Former Fresno State linebacker Mykal Walker finds a new home for the 2024 NFL season, signing with the Washington Commanders.
Former Fresno State Bulldogs star linebacker Mykal Walker has found a new NFL home during NFL Draft month.
Walker, a First-Team All-Mountain West Conference performer, has signed with the Washington Commanders – with the NFC East franchise announcing the move on Tuesday.
The versatile defender was last seen with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He saw action in eight total games with five starts. Walker ended 2023 tallying 33 total tackles, 21 solo stops, two tackles for a loss and snatching one interception – which was in the Dec. 7 loss to the New England Patriots.
Walker’s best game was a 10-tackle outing against the Arizona Cardinals on Dec. 3, which saw seven solo tackles in the home loss to the Cards. It became Walker’s first double-digit tackle NFL day since Oct. 30, 2022, against the Carolina Panthers during a time he was with the Atlanta Falcons.
Walker stuck on with the Steelers last season after practice squad stints with the Las Vegas Raiders and Chicago Bears.
Bulldog fans remember Walker for playing multiple spots from defensive end to outside linebacker to sliding to inside ‘backer in 2019. He became a beloved defensive star during Fresno State’s run to the 2018 Mountain West Conference title that culminated in the Las Vegas Bowl win over Arizona State. Walker earned defensive MVP honors at Boise State during Fresno State’s MWC title game win.
During his FS career, Walker collected 183 total tackles with 89 solo stops. He additionally swatted 11 total passes in coverage. His final season was 2019 – which saw a career-best nine tackles for a loss. He managed to become a fourth-round draft selection to the Falcons, landing at 119th overall in the 2020 draft.
Before Fresno State, Walker starred for the NCAA Division II program Azusa Pacific, where he emerged as an All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference performer. At the high school level, Walker was a three-sport standout in football, basketball and track and field for Vacaville High.
Walker will reunite with his former Falcons head coach Dan Quinn, who is now handling the coaching reins for Washington. Quinn helped lure Walker into the league on day three of the ’20 draft. Quinn, though, got fired during the ’20 season and was eventually replaced by Raheem Morris. Walker managed to play for Arthur Smith for the next two seasons in Atlanta.