NFL Next Gen Stats Shows How Poor Panthers' Rasheed Walker Has Been This Season

Rasheed Walker's first season with the Carolina Panthers has not been good. 

ESPN reports that Walker has faced 45 QB pressures through eight games, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. That's 19 more pressures than rookie right tackle Monroe Freeling, who has played one less game.

Walker has faced one-on-one scenarios on 79.1% of his pass sets. The veteran has struggled to consistently withstand the pressure.  

The Panthers were 36 yards away from pay dirt and their fourth win of the season on Sunday against the Denver Broncos. But with just 1:24 left in the game, Walker was pushed into the backfield by Nik Bonitto, who smacked the ball out of quarterback Bryce Young's right hand for a sack-fumble.

The play closed out a 26-21 win for the Broncos and put Walker, who has struggled mightily with pass protection over the past month, under a microscope.

There's a reason the Green Bay Packers didn't re-sign Walker. He wasn't good last season and the film and numbers show he's gotten worse this season. 

The Panthers must defeat the New Orleans Saints next week. Otherwise, the negative noise in Carolina will continue to get louder and louder. 

Walker has to protect Young's blindside better as the Panthers head into a crucial stretch of the schedule. If he doesn't, Carolina will continue to lose games and Walker's standing with the franchise will diminish. 

Walker spent last week studying his film to figure out what had led to his troubling performances in recent weeks. He came to the conclusion that his footwork wasn't up to par, so he worked on that aspect of his game in practice, and prior to the Bonitto strip-sack, he felt those adjustments paid off.

Every week, Walker is typically going up against the opposing team's best pass rusher, and against the Broncos, he drew Bonitto. On that final play, one that Walker wants back, Bonitto beat Walker when it mattered the most.

It will be interesting to see if Walker can protect Young against the Saints, who have Chase Young and Cameron Jordan.

Young has 2,197 passing yards and 16 passing touchdowns on the season. He's completing 60.4% of his passes and has thrown six interceptions. 

Young is making $12.1 million this season in the fourth year of his rookie deal. His fifth-year option is worth a guaranteed $25.9 million. Carolina picked it up in the offseason.

The Panthers didn't sign Young to an extension in the offseason, so he has to play well again this season to earn one next offseason.

Young enters the Panthers-Saints game with 10,488 passing yards and 65 passing touchdowns in a Carolina uniform. The Alabama product has a starting record of 17-35-0.