Newest Broncos pass rusher Walker’s No. 1 target: Tom Brady
Apr 30, 2017, 12:00 AM | Updated: May 1, 2017, 8:31 am
The latest addition to the vaunted Denver pass rush surely knows the way to the hearts of those in Broncos Country.
DeMarcus Walker, the club’s second-round pick in this weekend’s NFL Draft, certainly has daunting numbers from his tenure at Florida State — 27 sacks, 41.5 tackles for loss, 7 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and an interception.
His 2016 sacks total (16) ranks seventh all-time for a single season, just behind his new teammate Von Miller (17 in 2009).
“… We just looked at DeMarcus’ production: 25 sacks the last two years, the energy that he plays the game and the hustle that he plays with the game. I think he had 44 tackles for losses,” Broncos general manager John Elway said.
“He can play inside, he can play outside and so you just never have enough good pass rushers.”
But it might not necessarily be that Walker can get to the quarterback, and often, but who he said he wants to take down the most: Tom Brady.
Talking with 104.3 The Fan on Friday night after being taken No. 51 in the draft, Walker said the New England Patriots quarterback was the one passer among all NFL players he wanted to rock the most.
Especially because, to him, it seems Denver’s the only team that seems to rattle the five-time Super Bowl champion.
“… My favorite example is when the Denver Broncos rattled him in 2015, so I want to do it again,” Walker said.
He’ll get his first shot to do so in Week 10 on Nov. 12 on prime time television.
But first, he said, he has to “earn” his place among the great pass rushers on his own team, like Miller, Shane Ray, and others.
“I’ve just got to go out there and earn it. That’s something that I told everybody on the staff. A lot of guys can come and say, ‘I’m going to do this and that.’ I’m going to earn it,” Walker said during his introductory press conference Saturday at UCHealth Training Center.
I’m a hard worker. I don’t talk. I put in the work for it. I’m going to earn it. That’s how I do.”
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.
