The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had yet another draft haul this offseason, and several players selected could have an immediate impact on the team.
While the defense was the main focus this year - and rightfully so - the offense also added a couple of pieces that could help, too.
While second- and third-round picks Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish are expected to be impact players in the secondary, it's fourth-round edge rusher David Walker that one Bucs legend thinks might have the most immediate effect.
"Our No. 1 impact rookie, you might not believe this — it is David Walker," Buccaneers Hall of Famer Ronde Barber said. "I didn't know anything about him until we picked him, and then you go and look at what he did... when you put the film on, you're like, 'Holy cow, this dude has the mentality.' It's kinda like this underdog mentality that makes people respect him."
Barber played with some impressive pass rushers back in the day, and believes Walker reminds him of one of his former teammates.
"I'm not making [this] comparison, certainly, to David Walker. But when the Bucs got really good when I was playing, it's because we went out and got Simeon Rice," Barber said. "And we dominated teams after that because of the pressure generated from the edge of our d-line. We need someone to do that, and I'm not putting a lot of pressure on him, but David Walker looks like a guy who could do that."
Barber made the comparison even after he said he wouldn't. So here we are.
Walker was drafted even after general manager Jason Licht signed free agent pass rusher Haason Reddick to a one-year, "prove-it" deal.
The Bucs still employ Chris Braswell, the team's 2024 second-round pick, but his future in Tampa Bay is still uncertain after he had trouble finding playing time last season.
Walker led the FCS with 23 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks last year, and that's the type of pass rush that head coach and defensive coordinator Todd Bowles is looking for along the front line of the defense.