2017 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Anthony Walker

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Anthony Walker, 6-1/238 Linebacker Northwestern

Anthony Walker Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell

Strengths:

Tough run defender

Good tackler

Quick to read his keys

Instinctive

Very fast linebacker in 2015

Excellent in zone coverage in 2015

Flashed man-coverage skills in 2015

Follows a quarterback’s eyes in short zone coverage

Fits a 4-3 or 3-4 defense

Upside

Experienced

Weaknesses:

Lost his speed

Not sudden

Got too heavy

Not good at taking on blocks prior to 2016

Summary: Entering the 2017 NFL Draft process, there was a real buzz about Walker. He had an excellent 2015 season and many thought that he had second-day potential for the 2017 NFL Draft. However, Walker had a disappointing 2016 as he was completely different player after a huge weight gain prior to his junior year.

Northwestern had a good team in 2015 and was led defensively by Walker, who totaled 122 tackles with 20.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks, four passes batted, one forced fumble and one interception. Walker was all over the field that season as he played in the 220s. He reminded me of Lavonte David at Nebraska.

Against the run, Walker was tremendous as he could run the play down after going unblocked. He was very fast to fire into the hole, bolt into the backfield, or get to the perimeter. Walker demonstrated very good read-and-react skills and instincts. He also showed pass-coverage skills. In the 2015 season opener, he ran stride for stride with superb, speedy Stanford play-maker Christian McCaffrey on routes out of the backfield. Walker showed the ability to cover in man, but really was excellent in zone.



Walker could have used more strength for taking on shedding blocks, but he gained too much weight prior to the 2016 season and was played last season in the 240s. As a result, the junior was slow and sluggish. He recorded 105 tackles with 10 for a loss, four forced fumbles, two sacks, five passes broken up and one interception on the year.

Considering the NFL is a passing-driven league, Walker should get down to around 230 pounds. He had lost some weight since the end of the last season when he checked into the combine, but he has more to go. Walker is an instinctive and smart defender who is quick to read his keys. He is a good tackler, and in 2015, he was dynamic in pass coverage. However, there are questions about Walker’s ability to keep the weight off and not get too heavy during his NFL career. When he was a lighter weight, he struggled to take on or shed blocks. So, either route is somewhat problematic for Walker as a player. That could lead to him sliding deep in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Sources have said they were really disappointed with Walker’s 2016 season and just based on that alone, he would have been a late-rounder or undrafted free agent. His sophomore year tape, however, helps his grade enough that he could go on Day 3 in the 2017 NFL Draft.



Player Comparison: Mason Foster. Foster has been a solid NFL linebacker but is short on speed and athleticism. If Walker doesn’t get back to his pre-weight-gain form. I think he could be a linebacker comparable to Foster in the NFL.

NFL Matches: Miami, Detroit, New York Giants, Houston, Indianapolis, Oakland, Denver, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Arizona

There are a lot of teams that could consider taking Walker in the mid-rounds of the 2017 NFL Draft. Miami had a big need at linebacker entering the offseason, and even after free agency, the team could consider Walker on the second day. The Lions could use more linebacker talent, too. Walker would be a nice fit Detroit in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

The Raiders have a huge need at middle linebacker as the interior of their defense was shredded last year. Walker could be an upgrade to Oakland’s run defense. Staying in the AFC West, Denver could use a linebacker upgrade after losing Danny Trevathan a year ago. Kansas City also could consider Walker as an understudy to Derrick Johnson.

The Texans need a linebacker upgrade next to Benardrick McKinney as Brian Cushing has become a liability on the field. However, Houston needs more of a run-and-chase linebacker, so unless Walker returns to his 2015 form, he wouldn’t be a fit. The rival Colts need a linebacker upgrade, too.

The Bengals could use more linebacker talent for the 2018 season. Kevin Minter was signed to a 1-year contract, plus Vontaze Burfict is also a free agent next offseason. The Ravens could use a linebacker to pair with C.J. Mosley. Pittsburgh lost Lawrence Timmons in free agency, so the team could consider Walker to pair with Ryan Shazier.

New England could use more talent and competition at linebacker. Walker is a smart defender who could fit the Patriots.

The 49ers could use an inside linebacker upgrade, and Walker could be in play for them at the top of Day 2. Staying in the NFC West, Arizona needs an inside linebacker upgrade after moving on from Kevin Minter.

2017 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Choose Player 2017 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Home Jamal Adams, S, LSU Montravius Adams, DT, Auburn Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama Ryan Anderson, LB, Alabama Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado Budda Baker, S, Washington Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee Garett Bolles, OT, Utah Tyus Bowser, OLB, Houston Caleb Brantley, DT, Florida Jake Butt, TE, Michigan Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt Julie'n Davenport, OT, Bucknell Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida Pat Elflein, G, Ohio State Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss Gerald Everett, TE, South Alabama Dan Feeney, G, Indiana Devonte Fields, OLB, TCU Isaiah Ford, WR, Virginia Tech D'Onta Foreman, RB, Texas Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU Wayne Gallman, RB, Clemson Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M Davon Godchaux, DT, LSU Charles Harris, DE, Missouri Marquis Haynes, DE, Ole Miss Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama Adoree' Jackson, CB, USC Roderick Johnson, OT, Florida State Josh Jones, S, N.C. State Sidney Jones, CB, Washington Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee Chad Kelly, QB, Ole Miss Desmond King, CB, Iowa Kevin King, CB, Washington DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE, Villanova Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky Marshon Lattimore, CB, Onio State Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan Lowell Lotulelei, DT, Utah Pat Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech Marcus Maye, S, Florida Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State Takkarist McKinley, DE/LB, UCLA Raekwon McMillan, LB, Ohio State Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma Fabian Moreau, CB, UCLA David Njoku, TE, Miami Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan Ethan Pocic, C, LSU Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin Haason Reddick, LB, Temple Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama John Ross, WR, Washington Curtis Samuel, WR, Ohio State Juju Smith-Schuster, WR, USC Dawuane Smoot, DE, Illinois Jalen Tabor, CB, Florida Cordrea Tankersley, CB, Clemson Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina Anthony Walker, LB, Northwestern Demarcus Walker, DE, Florida State DeShaun Watson, QB, Clemson T.J. Watt, LB, Wisconsin Davis Webb, QB, California Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU Marcus Williams, S, Utah Mike Williams, WR, Clemson Tim Williams, DE, Alabama Jordan Willis, DE, Kansas State Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida Chris Wormley, DE, Michigan

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