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David Walker Has Earned an Every-Down Role, and the Buccaneers Can't Wait Past Carolina
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- David Walker Has Earned an Every-Down Role, and the Buccaneers Can't Wait Past Carolina
David Walker gave Raymond James Stadium its loudest moments of a lost Sunday, sacking Aaron Rodgers twice before the Tampa Bay Buccaneers collapsed in overtime against Pittsburgh. He did it on 28 snaps.
That was 35% of the defense's plays, per the Week 6 snap counts . Walker leads the team with four sacks, and he's still being used like a situational piece. Todd Bowles should end that this week in Charlotte.
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David Walker's numbers dwarf the rotation ahead of him
Oct 8, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Yaya Diaby (0) rushes the line during the game between the Cowboys and the Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Walker has played 99 defensive snaps this season, 57 of them as a pass rusher, according to PFF . On those snaps he has 14 pressures, four sacks and 10 stops. His 82.6 overall grade ranks seventh among 116 edge defenders, and his 84.1 pass-rush grade ranks sixth.
Yaya Diaby has 125 pass-rush snaps and 10 pressures, with no sacks. His 51.3 pass-rush grade ranks 110th of 116 edge defenders, per PFF . Diaby played 47 snaps against Pittsburgh, 19 more than Walker.
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Diaby has a real case as a run defender, with a 76.0 run-defense grade that ranks 11th at the position. Walker's run-defense grade sits at 74.9, close enough that it no longer explains keeping him on the sideline on early downs.
The team's own numbers point the same way. Walker ranks first in the NFL in sack rate among players with at least 45 pass-rush snaps, according to the Bucs . His four sacks through six career games are the third-most in franchise history, behind Santana Dotson and Eric Curry, the team noted . He doubled his sack total in one afternoon.
Carolina's left tackle is the matchup to chase
Sep 27, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker David Walker (51) sackes Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Walker went from 19 snaps against Dallas to 28 against Pittsburgh, so the number is moving. It's moving slowly. The staff has been saying the right things since the start of October.
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"We know how explosive he is but mentally, that is the thing that he is answering for us and he is doing it in a hurry," outside linebackers coach Larry Foote told the team website on Oct. 1. "But, he has definitely earned more playing time."
Walker sounded like a player waiting on the call after Sunday's loss. "Coach [Todd Bowles] is putting us in the right position and I'm just trying to win my one-on-ones whenever I get in," he said, per Buccaneers.com .
Carolina gives him a clear target. Left tackle Rasheed Walker has allowed 21 pressures, which ranks 72nd of 74 tackles, per PFF . Right tackle is unsettled too, with Taylor Moton back from blood clots and first-round pick Monroe Freeling returning from a knee injury, leaving Dave Canales three options for two spots.
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Rueben Bain Jr. deserves his share as well, and the Bucs have been creating their own problem by dropping the No. 15 pick into coverage. Bryce Young leads the NFL in passing yards per game and gets the ball out in 2.85 seconds. Tampa Bay needs its fastest winner on the field for 40-plus snaps Sunday, and right now that's Walker.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
