Eight practices into Bucs training camp, David Walker has made one thing increasingly difficult to ignore – Tampa Bay may have a much bigger outside linebacker decision on its hands than anyone anticipated. Eight straight practices with at least one sack will do that.

That has caught my eye the most, and he has a real chance at not just fighting for snaps as the third outside pass rusher but pushing Yaya Diaby for being the team’s second outside linebacker in the starting lineup.

Yeah, you heard me.

Walker has been the biggest winner of camp so far, but several others have also caught my eye as winners and losers.

Let’s dive right into this week’s Slivon’s Slant!

David Walker Making Strong Case For Bucs OLB2 Job In 2026 – And Beyond

Final call for the David Walker hype train.

It is about to leave the station.

Over the past week, I have taken to X to share my thoughts on the absolutely sensational start to Bucs training camp Walker is having.

That was less than a week ago, but I am prepared to take it a step further than simply saying he is OLB3. He has a serious chance to challenge Yaya Diaby for OLB2. It might sound outlandish to think about such a thing but hear me out first.

Diaby has been a productive pass rusher in Tampa Bay, recording 19 sacks over his first three seasons and becoming a more polished pass rusher with a knack for generating a bevy of quarterback pressures. While he is a capable No. 2 pass rusher and pairs well with first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr., Bain and Walker have already drawn some intriguing comparisons themselves.

Bucs OLBs Rueben Bain Jr. and David Walker – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

During Walker’s first Camp Diary with Pewter Report, he mentioned what former Colts pass rushers Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis accomplished together. Freeney played at 6-foot-1 and 268 pounds, while Mathis was only 6-foot-2 and 245 pounds. That did not matter though, as they wreaked havoc throughout the 2000s and into the 2010s, combining for 230.5 sacks and 96 forced fumbles in Indianapolis.

“[Bain and I] were talking about it a couple weeks ago and we’re like, ‘Man, we’re Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis 2.0.,'” Walker said. “We’re similar to those guys and we look up to those guys.”

Bain and Walker have similar sawed-off builds, but each has a relentless motor to get into the backfield with a deep arsenal of moves.

Understandably, some might push back on what I think of Walker. He is 26 years old, coming off a torn ACL, and has yet to play in an NFL game. Trust me, I have weighed these factors and know that these are very real, legitimate concerns.

On the flip side, his pass-rushing ability is for real. It’s been on display all week in every training camp practice.

I have seen it, other Pewter Reporters and beat writers have seen it, and team sources have stated multiple times just how high they are on him both publicly and privately.

His track record dating back to college reveals a polished pass rusher. I have observed that his toolbox of moves is arguably better than Diaby’s, even if the 2023 third-round pick can win with clean, pure power and athleticism off the snap.

So, where does that leave Diaby?

As of now, he is the most proven pass rusher in the room and projects to be the starter. While all the contract headlines are currently surrounding quarterback Baker Mayfield and nose tackle Vita Vea, it could very well be “Sub-Zero’s” last year with the Bucs, too.

Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

He is set to be a free agent after this season, and given his track record, Diaby could command between $25 million and $30 million per year on his second contract. At $20 million per year, Boye Mafe’s market is one recent comparison even though Diaby is a better player, while Jaelan Phillips’ four-year, $120 million deal with the Panthers established just how expensive edge rushers can become. Could Diaby fetch $30 million per year in 2027? Some could argue that Diaby is on Phillips’ level.

That price point could prove too rich for Tampa Bay’s liking, especially as they mull paying Mayfield $50 million or more per year, giving Vea the extension he is reportedly seeking (over $20 million per year), and also giving right guard Cody Mauch a new deal.

Have you seen what good guards are getting paid these days?

Retaining Diaby is not as easy as it might seem, so why not give Walker more playing time? He will be playing on the second year of his four-year rookie deal, so his contract situation is on much more certain ground.

That is what makes this competition so fascinating.

Tampa Bay does not necessarily have to choose between Walker and Diaby this year. It can rotate both players and find ways to keep its best pass rushers fresh. But if Walker proves this production translates to the preseason and regular season, the Bucs will eventually have to decide whether Diaby is truly their long-term OLB2 – or whether Walker’s emergence changes that equation entirely.

Surprisingly, head coach Todd Bowles has elected to keep Walker mostly on the third team with Chris Braswell during camp so far. I asked Bowles on Friday if he would rotate him in more with the first and second team, to which he sounded amicable to doing starting next week.

“Well, he works in with some of the other pass rushers at times, but from a rep standpoint and a rest standpoint, we’ve got to kind of keep it equal right now,” Bowles said. “Right now, there’s really no first, second or third team. We’ll start divvying it up after the Jets game and getting a little more time. He’ll see a lot of action next week in New York against their guys as well.”

Bowles also spoke highly of Walker’s athleticism and versatility.

Bucs OLB David Walker – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“Just his energy and his athleticism [have] showed up,” Bowles added. “We didn’t get to see him in pads last year, but to see him out there and the way he moves. He moves like an inside [linebacker], but he plays outside [linebacker] and he [has] great power. To see him out there playing fast and not worried about his knee is great.”

Walker’s “hype” has been more than justified, as each day he finds a new way to get by an offensive tackle and record a sack. Bowles could soon be put in an envious position – having too many quality pass rushers to rotate in.

Who would have thought?

As the self-proclaimed conductor of the David Walker train, room is quickly running out to hop aboard.

Stock Up, Stock Down: Week 2 Bucs Camp Winners And Losers

Winners:

DT A’Shawn Robinson – The Bucs’ defense stole the show as pads came on this week. Leading the charge was veteran defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson. Known for his tenacity and providing a much-needed edge and nastiness on the field, Robinson demonstrated that the defensive front could remain productive even without Vea’s future resolved. Not only has he served as a mentor for the younger guys, but he has proven capable of making plays, too. Robinson had two sacks during Friday’s practice, and his press conferences alone command respect and should evoke fear into anyone who is forced to line up across from him. The word tone-setter gets thrown around, but he is one.

ILB Josiah Trotter – All it took for Josiah Trotter to take his play up a notch was donning the pads. That led to an increased intensity on the field from the rookie linebacker, as he was a menace at the line of scrimmage all week, either as a blitzer up the A gap or meeting ballcarriers in the backfield.

Bucs ILB Josiah Trotter – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Trotter had several tackles for loss, and he has enough of a foundation to start in Week 1. His coverage remains a work in progress and key developmental focus, but the way he contributes to other areas and carries himself as a mike linebacker is quite evident.

CB Zyon McCollum – Zyon McCollum will be the first one to say that he had a disappointing 2025 season. He has put that behind him through what he has done through two weeks of training camp. McCollum started off camp with a bang with an interception on the first day. His arrow has only pointed upward since then, as he added two more picks this week as he currently leads the team.

It is clear that he is being more aggressive fighting for the football when it is being thrown his direction, and his focus following the ball has drastically improved. McCollum does not need to be an All-Pro, but if he records a few interceptions this season and plays tight coverage, he can live up to the contract he signed before the start of last year.

CB Ayden Garnes – It is encouraging that three of the four winners here are newcomers on defense, but it is even better for the Bucs that one just so happens to be an undrafted free agent cornerback. The team elected not to address the position with a veteran starter, but Ayden Garnes has made the most of his extended chances. His play took off this week as he had an interception off Baker Mayfield and had another highlight play off No. 6 by staying stride-for-stride with Emeka Egbuka and batting down a deep ball attempt. He is becoming the name to watch among backup cornerbacks, even if Todd Bowles is not naming names depth chart-wise.

“I don’t know if we have a backup corner right now or are willing to name backup corners right now [but] he’s been playing well,” Bowles said Friday. “He’s playing with a lot more confidence. I think, mentally, he’s grasped a lot of things and he’s playing faster. I think his ability is starting to show. We’ll see him in games, but we are aware of his athleticism and his coverage skills.”

Losers:

WR Emeka Egbuka – After being featured in the early winners section last week, Emeka Egbuka did not have nearly as much success this week. Egbuka struggled to create separation against several cornerbacks, including Zyon McCollum, Jacob Parrish, and Ayden Garnes. After looking so dynamic during the first half of his rookie year, his play took a substantial step back as the offense crumbled around him.

Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Expectations are high for him to look more like a true No. 1 threat, but the best path to that outcome is not through him stretching the field vertically. Instead, Egbuka is someone who would benefit from more short to intermediate throws and doing the rest with the ball in his hands.

TE Devin Culp – Devin Culp has been quite inconsistent in camp so far. As a receiving tight end, Culp has fought through a case of the drops, failing to haul in several passes thrown to him. As a backup tight end, chances are already limited to begin with. Unless he has an exceptional preseason, it is hard to see him making the 53-man roster. He is a fine enough practice squad option, but for what this offense wants to do when running 12 personnel, they can accomplish it without him.

OT Justin Skule – With how well Rueben Bain Jr. and David Walker have been playing, along with the rest of the outside pass rushers flashing their skills, someone is bound to be the loser. Justin Skule was brought back to be the team’s backup right tackle, but he struggled keeping guys from getting around him and winning one-on-one. Based on his track record, it is too early to worry about Skule. It is becoming obvious that he is the fourth best offensive tackle on the team given the strides that Ben Chukwuma is making in his second year.

CB Benjamin Morrison – Each practice that Benjamin Morrison misses, the more doubtful it is that he claims a starting spot on the Bucs’ defense. Morrison has not only lost his grip on the second cornerback position to Jacob Parrish, but Ayden Garnes has emerged as someone who can be quality depth and fill in when needed. Tampa Bay will not be giving up on its 2025 second-round pick just yet, but he has to show something this summer – and do it soon.

Closing Slant

The second week of Bucs training camp largely went the defense’s way. From how the pass rush bested the offensive line to the secondary creating takeaways on a daily basis, it provides optimism that the defense will be improved this season. The unit looks improved at each level, with a deeper defensive line, improved play from the inside linebackers and the cornerback and safety rooms answering the call so far. Next week poses new challenges, as Tampa Bay will be traveling northeast to take on the Jets for joint practice and the preseason opener.

It is the first of several meaningful measuring sticks the team will have this year, as they will be going to battle against another NFL roster.

So far, David Walker has been the best player in camp. His emergence suggests the Bucs’ outside pass rush could be far more dangerous than anticipated, and it could have a ripple effect on the team’s future plans. The winners and losers are starting to separate themselves, but Walker may be forcing Tampa Bay to ask a question it never expected to face this early.

What happens if the third pass rusher turns out to be too good to keep off the field?

Follow Pewter Report’s Bucs Training Camp Coverage!

Get ready for plenty of entertaining Bucs practices and preseason games that Pewter Report will be on hand for throughout the month of August. To follow our coverage, stay tuned to PewterReport.com and our PewterReportTV YouTube channel. If you are looking for our latest thoughts on camp, Scott Reynolds and I covered it in-depth during our Friday Pewter Report Podcast below. Check it out!