion:
Walker is a small-school terror whose athletic gifts and production demand attention, but his physical limitations and untested ceiling temper expectations. He’s not a plug-and-play starter, but his juice off the edge and relentless style make him a worthy mid-to-late-round gamble for a team willing to bet on his traits over his tape. If he proves his FCS dominance wasn’t a fluke against top competition, Walker could outplay his draft slot and become a steal.
Walker profiles as a rotational pass rusher with developmental upside, best suited for a 3-4 scheme as a stand-up outside linebacker. His explosiveness and motor give him a shot to contribute early on third downs, especially if schemed into one-on-one matchups against tight ends or running backs. Teams like the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, or Kansas City Chiefs—needing edge depth—could target him in the Day 3 range (Rounds 4-5). His Senior Bowl performance will be pivotal; dominating FBS linemen could push him into Day 2 consideration (Rounds 2-3). In the long term, he’s a high-effort specialist who could carve out a niche with coaching to refine his hand usage and rush sequencing.
Round Grade: 4th Round
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