The Buffalo Bills were thrilled coming out of the 2025 draft thanks to their strategy if focusing on the defensive side of the ball.
Of the nine picks made by the Bills, seven of them came on the defensive side of the ball. Quality stars like Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston and Arkansas’ Landon Jackson have bolstered a defense that is looking for the finishing touches to finally beat Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
One of the more popular picks, though, came in the fourth round.
Kentucky’s Deone Walker is a 6’7 defensive tackle with the size and speed to dominate along the interior of any line. The fact that the Bills were able to trade up for him in the fourth is a great allocation of resources.
“I had a very good grade on him before he ever played a game this year, based off his 2023 film,” said Bills general manager Brandon Beane. “His 2024 film was a little inconsistent. The more research you do, you find out he’s dealing with a back situation. This is a young, moldable player who is not anywhere near his ceiling. He’s a guy you want to get your hands on to see if you can grow and develop this guy. And I believe if he had come out a year ago, he would have been in the first round.”
Walker will fit into a defensive line with a Pro Bowl player in Ed Oliver running the show. If Walker can shrug off his injury history, he very well could be the future for the Bills defensive line.
At least when Oliver is done playing at least.
Related: ‘The Next Josh Allen’ Gets Drafted By Buffalo Bills Rival
Related: James Cook a Winner But Josh Allen a Loser in Bills NFL Draft
The Buffalo Bills were thrilled coming out of the 2025 draft thanks to their strategy if focusing on the defensive side of the ball.
Of the nine picks made by the Bills, seven of them came on the defensive side of the ball. Quality stars like Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston and Arkansas’ Landon Jackson have bolstered a defense that is looking for the finishing touches to finally beat Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
One of the more popular picks, though, came in the fourth round.
Kentucky’s Deone Walker is a 6’7 defensive tackle with the size and speed to dominate along the interior of any line. The fact that the Bills were able to trade up for him in the fourth is a great allocation of resources.
“I had a very good grade on him before he ever played a game this year, based off his 2023 film,” said Bills general manager Brandon Beane. “His 2024 film was a little inconsistent. The more research you do, you find out he’s dealing with a back situation. This is a young, moldable player who is not anywhere near his ceiling. He’s a guy you want to get your hands on to see if you can grow and develop this guy. And I believe if he had come out a year ago, he would have been in the first round.”
Walker will fit into a defensive line with a Pro Bowl player in Ed Oliver running the show. If Walker can shrug off his injury history, he very well could be the future for the Bills defensive line.
At least when Oliver is done playing at least.
Related: ‘The Next Josh Allen’ Gets Drafted By Buffalo Bills Rival
Related: James Cook a Winner But Josh Allen a Loser in Bills NFL Draft
