The Arizona Cardinals are losing one of their defensive starters in free agency. The latest is linebacker Joe Walker is staying the the division and, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, is headed to the San Francisco 49ers on a one-year contract.
Walker will likely be a backup and special teams player there.
That is what he probably should have been for the Cardinals in 2019 but he played himself into the defensive rotation.
He played in all 16 games, starting 11. He had 65 tackles and a forced fumble.
As Haason Reddick struggled, Walker impressed coaches in practice. He first went from being a backup to playing in base defensive packages. Later in the season he completely replaced Reddick at inside linebacker and Reddick moved outside.
Walker filled in a void and was productive but his position needed to be upgraded. With the addition of De’Vondre Campbell in free agency, Walker now moves on to the 49ers.
The Cardinals still have Dennis Gardeck, Keiswhan Bierria and Zeke Turner as backup linebackers.
Walker is the fourth Cardinals free agent to head elsewhere. Receivers Damiere Byrd and Pharoh Cooper signed one-year deals with the Patriots and Panthers. Defensive lineman Rodney Gunter got a three-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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