The Detroit Lions are adding another cornerback to compete for a starting job on the outside, bringing in Darrin Walls from the New York Jets.
Walls, 27, was undrafted out of Notre Dame in 2011 and signed with Atlanta. He played one season with the Falcons before heading to New York, where he spent the past four seasons alternating between defense and special teams.
The 6-foot Pittsburgh native has appeared in 54 games, making 64 defensive tackles with three interceptions. He also has 11 career special teams tackles.
Walls played intermittently on defense last season for the Jets, but saw a lot of work in 2014, when he played 720 snaps, making 40 tackles with two interceptions.
He'll compete with Nevin Lawson, Crezdon Butler and Alex Carter for a spot at outside cornerback this fall.
He is yet another Notre Dame player to have come through the Lions in recent years, joining Theo Riddick, Braxston Cave, Joseph Fauria, TJ Jones and Golden Tate. Walls is also the second straight player Detroit has signed from the Jets, joining wide receiver Jeremy Kerley.
Colleague Rich Cimini, who covers the Jets, offered this as a scouting report on what the Lions are likely getting with Walls:
Walls is a good depth signing for the Lions, as long as they use him in the proper role. He’s not a starting-caliber player and he doesn’t play the slot, so his best fit on defense is working as the No. 4 corner. If he’s on the field in dime situations, playing one of the outside spots, you’re not in terrible shape.
Walls played a lot in 2014 under Rex Ryan because the Jets were decimated by injuries and bad personnel decisions at corner. They changed coaching staffs and signed three corners -- Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine, knocking Walls down the depth chart -- way, way down. Basically, he was their No. 5 corner, finishing with only 120 snaps.
He has good size (6-feet) and he’s still only 27 years old, so this is a no-risk signing by the Lions. He’s a smart player and shows good awareness in zone coverage, but he doesn’t have the athleticism and catch-up speed to be a top man-to-man corner. He should become a core special teams player for the Lions. For the Jets, he was a gunner on the punt-coverage team, and the coaches liked his performance in that role.
A week ago, the Jets would’ve welcomed back Walls on a one-year deal for the minimum, but they signed a similar player in Darryl Morris, formerly of the Texans. Once that happened, you figured Walls was a goner after four seasons in New York.