The Green Bay Packers just made a move, snagging pass-rusher Arden Walker off waivers to finally fill that open roster spot left by waiving QB Kyron Drones. Honestly, this whole situation is kinda wild when you dig into the details, and it definitely shines a light on some deeper issues brewing with their defensive line.
Who Is This Guy, Anyway?
So, Arden Walker? He’s an undrafted rookie, and let me tell you, he’s not exactly a household name. He got waived by the Minnesota Vikings , who, get this, also run a 3-4 defense, just like the Packers. The Vikings actually replaced Walker with Kenny Dyson, a former UFL edge defender, so that tells you something right there. This guy was so under the radar that Dane Brugler’s massive “The Beast” series, which ranked over 2,700 players, didn’t even mention him. Can you believe it? And get this: Walker only signed with the Vikings for a measly $2,000 in guaranteed money after the draft. That’s a fraction, a TINY fraction, of what other undrafted free agents signed for! For example, the Packers gave edge rusher Nyjalik Kelly a whopping $262,500 in guarantees. What’s up with that massive difference?
Walker did get 18 snaps in the Vikings’ preseason opener last week, hitting the field with just two seconds left in the third quarter. Most of those snaps, 17 of them, were on defense, with one on special teams. So, not a ton of tape there. But hey, he was a team leader and captain at Colorado. He’s got a 28.0% win rate on true pass sets from the 2025 season and a 72.1 pass rush grade. Plus, the dude is durable, logging over 1,300 career snaps, and he’s got natural leverage with 8 career sacks under his belt. His missed tackle rate in 2024 was 8.8%, which is pretty solid. At Colorado’s pro day, he clocked a 4.78-second 40-yard dash, a 7.20-second three-cone drill, and a 31-inch vertical, weighing in at 6’2″ and 242 pounds. Not too shabby for a non-combine invite!
Why The Packers Made This Move
So why pick up an unranked, low-guarantee guy mid-preseason? This is where it gets real. There are two big reasons the Packers are looking to add depth at edge rusher right now, and they both scream “injury concerns.” Their fourth-round rookie, Dani Dennis-Sutton, is heading into his second week of missing practice, dealing with an illness. You never want to see a rookie missing critical reps, especially early on. And then there’s Nyjalik Kelly, the guy who got that big guaranteed money. He’s also been missing practice, battling a knee injury. The severity of Kelly’s injury is unknown right now, and that’s gotta be a massive concern for the team. Losing two guys at the same position, one a rookie and the other a significant investment, definitely pushes the panic button for more bodies.
This pickup of Walker isn’t just about filling a roster spot, it’s a clear signal that the Packers are worried about their edge rusher depth. With Dennis-Sutton out sick and Kelly’s knee a question mark, Walker could see significant opportunities even as an unheralded rookie. Keep an eye on those injury reports, because how quickly Kelly and Dennis-Sutton get back on the field will absolutely define Walker’s immediate role and the Packers’ defensive strength going forward. This is the kind of mid-preseason shuffle that can totally shake up a position group!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Acme Packing Company.
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