Eagles Today

Eagles Did Homework On Small School, Pass-Rushing Star David Walker

Three-time FCS All-American David Walker met with Philadelphia virtually.
John McMullen|
Jan 30, 2025; Mobile, AL, USA; National team defensive lineman David Walker of Central Arkansas (33) works through drills during Senior Bowl practice for the National team at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
Jan 30, 2025; Mobile, AL, USA; National team defensive lineman David Walker of Central Arkansas (33) works through drills during Senior Bowl practice for the National team at Hancock Whitney Stadium. | Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

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Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles recently had a virtual meeting with Central Arkansas edge defender David Walker ahead of the 2025 NFL draft later this month.

Walker revealed the meeting in an interview with Justin Melo of The Draft Network.

A monster producer at the FCS level, Walker doesn’t have the desired length for a pass rusher at the NFL level, at 6-foot-1 and an arm length of just 31 ⅞”. However, Walker is regarded as very explosive with a powerful lower body.

Walker was a First-team FCS All-American and the United Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year last season when he finished third in the FBS with 23 tackles for loss. He was also ninth with 10 ½ sacks and third in the nation with 4 forced fumbles.

Over his three seasons at Central Arkansas, Walker had 31 1/2 sacks and was a three-time All-American with two first-team nods and a second-team selection.

Walker was pegged by The Athletic as the 21st-ranked edge defender in the class and a potential fourth-round pick. 

Philadelphia starts the draft at No. 96 overall in the third round and four picks on Day 3, all of which are in the fifth round (Nos. 161, 164, 165, and 168).

The Eagles have done quite a bit of homework on edge rushers during this pre-draft process after losing Josh Sweat in free agency to Arizona and Brandon Graham to retirement.

Philadelphia has used top-30 visits on Donovan Ezeiruaku of Boston College, Nic Scourton of Texas A&M, Oluwafemi Oladejo of UCLA, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins of Georgia, Elijah Roberts of SMU and Tyler Baron of Miami. The Eagles have also shown keen interest in South Carolina’s Kyle Kennard at his pro day while also taking Walker through the paces virtually.

MORE NFL: Eagles 2025 Draft Preview: The Running Backs

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John McMullen
JOHN MCMULLEN

John McMullen is a veteran reporter who has covered the NFL for over two decades. The current NFL insider for JAKIB Media, John is the former NFL Editor for The Sports Network where his syndicated column was featured in over 200 outlets including the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, and Miami Herald. He was also the national NFL columnist for Today's Pigskin as well as FanRag Sports. McMullen has covered the Eagles on a daily basis since 2016, first for ESPN South Jersey and now for Eagles Today on SI.com's FanNation. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube.com. John is also the host of his own show "Extending the Play" on AM1490 in South Jersey and part of 6ABC.com's live postgame show after every Eagles game. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen

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