We are in the home stretch with part 82 of our 90ish-part series — assuming the roster does not change before we are complete — which will break down each player of the Steelers current 90-man (now 80-man) roster in alphabetical order. This series will encompass many aspects of each players game and their current role with the team. At the end, I’ll give some projected stats as well as their chances to make the 53-man roster.

Let’s take a look at former XFLer

Cavon Walker

Position: DT
Height: 6’ 2”
Weight: 284 lbs
College: Maryland
Draft: UDFA in 2018 (Bears)

2019 Stats (XFL)

5 Games played
19 Combined tackles
4.5 Sacks (led XFL)
9 QB hits
5 Tackles for loss

Contract remaining

Expires in 2021
$610,000 salary cap number (.3% of total cap)
$0 Dead money each of the next 3 seasons
$610,000 Savings if cut

Likelihood of making the roster

Unlikely, BUT has the best odds of making the team out of all the XFL signees.

Cavon Walker may have been the best player in the XFL’s cover-19 shortened season. He was a game wrecker from his defensive tackle position and was constantly getting pressure throughout his tenure with the New York Guardians. The challenge facing Waker, however is the sheer amount of depth ahead of him on the roster. He’s not pushing out Cameron Heyward, Stephon Tuitt, Tyson Alualu or Chris Wormley so their isn't a lot of spots remaining he will however be given every opportunity to compete with big Dan McCullers Isaiah Buggs, Henry Mondeaux, and Calvin Taylor for a depth piece on the team. Because of his size don’t expect Walker to line up at nose tackle at all, which appears to be locked down by seventh year man Dan McCullers.

2020 projection

I really want to tell you Waker is going to make this team, but with out a significant injury I dont think he will. I do believe Walker will be one of those guys flirting with on the veteran player practice squad spots and might just get a start here or their if any of the Steelers defensive lineman are unable to play.

Projected stats:

2 Games played (Practice squad)
8 Combined tackles
.5 Sacks
1 QB hits
1 Tackle for loss

Summary

Cavon Walker was an exciting offseason add because of what he was able to put onto tape during his XFL tenure. Out of the 9 XFLers originally signed by the Steelers I do believe that Walker is the most likely to make the team (trailed by Saeed Blacknall). It feels like the team brought win so many of those guys in hopes of finding the next Tommy Maddox on a steal of a contract.

It will be interesting to see if any of those guys make the team, but as long as Walker doesn't get poach by another team I do expect him to receive a couple games played in 2020.

Previously Highlighted

Ola Adeniyi
Marcus Allen
Tyson Alualu
Trajan Bandy
Zach Banner
J.T. Barrett -Cut
John Battle
Jordan Berry
Saeed Blacknall
Breon Borders
Chris Boswell
Antoine Brooks Jr.
Isaiah Buggs
Devin Bush
Deon Cain
Kam Canaday
Chase Claypool
Josiah Coatney -Cut
James Conner
Anthony Coyle
Jordan Dangerfield
Amara Darboh
Carlos Davis
David DeCastro
Christian DiLauro
Kevin Dotson
Bud Dupree
Eric Ebron
Terrell Edmunds
Trey Edmunds
Matt Feiler
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Zach Gentry
Ulysees Gilbert III
Derwin Gray
Joe Haden
J.C. Hassenauer
Quadree Henderson -Cut
Dewayne Hendrix -Cut
Cam Heyward
Alex Highsmith
Mike Hilton
Devlin Hodges
John Houston -Cut
Anthony Johnson
Diontae Johnson
Jarron Jones
John Keenoy
Tyree Kinnel -Cut
Christian Kuntz -Cut
Justin Layne
Leo Lewis
James Lockhart
Paxton Lynch
Dan McCullers
Vance McDonald
Anthony McFarland Jr.
Henry Mondeaux
Christian Montano -Cut
Alexander Myres
Steven Nelson
Spencer Nigh -Cut
Chuks Okorafor
James Pierre
Maurkice Pouncey
Kevin Rader
Dax Raymond
Ben Roethlisberger
Mason Rudolph
Jaylen Samuels
Tuzar Skipper
Wendall Smallwood
Juju Smith-Schuster
Benny Snell Jr.
Robert Spillane
Cameron Sutton
Ryan Switzer
Calvin Taylor
Stephon Tuitt
Alejandro Villanueva
Corliss Waitman