Bills 4th Round Pick : Deone Walker - DT - Kentucky

[MarlinTheMagician]

I probably would have preferred West, but the upside here is undeniable.  Everything says he needs conditioning, wears down.  Get him out of Kentucky, on an NFL diet and in an NFL weight room and he seems to have unlimited potential.

[stevewin]

5 minutes ago, JoeF said:

From Dane Brugler - The Athletic - Beast Draft Guide.  A really good publication by the way...

 

A three-year starter at Kentucky, Walker was an interchangeable defensive lineman in defensive coordinator Brad White’s scheme (45.7 percent of his 2024 snaps came as a three-technique DT, 26.3 percent as a one-technique/nose, 25 percent head-up on or outside of the offensive tackle). After earning preliminary first-round grades from scouts as a sophomore, his junior season wasn’t nearly as dominant or consistent (pressures created dropped from 51 in 2023 to 21 in 2024), partly because of his back injury.

 

A passionate basketball player through high school, Walker certainly benefits from the “planet theory” — there are only so many humans walking the earth who have his combination of size, strength and sweet feet. Though he doesn’t play stiff, there are sloppy elements of his game that must improve to streamline his ability to stack, shed and finish. Overall, Walker is a unique athlete with impressive balance and movement skills for a 330-plus-pounder, but his technique and pad level must catch up with his physical talent for the flashes to become consistent. If he adapts to pro coaching, he has the skill set to become an NFL starter.

 

Note:  Had him rated as a 4th rounder...Bills needed a space eater but a tough space eater.  Hopefully the D coaching staff can develop him.  Maybe having Ray Davis and Mad Max on the team will help.  

"Walker certainly benefits from the “planet theory” — there are only so many humans walking the earth who have his combination of size, strength and sweet feet." - that's a great quote

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

7 minutes ago, Doc Brown said:

 

I mean ultimately nothing but I don't think it's a stretch that Beane has his list that he's ticking off

[Bangarang]

People think because he's big he's a 1T that will eat up blockers. That doesn't appear to be his game at all. 

 

Maybe at some point we can start getting more weapons for Josh. 

[JerseyBills]

1 minute ago, Draconator said:

We got our original 4th rounder back, 109, and Chicago got their original 4th. We also threw in one of our 5th round picks. 

not bad compensation, no? 

 

[Alphadawg7]

3 minutes ago, Charles Romes said:

 

did we move up to get Walker AFTER the raiders took Thornton, or did we already have the walker slot when Thornton went off the board. 

 

Given the speed of the trade in relation to the pick, I think it was not gonna change if Thornton was still there

 

[Low Positive]

The spicy hot takes that you guys have about 4th round college DTs always surprise me in these draft threads.

Edited 14 hours ago by Low Positive

[glazeduck]

6 minutes ago, JJGauna said:

We aren’t missing out on trips to the Super Bowl due to our offense lol.

Seen this sentiment a lot, and I’m sorry but it’s a terrible take. It’s like looking at your kid’s report card and seeing a B and a C and saying that they can only improve the C. 
 

Just because our defense has bigger issues doesn’t mean there’s not significant room to improve our offense, and help to provide our best and most important player…

 

We obviously have no idea what the bird looks like, and as I said earlier, I’m fine with the pick, but to pretend like we can’t open up more opportunities on offense is silly. 

[Kaenon]

Calais Campbell is big too.

[JoeF]

1 minute ago, GASabresIUFan said:

Very crowded DL room with Jones, Oliver, Rousseau, Bosa, Carter, Solomon, Lodge, AJE, plus draftees Sanders, Jackson and now Walker.  Then add the 2 suspended players in Ogunjobi and Hochet.  That’s a lot of bodies for only 9-10 spots

Bills needed to infuse some talent.  Last year's group underperformed.  The decisions to be made halfway through the season after Ogunjobi and Hochet are eligible to return will be interesting.  Beane will likely stack up more draft capital through a trade or two.  Plus Edge, 3 and Nose are oft injured so a lot of depth is needed.

[L Ron Burgundy]

Try the tush push on us.  Go for it.

[VW82]

It’s almost like Beane is trolling us. Even the 340 lb guy is another 3T. 
 

“I’ll draft a receiver when you get a girlfriend.”

 

Seriously though, we needed all this Dline help. Hope it works out.

Edited 14 hours ago by VW82

[KOKBILLS]

Well... 

 

Full disclosure he's not my favorite prospect in this Draft. But that's mainly because I was scared off big time by the talk of his back injury and the rumors...and as far as I know they were just rumors...that this back injury could be a re-occurring thing...

 

Walker just turned 21 on March 11... He's a young prospect... Team Captain... He is massive, but only a 3.74 RAS athlete.

 

If you are going off his 2023 tape Walker is a solid 2nd Round 1T prospect with real nice upside. He flashes disruptive quickness and power into the backfield and he's such a massive dude he can just ragdoll RB's... But it's almost impossible to know exactly what happened in 2024. He was clearly heavier and he played with a back injury (he was already down to 331 at the Combine). He has a tendency to play upright as it is, and it was even more evident in 2024 when the added weight and the back did not allow him to play with the necessary bend and power. He commented in his interview just now the back was a big problem for him last year. He said there was days he could not get out of bed. 

 

The fact that the Bills traded up for him tells me they are not concerned with the injury issues. He just said in his interview the back is fine and he's 100%... No way they do what they just did if they think there is going to be a lingering problem there. He's a massive human, and as far as a projection, purely as a back-up you have to think the Bills feel they just got a lot better if they got the healthy Walker from 2023. He's an upside player, but he needs a ton of coaching... The Bills love players like this though. Unfinished with upside. They are not afraid of player like Walker. And if he hits, they have a monster. 

 

This Defense has really, really changed.

 

Edited 14 hours ago by KOKBILLS

[dave mcbride]

2 minutes ago, stevewin said:

"Walker certainly benefits from the “planet theory” — there are only so many humans walking the earth who have his combination of size, strength and sweet feet." - that's a great quote

It’s a Bill Parcells quote from the 1980s.

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

4 minutes ago, Brandon said:

 

I think this may push DaQuan off the roster as a post June 1st cut in a few weeks.  

I was honestly thinking about that in the top 3 picks. DaQuan is one of the few options that would shake free enough cap space for the sundry transactions all teams need it cut during camp. But a 4th? Whose knock is that his technique needs a ton of work? I think DQJ survives

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

1 minute ago, Kaenon said:

Calais Campbell is big too.

honestly, when I saw this guy, Campbell was who he looked like! Similar frame.

[Not at the table Karlos]

1 minute ago, L Ron Burgundy said:

Try the tush push on us.  Go for it.

This guy doesn’t get low enough. He’s pretty much Jordan Phillips 

[L Ron Burgundy]

Just now, KOKBILLS said:

Well... 

 

Full disclosure he's not my favorite prospect in this Draft. But that's mainly because I was scared off big time by the talk of his back injury and the rumors...and as far as I know they were just rumors...that this could be a re-occurring thing...

 

Walker just turned 21 on March 11... He's a young prospect... Team Captain... He is massive, but only a 3.74 RAS athlete.

 

If you are going off his 2023 tape Walker is a solid 2nd Round 1T prospect with real nice upside. He flashes disruptive quickness and power into the backfield and he's such a massive dude he can just ragdoll RB's... But it's almost impossible to know exactly what happened in 2024. He was clearly heavier and he played with a back injury (he was already down to 331 at the Combine). He has a tendency to play upright as it is, and it was even more evident in 2024 when the added weight and the back did not allow him to play with the necessary bend and power. He commented in his interview just now the back was a big problem for him last year. He said there was days he could not get out of bed. 

 

The fact that the Bills traded up for him tells me they are not concerned with the injury issues. He just said in his interview the back is fine and he's 100%... No way they do what they just did if they think there is going to be a lingering problem there. He's a massive human, and as far as a projection, purely as a back-up you have to think the Bills feel they just got a lot better if they got the healthy Walker from 2023. He's an upside player, but he needs a ton of coaching... The Bills love players like this though. Unfinished with upside. They are not afraid of player like Walker. And if he hits, they have a monster. 

 

This Defense has really, really changed.

 

And ge still beat Coleman in the 40!!!

[frostbitmic]

This guy has a 7' wingspan ... He'll block passes, he'll block kicks, and he'll finish the buffet.

[billsfan89]

13 minutes ago, FireChans said:

Josh has his big RZ target.

 

In all seriousness, I guess this regime does want a tub of goo at 1t.

 

Is Carter on the bubble?

I would think the Larry O suspension keeps him a bit safer. You got Ed, D.Jones, and the two draft picks likely to make the roster and the Bills like to carry 5 so with Larry O out 6 weeks that’s gonna keep Carter in a good spot to hold down slot 5.