[CBFF] PFW - Commentary on the Trade

[Steve Behrens]

*Bills trade DT Walker to Bears for conditional fifth-round pick*

The Bills traded DT Darwin Walker to Chicago for a conditional 2008
fifth-round pick on Sunday. Walker, traded from Philadelphia to Buffalo in
March, wanted a new contract from the Bills. Walker's rights would have
reverted to Philadelphia if Walker had not reported to the Bills by Aug. 5.

The 6-3, 294-pound Walker made 36 tackles and notched six sacks last season.
He has 27½ career sacks.

According to *The Chicago Tribune*, the Bears have not given Walker a
contract extension, but they did rework his current deal to give him some of
his salary up front as a bonus.

*PFW: What was Chicago's motivation for making the deal?*

*Wilkening: Walker strengthens their depth and talent at defensive tackle, a
position that took a hit with the loss of Tank Johnson in June. Walker, 30,
is regarded as one of the league's better pass-rushing interior linemen. The
Bears can put Walker next to Tommie Harris and create a world of problems
for opposing offensive lines. The Bears can already cause problems with
their edge rushers, especially Mark Anderson's emergence last season.*

*The Bears notched 40 sacks a season ago; with Walker now in the fold, a
10-15 percent increase in that total should be a goal. Opponents attempted
581 passes vs. Chicago last season; only the Vikings, so stingy vs. the run,
had more passes thrown against them. With the Bears likely to be playing
with the lead quite a bit this season, general manager Jerry Angelo was
wise to add another pass rusher.*