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 the 40-yard dash with slightly above average explosiveness and agility numbers. He also posted 20 bench press reps.
Despite these numbers, draft analysts were skeptical about his speed and strength and said his film lacks burst and explosiveness. However, his film at the pro level looks decent enough in these areas.
Usage
Walker is an off-ball linebacker but has some good versatility because he also played defensive end in college and safety in high school. When at linebacker, he’s played at all spots but primarily inside at the NFL level.
Run defense
Walker has been productive as a run defender since entering the league. He is definitely at his best when kept clean but is effective on runs between the tackles.
He may lack the range of an elite linebacker but he closes well on the ball with good patience, awareness and an understanding of angles.
Negative plays come when he gets stuck on blocks at the second level or sealed off on cutbacks.
Coverage skills
The book on Walker is that he’s pretty limited in coverage and he has given up a catch on 80 percent of his targets at the NFL level, with six touchdowns. However, he’s only given up one play of longer than 30 yards and has racked up some on-ball numbers in coverage over the course of his career.
He has 13 pass breakups and five interceptions at the NFL level, and had 14 pass breakups and four interceptions in college. He’s also had three pick-sixes, including one at the NFL level, and displays decent hands having also played as a running back in high school.
He looks good dropping into zone coverages but can be overmatched when exposed to man-to-man assignments.
One thing he is adept at, both when in coverage and when rushing the passer, is getting his hands up to deflect passes.
Walker was called for defensive holding on third down once during his career so far.
Tackling
Walker is a pretty secure tackler, with a missed tackle percentage just below 10 at the NFL level. However, he can be flat-footed when a ball carrier jukes him in space and has missed some key tackles at times.
He had three forced fumbles at Fresno State but his only one at the NFL level came in his rookie year.
Blitzing
As a former defensive end, Walker has experience of rushing off the edge and racked up 10.5 sacks in his college career.
At the NFL level, he’s more likely to be used as a blitzer and he has a reasonable pressure percentage despite only recording one sack.
Notably, with the Jets in London, he did creep up to the edge and rushed against Garrett Bolles on the play where the Jets were awarded a safety for a hold on Micheal Clemons. The replay showed that Walker was also held on this play (as was Quinnen Williams).
As noted, he’s adept at getting his hands up to deflect passes in these situations.
Special teams
Over the course of his career, except when he has been starting, Walker has racked up a lot of experience on every special teams unit apart from the placekicking unit.
He has 28 special teams tackles in his career, half of which were in 2024 as he placed fifth in the league. It is worth noting, however, that the Commanders eschewed the idea of kicking touchbacks so all their coverage guys got more opportunities than other players around the league. Walker was only third on the team as the Commanders had five of the top eight tacklers in the league.
Walker has also proven useful as a blocker and has already had a couple of good blocks in the return game with New York. On Kene Nwangwu’s long return in London, Walker initially got beaten but then recovered to seal his man off when Nwangwu cut back.
He already had a good special teams background before his NFL career as he had 13 special teams tackles in two years with the Bulldogs, in addition to blocking a punt and a field goal.
Physicality
A lack of physicality was cited as one of Walker’s weaknesses as he was entering the league, despite the fact he had spent time on the defensive line. He’s not necessarily a big hitter and can struggle to get off blocks when matched up with a lineman but he works hard to free himself against receivers and tight ends.
He once had a penalty for a horse collar tackle, for which he was fined, but has otherwise not been flagged for any late or otherwise illegal hits.
Instincts/Intelligence
Walker is regarded as a smart player with good play recognition and instincts. He has regularly worn the headset and made defensive playcalls during his career and shows the ability to make a quick read to blow up a play.
His awareness in coverage is less impressive, as he can be caught up in traffic when pursuing to the flat and often does not look comfortable in space when in zone coverage.
Attitude
Walker is a player who is regarded as a good communicator and leader, who has become more of a vocal leader than just a lead-by-example type as he has matured.
He brings good energy and a solid work ethic and his on-field discipline has been excellent with just two defensive penalties in his career.
Injuries
Injuries have not affected Walker much in his career, although he missed a game due to illness in last year’s postseason. Previously, he had a hamstring injury in his rookie year and a groin issue in 2022 but didn’t miss any games.
Walker was also banged up in preseason but it wasn’t anything serious enough to warrant him being released with an injury settlement.
Scheme Fit
In addition to having positional versatility, Walker has played in a pure 3-4 system with the Steelers as well as on 4-3 teams for the most of the rest of his career.
With the Jets, his reps so far have been as the third linebacker when they go into a base package. Clearly he can help on special teams too.
Current Jets who have been teammates of Walker in the past include Khalil Herbert, Justin Fields, Chukwuma Okorafor and Isaiah Oliver.
Conclusions
Walker, along with Cam Jones and Mark Robinson, was brought in because Marcelino McCrary-Ball’s three defensive snaps were the sum total of the experience for the non-starting linebackers after final cuts. Due to injuries, Walker is now currently in a situation where his special teams contributions are essential and he is available as cover for the defense. However, he has also worked his way up to actually getting rotational reps after starting off in a special-teams only role.
The Jets are hopeful that they can get Quincy Williams back soon but Jones is currently hurt, Robinson was just waived, and it’s unclear how close McCrary-Ball is to a return. It therefore looks like Walker’s contributions could continue to be needed even once Williams comes back (which he is ineligible to do for another week).
The experience (and prior production) he brings to the table is something none of the other reserves offer, so he’ll continue to be a useful player to have available in case there are more injuries.
