The New Orleans Saints have eight remaining players scheduled to become unrestricted free agents on March 10, plus three restricted free agents. Here’s a breakdown on RFA defensive lineman Tyrunn Walker:
Age: Turns 25 in March
Experience: Heading into 4th season
Height: 6-3
Weight: 294
Outlook: There’s a strong chance the Saints will want Walker back -- though it’s possible they’ll seek a more salary-cap friendly deal than the RFA tender (which will cost at least $1.5 million with no draft-pick compensation).
Walker has been a nice, solid backup for the Saints, with his role expanding each year since he joined them as an undrafted free agent out of Tulsa in 2012. He’s decent as both a pass-rusher and run defender and versatile enough to play both 3-4 end and nose tackle. He played in all 16 games for the first time last season, averaging 18 snaps per game, and finished with career highs of 19 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
Walker had a sneaky-good grade last year according to Pro Football Focus (ranking 21st among 81 eligible defensive tackles). He popped up on my film studies with a handful of big plays throughout the year, including a sack-fumble against San Francisco, helping to force Junior Galette’s sack-fumble at Carolina and helping to set the tone early with a good pass rush push at Pittsburgh.
I wouldn't project a major breakthrough or a full-time starting gig in Walker’s near future. He’s been more decent than dynamic, and the Saints’ pass rush went quiet far too often last year even when he was on the field. However, Walker is still a young player who has shown improvement each year so far -- a good trajectory to be on.