The Green Bay Packers found additional defensive line depth on the waiver wire Tuesday. Interestingly, it came from one of the team’s top rivals — the Minnesota Vikings.
According to the NFL transaction wire, the Packers claimed undrafted rookie defensive end Arden Walker off waivers Tuesday. Walker will join Green Bay’s training camp roster.
The Vikings waived Walker the day prior to create roster space for veteran outside linebacker Kenny Dyson.
Minnesota signed Walker as an undrafted free agent in early May. He was with the team until his release Monday.
Walker played five college seasons — two at Missouri and three at Colorado for high-profiled coach Deion Sanders.
In 51 college games over his entire career, Walker posted 102 combined tackles, including 14 for loss. He also had eight sacks, one pass defense and one forced fumble.
Packers Claim DE Arden Walker Off Waivers
GettyMatt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers claimed defensive lineman Arden Walker off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings according to the NFL transaction wire.
Walker didn’t have a productive enough college career or turn enough heads at his pro day to become a draft pick. But he still received praise during the spring.
“He ran a 4.76-second 40-yard dash, posted a 31-inch vertical, a 9-foot-6 broad jump, 22 bench reps, a 4.40 shuttle and a 7.20 three-cone drill,” wrote Denver Sports Media’s Carlos Bryant in April. “Those are not freak-show numbers that force their way into the national conversation, but they are solid across the board and fit the profile of a player trying to show teams he can help in multiple ways.
“For Walker, the bigger sell is the full package — production, leadership, versatility, special teams value and a mindset built around details.”
Just because Walker didn’t last through the preseason with Minnesota doesn’t mean he failed to sell his “full package.” The Vikings appeared to prefer a veteran instead of Walker’s inexperience.
Dyson is entering his third season of professional football.
Walker could be an asset for the Packers if he can quickly adapt to Green Bay. The defensive lineman has 12 days before NFL teams have to trim their roster to 53 players.
More than likely, Walker is a candidate to begin the 2026 regular season on a practice squad. The Packers bringing him in now could give them an edge in signing Walker to their practice squad.
Packers Defensive Line Depth Entering Preseason Week 2
GettyFormer Colorado defensive lineman Arden Walker is joining the Green Bay Packers.
How the Packers replace Micah Parsons along the edge of their defense will be an early season storyline for Green Bay. Perhaps Walker could be part of the team’s rotation to replace the All-Pro.
The Packers, though, have a lot of players along the edge that Walker will be competing with over the next week and a half. Before claiming Walker off waivers, the team had eight edge rushers listed on the training camp roster — Parsons, Brenton Cox Jr., Dani Dennis-Sutton, Nyjalik Kelly, Arron Mosby, Collin Oliver, Barryn Sorrell and Lukas Van Ness.
Green Bay doesn’t differentiate between defensive ends and outside linebackers on its official roster. Walker, a college defensive end, probably won’t compete with all of those edge rushers.
But those are the players Green Bay is counting on to rush the passer this fall.
The Packers will visit the Denver Broncos in Week 2 of the NFL preseason. Kickoff will be at 8 pm CT at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.
Like HEAVY’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on HEAVY
The post Packers Claim 102-Tackle Rookie Off Waivers From Vikings appeared first on HEAVY.