By Michael Stets
ALLEN PARK — The Lions addressed the offensive side of the ball in the first two rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft, taking Arkansas center Frank Ragnow and Auburn running back Kerryon Johnson. And with the team’s third-round pick, GM Bob Quinn went with defense, selecting safety Tracy Walker out of Louisiana-Lafayette with pick No. 82.
In 2017, Walker, 23, led the Ragin’ Cajuns in tackles (98), interceptions (2), and was Third-Team All-Sun Belt Conference. At the NFL Scouting Combine, Walker ran a 4.51 40-yard dash, with a vertical jump of 33 inches. In his scouting report for Walker on NFL.com, NFL analyst Lance Zierlein said he is “Opportunistic when he gets his shot,” and a “Forceful hitter in the open field,” but “Missing instincts to stay a step ahead in coverage.”
The Brunswick, Ga. native said he was surprised to get taken in the third round. In fact, he said he “Expected” to have his name called in the fifth.
“It definitely was a surprise for me,” said Walker, who is a cousin of Lions cornerback Darius Slay. “I didn’t expect it. I just put my best forward effort throughout the whole process. I control what I can control. I didn’t control who picked me and who showed the most interest in me. When Detroit picked me it definitely was a blessing for me. I’m definitely honored that they picked me and they won’t regret it.”
He added: “I’m definitely blessed. I’m the type of person, I’m very conservative and I expect the worst. I was blessed to be drafted in the third round. I always expect the worst.”
The pick was certainly a surprise to many, especially with the Lions having a need on the defensive line. Speaking to local media after the round’s conclusion on Friday, Quinn, who said Walker was a target at the beginning of the day, explained what he liked about him as a player.
“Good size, very athletic, play-making ball skills, toughness, tackling, speed,” said Quinn, listing Walker’s attributes. “When he played against the highest level of competition on his schedule, I’d say go watch the Texas A&M game (Walker recorded eight tackles and one interception). That’s a good game for him, as well his rest of his schedule. But when you’re evaluating players that might not be at an SEC school or a Big Ten school, you try to watch them against their best competition and those games were really important to us, as well as the East-West All-Star Game, which we go down there every year to look at players. He was one of the best players in that game that entire week when I was there personally.”
Walker said he feels he can “Compete with the best of them” and that he has the “Talent and capabilities to be a great NFL star.” He said he will play wherever the Lions want him to without argument, and just wants to get to Allen Park and get his NFL career started, playing for head coach Matt Patricia, who he greatly admires.
“He’s such a great defensive-scheme guy. He’s a great man, you know, when I sat there and talked to him when I visited. It was a blessing and an honor to meet him. I can’t wait to get under his scheme and get under his coaching and be coached for the best possible ability possible.”