Gang Green Nation
The Jets recently signed linebacker Mykal Walker to their active roster. Today we break Walker down in detail.
The 28-year old Walker is listed at 6’3″ and 230 pounds and was a fourth round pick out of Fresno State in 2020. Walker started 20 games in three seasons with the Falcons and racked up over 100 tackles in 2022, but he was released in preseason in 2023 and the Jets are his sixth NFL team since then.
Background
Walker was not a highly-sought after high school recruit and began his career at Azusa Pacific, where he had 40 tackles, an interception and a sack in his first season in 2015.
The following year saw him named as a first-team all-Great Northwest Athletic Conference selection after he racked up 102 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.
He was then able to transfer to Fresno State and, having redshirted the 2017 season, was a two-time first team all-Mountain West Conference selection. In 2018, he had 86 tackles, four sacks, six pass breakups and a pick-six. Then in 2019, he had 96 tackles, four pass breakups and 2.5 sacks.
Although his pre-draft preparation was interrupted by the pandemic, Walker received plenty of interest and, having been ranked as a possible late round pick, was selected by the Falcons in round four.
As a rookie, Walker made six starts and had 45 tackles, then followed that up with 35 tackles and four pass breakups in 2021 even though he only started two games.
In 2022, he became a full-time starter and racked up 107 tackles, six pass breakups, two interceptions and a sack.
At that stage, Walker was looking like a franchise cornerstone for the Falcons, but he was banged up in preseason the following season and surprisingly got released.
After spending two weeks with the Bears, he was released in final cuts, then spent five weeks with the Raiders, before ending up on the Steelers practice squad. After some injuries, he was added to their roster at midseason and played in eight games, starting five. He had 33 tackles and two interceptions in one year with the Steelers.
Walker then spent 2024 with the Commanders for whom he didn’t make any starts and mostly contributed on special teams. He ended up with 21 tackles.
Having attended training camp with the Cardinals this season, Walker didn’t make their roster and the Jets put him on their practice squad the day after final cuts. He had already played a few games for them before being signed to the active roster a few weeks ago. He even started in London against Denver, although he only played 14 defensive snaps.
Let’s move onto some more in-depth analysis of what Walker brings to the table as a player, based on extensive research and film study.
Measurables/Athleticism
Walker is a little undersized with average length but his workout numbers ahead of the 2020 draft were solid. He ran a 4.62 in...
