Packers grab player from NFC North rival to address key position of need on the roster
Green Bay claimed undrafted rookie Arden Walker off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings to add depth along the edge group.
The Green Bay Packers dipped into the NFC North to bolster their edge defender depth, claiming rookie Arden Walker off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings. The move gives the Packers another young pass-rusher in a rotation that has dealt with injuries throughout training camp, and it comes at the expense of a divisional rival, who had waived him earlier this week.
Walker’s college background
Arden Walker went undrafted after a five-year college career split between Missouri and Colorado. He spent his final three seasons with the Buffaloes, recording 4.5 sacks last season and finishing his collegiate career with 14 sacks across five years. After going undrafted, Walker signed with Minnesota and suited up for the Vikings against the New York Giants in the preseason opener, playing 17 defensive snaps. He earned a solid 69.9 defensive grade from PFF, including a 74.2 tackling grade, while posting two stops against the Giants.
Walker had expressed how much he values the opportunity to compete at the NFL level. During his time at Colorado, he laid out what drives him.
“I really want to take it to the next level, so I’ve got to continue to keep stepping up no matter what it is— pass rush, playing the run,” Walker said during his final college season. “If I do my part and make sure that we get the wins that we need to, I think the exposure, and by making the plays that come to me, I feel like it’s completely where I need to be.”
Where Walker fits on the Packers’ roster
Green Bay’s edge defender room has dealt with some injury concerns, making the addition of another body a smart move. The Packers have Micah Parsons on the physically unable to perform list, but the rest of the group still features Lukas Van Ness (returned to practice from a shoulder injury), Barryn Sorell, Dani Dennis-Sutton (has handled an illness), Brenton Cox, Collin Oliver, Arron Mosby, and Nyjalik Kelly (didn’t practice on Tuesday with an injury). Walker enters that group as a developmental piece who can compete for a practice squad spot through the remainder of training camp and the preseason.
Green Bay also tried out two players before ultimately claiming Walker: defensive end Viliami Fehoko, formerly of San Jose State, and Nebraska linebacker Ochaun Mathis. Neither was signed following the tryout, and the Packers instead opted to go the waiver route to add Walker to the roster.
