Broncos bolster defense with selection of DeMarcus Walker

The Denver Broncos used selection No. 51 in the NFL Draft to take Florida State defensive end DeMarcus Walker. The 6’4″, 280-pound defender put up an impressive final year for the Seminoles, registering 16 sacks and 63 total tackles.

Drafted in the middle of the second round, Walker landed perfectly in the areas he was projected to be drafted. NFL.com has compared him to former Seminole Mario Edwards.

The NFL.com scouting report says:

Strengths:

Ties quick swim move to his jump-step in order to climb over top of pass protection. Posted eye-popping sack production (25) over last two seasons at FSU. Attempts to play past the blocker rather than giving in. Always searching for new opening when original rush move is stymied. When rush stalls, he spies quarterback and gets hand in alleys. Eight career passes defensed. Gathers blockers to set up teammates when first on twists. Active, heavy tackler. Stack-and-shed power on the edge when pad level is right. Thick bubble and thighs with ability to carry more mass. Able to stuff cut blocks and keep his feet clean. Hasty with hands and lands first. Engages and mirrors flow of running back with square pads. Durable and dependable; played in 90 percent of the defensive snaps 2016.

Weaknesses:

Inconsistent motor. Allows backside tackle opportunities to escape his grasp when he’s not hustling. Range as a tackler is average. A step slow when sliding down line to constrict cutback lanes. Needs to show quicker feet. Struggles to work feet and hips back into playmaking position once beaten on reach blocks. Pops straight and loses his leverage when fatigued. Doesn’t have the juice or hips to consistently bend the edge as a pro rusher. Needs two-way goes to do his best pass rush work. Moves well, but lacks suddenness and play speed is average. Level of play greatly impacted by fatigue level.

Bottom Line:

Walker’s sack totals are impressive, but he’s not the type of “early win” sack artist that generally post those types of numbers. He’s a base end with power to hold up at the point, but better suited to reduce inside as interior rusher on passing downs. Walker lacks the desired size and physical traits teams look for off the edge; a move to three-technique isn’t out of the question.

This addition is the third player added to the defensive line this year as the team seeks to bolster its defensive line after the retirement of DeMarcus Ware.