The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were looking to add experience to their defense last season, and did so by signing linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. from the Miami Dolphins.
Walker was coming off an active season in South Florida, starting in eight of the 14 games he played in, and didn’t have to change states to reach his next destination.
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Initially, Walker was meant to provide leadership in the ranks and was thought to be a good pairing with veteran linebacker Lavonte David, as both grew up in Miami.
But things didn’t go as planned for Walker or the Buccaneers.
Bucs Roundtable will take a look at where each of the Buccaneers’ 2025 free agents stands going into this year’s cycle. Our series has featured offensive lineman Charlie Heck, linebacker Haason Reddick cornerback Kindle Vildor and punter Riley Dixon.
The series will also include players who were on the Bucs before 2025, who the team decided to re-sign, such as receiver Chris Godwin and Lavonte David.
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Walker’s initial run with the Bucs didn’t make it past training camp. He suffered a knee injury during the offseason and was released before the regular season began.
The Indianapolis Colts — whom Walker started his career with and played with from 2017-2020 — then signed him to their practice squad, where he remained for most of the season.
In December, the Bucs needed help at inside linebacker with SirVocea Dennis dealing with an injury, and gave Walker a call, signing him to the active roster.
Walker only played one snap in one game, a Dec. 28 loss to the Dolphins in Miami. Dennis missed just one game, the Dec. 11 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night at Raymond James Stadium.
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Now, Walker is a free agent again.
After playing out his rookie contract with the Colts, Walker singed a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns. He played more than 700 snaps for Cleveland in 2021 (per Pro Football Focus) and the team decided to bring him back for 2022.
Walker’s 2022 season amounted to just three games. In a Week 3 Thursday night game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he tore his quad, which ended his season.
Still, the Browns brought him back on another one-year deal, and he ended up starting 12 games in 2023, ending the year with a forced fumble, four passes defended and 44 tackles.
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From there, Walker played his lone season in Miami, which he ended with a interception, two passes defended and a sack.
Walker then signed with the Bucs, then the Colts, and the Bucs again, all within nine months.
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