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NFL Draft 2017: Top 10 early entrants who didn’t get drafted

By Connor Muldowney

Sep 5, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Travis Rudolph (15) during the first half at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Travis Rudolph (15) during the first half at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 28, 2015; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive tackle Charles Walker (97) against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium. The Sooners defeated the Cowboys 58-23. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive tackle Charles Walker (97) against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium. The Sooners defeated the Cowboys 58-23. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Signed by: New Orleans Saints

Charles Walker was one of the most interesting prospects in the 2017 NFL Draft. Sure, he was considered an elite talent before the season and was on just about every award watch list there was, but he played just four games before suffering a concussion.

After that concussion against TCU, he sat out a few games due to lingering effects but then decided to remain out for the rest of the season to prepare for the draft. The announcement was shocking seeing as he had some juice left in the tank after recovering from the injury, but he didn’t want to further jeopardize his draft stock with more injuries.

Well, whoever gave him that advise may be in Walker’s doghouse right now since he went undrafted and signed with the New Orleans Saints shortly after. He was considered a dark-horse late-round steal, but teams didn’t want to take a chance on him.

Related Story: NFL Draft 2017: Five late-round hidden gems

There is a good reason he wasn’t drafted. First of all, he opted to sit out the rest of the year instead of help his team make a playoff push. Second, there’s a possibility the concussion issue is still bothering him.

As a sophomore in 2015, he had 36 tackles, 10 for loss and six sacks. In four games as a junior, he had seven tackles, two for loss and four pass deflections.

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