Report: Packers Will Bring in Free Agent DL Vance Walker for Visit

Walker had 40 tackles and three sacks starting 15 games for the Oakland Raiders this past season.

From Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com:

Walker enters his sixth NFL season in 2014 after spending just one year with the Oakland Raiders on a one-year contract. He spent his first four seasons in the NFL on the roster of the Atlanta Falcons.

The most playing time of Walker's career came this past season when he started all 15 games he played with the Raiders, making 40 tackles and three sacks.

Measuring in at 6-2 and 305 lbs., it would appear Walker's greatest strengths are as a run defender with only eight sacks to his credit in five NFL seasons.

Durability and availability have rarely been an issue for Walker as he played in all 16 games for three consecutive seasons from 2010 through 2012 and missed just one game in Week 15 last season with a concussion.

With four defensive linemen currently free agents for the Packers—including B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett, Johnny Jolly and C.J. Wilson—there's a potential need at the position in Green Bay, although it hasn't been ruled out that any of the four afore-mentioned players will return.

No matter what happens in free agency or the NFL Draft, it makes sense that several defensive linemen currently under contract will all play bigger roles in 2014: Mike Daniels, Datone Jones, Josh Boyd and Jerel Worthy. The issue with these four players is that none of them are necessarily known for being able to hold their ground in the run game.

Pehaps this is where Walker potentially comes into the picture as a five-technique end in the run game.

Brian Carriveau is the author of the book "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," and editor of Cheesehead TV's "Pro Football Draft Preview." To contact Brian, email [email protected].

0 points
 

Comments (26)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Evan's picture

March 13, 2014 at 02:32 pm

100% just read "Vance Walker" as "Vince Wilfork." ha.

0 points
0
0
Idiot Fan's picture

March 13, 2014 at 03:14 pm

I did the exact same thing.

Also, Sproles to the Eagles? Oy vey.

0 points
0
0
Evan's picture

March 13, 2014 at 08:22 pm

Right? Jesus. Sproles and McCoy? What a nightmare for defenders. A lot of broken ankles.

0 points
0
0
DrealynWilliams's picture

March 13, 2014 at 09:59 pm

double post And a typo. never again will I post from my phone.

0 points
0
0
Evan's picture

March 14, 2014 at 08:20 am

How are you posting from your phone?

The mobile version that my iphone is getting doesn't have any reply options.

0 points
0
0
DrealynWilliams's picture

March 14, 2014 at 10:23 am

I go to options inside my browser and select "desktop view"

0 points
0
0
DrealynWilliams's picture

March 13, 2014 at 09:55 pm

See,this is what kills me. We have Cobb and Franklin that we can create plays for and cause havoc but we just don't. Now, Cobb and Franklin don't have the open field speed like the other 2, but the quickness,agility and running skills are there.

0 points
0
0
Evan's picture

March 14, 2014 at 08:20 am

Totally disagree about Cobb - he causes havoc.

I expect a much bigger role for Franklin this season.

0 points
0
0
DrealynWilliams's picture

March 14, 2014 at 10:22 am

What is it that you disagree with?

0 points
0
0
Evan's picture

March 14, 2014 at 10:26 am

" We have Cobb and Franklin that we can create plays for and cause havoc but we just don't."

I disagree that MM doesn't create plays for Cobb and that he doesn't cause havoc.

0 points
0
0
DrealynWilliams's picture

March 14, 2014 at 10:43 am

Oh,okay. I meant as far as getting creative. Like the "Cobra" formation. Where has that formation went? That should abuse opposing LB's and Safeties.

0 points
0
0
ARodMoney's picture

March 13, 2014 at 03:24 pm

"only eight sacks to his credit in five NFL seasons"

*checks Raji's career sack total*

*checks Pickett's career sack total*

Where can he sign?

0 points
0
0
DrealynWilliams's picture

March 13, 2014 at 06:06 pm

Why do you care about a NT's sack total? Wilfork (10 seasons) has 16 and Raji (5 seasons) has 10.5 while recording 0 his past 2 seasons. Is Wilfork not productive???

0 points
0
0
Evan's picture

March 13, 2014 at 08:24 pm

Wilfork is (was) a stud.

What those numbers tell me is that those two Raji seasons were insane (in terms of sacks).

0 points
0
0
ARodMoney's picture

March 13, 2014 at 09:07 pm

Oh god. You got me.

0 points
0
0
DrealynWilliams's picture

March 13, 2014 at 09:50 pm

Wait...is that sarcasm?

0 points
0
0
ben's picture

March 13, 2014 at 04:09 pm

#1 Priority signing, Sam Shields, check
#2 Priority signing, Melton or Neal, check
#3 Priority signing, Quarless, check
#4 Priority signing, EDS
#5 Priority signing, Lattimore, check
#6 Priority signing, Jolly or Al Woods or Raji
#7 Priority signing, Jim Leonhard or Chris Clemons

0 points
0
0
Allan Murphy's picture

March 13, 2014 at 05:13 pm

how about peppers ?

0 points
0
0
DrealynWilliams's picture

March 13, 2014 at 06:09 pm

I'd love that signing. 6'6,280-ish and still athletic. Capers/McCarthy wants to get more athletic up front and wants to run multiple fronts. Only at the right price -- of course.....

0 points
0
0
ben's picture

March 13, 2014 at 08:00 pm

peppers at DE or OLB?

0 points
0
0
Evan's picture

March 13, 2014 at 08:21 pm

He's around 290 lbs - I think he could play DE. Nice to have that 6'7".

Not sure he has much left in the tank, but for a year...who knows.

0 points
0
0
idgafkurt's picture

March 13, 2014 at 05:22 pm

According to the KC Star, "He finished 2013 with 40 tackles and three sacks and posted a Pro Football Focus of 4.0 in 791 snaps. Interestingly enough, he finished with a higher grade against the pass (1.5) than he did against the run (negative-0.6)." Thus, he might be more of an asset in the pass rush than the run game...

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2014/03/10/4879246/chiefs-free-agency-tracker-...

0 points
0
0
4thand1's picture

March 13, 2014 at 05:40 pm

What if Johnny Manziel was on the board at 21? Very Interressting.

0 points
0
0
DrealynWilliams's picture

March 13, 2014 at 07:10 pm

**attempts to hold back laugh**

0 points
0
0
Evan's picture

March 13, 2014 at 08:23 pm

Then the Packers better start calling teams at the top of the 2nd and move back.

0 points
0
0
Nashville Packer's picture

March 13, 2014 at 06:09 pm

The 40-tackles for a guy of that size intrigues me.

0 points
0
0