The San Francisco 49ers are signing linebacker Joe Walker to a one-year deal, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. He spent the last two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.


Walker, 27, was more known for his play on special teams but did start the final 10 games of this past season for the Cardinals.

In January, ESPN listed Walker as the Cardinals player who "leveled up" during the 2019 season. Josh Weinfuss wrote the following about the linebacker.

The 2016 seventh-round pick made significant strides in 2019 after being relied upon more this season than he has in his NFL career. ... He was already an athletic linebacker in coordinator Vance Joseph's system, but 2019 showed his on-field improvement.

The Philadelphia Eagles made Walker a seventh-round selection out of Oregon in 2016. The Cardinals signed him from the Eagles' practice squad on September 19, 2018.

Walker registered 65 tackles and a forced fumble through 16 games and 11 starts with Arizona this past season. He could replace linebacker Elijah Lee, who was the only 49ers restricted free agent not tendered a contract. Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne and running back Matt Breida, the team's two other restricted free agents, had second-round tenders placed on them.


Walker has recorded 82 tackles, a pass defensed, and a forced fumble through his three NFL seasons. He spent his first NFL season (2016) on injured reserve after suffering a torn ACL during the preseason.

Career Statistics
Season Team G GS Comb Total Ast Sck SFTY PDef Int
2019 Cardinals 16 11 65 41 24 0.0 0 0 0
2018 Cardinals 14 0 7 5 2 0.0 0 0 0
2017 Eagles 12 3 10 6 4 0.0 0 1 0
Total 82 52 30 0.0 0 1 0


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