Latest news with #DeoneWalker
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Buffalo Bills 2025 NFL Draft pick may be limited until Week 1
Buffalo Bills rookie defensive tackle Deone Walker began OTAs with the team in a limited capacity, the same as was true of his rookie minicamp session. General manager Brandon Beane selected the 6'7', 331-pound Walker with the 109th pick (Round 4) of the 2025 NFL Draft — likely with designs on seeing his long-term development take on that of a nightmare for opposing offenses. That's going to take a bit of time, with Walker working through a stress fracture only revealed to him during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine process. The Bills have healthy numbers at defensive tackle, so it isn't that Walker's being limited limits Buffalo's plan at the position. It does, however, reduce the number of reps and on-field learning in which Walker can participate. Advertisement Beane revealed during his latest press conference that Walker is likely to be limited throughout the duration of OTAs, mandatory minicamp, and perhaps even into the summer months and training camp. The goal for Buffalo is to have Walker fully recovered from his back injury by Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season. While that news means that Walker could find himself behind his linemates early on in the process, it should allow him to hit the regular season unhindered by the stress fracture — and ready to make up for lost time and opportunity. More from
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bills Provide Injury Update on Spine Fracture of Rookie
There is a reason why Kentucky defensive tackle Deone Walker fell all the way to the fourth round of the 2025 draft for the Buffalo Bills. Walker had a back injury during his junior season with the Wildcats. He was later diagnosed with pondylolysis fracture - an injury that occurs in the lower spine and is common amongst athletes. Advertisement It's a big reason why the Bills have chosen to keep Walker out of most practice reps throughout rookie minicamp. And why the team is optimistic that they will be able to get the most out of the rookie in his very first season. "If we decide to limit him during the spring, that's just to make sure we are making him more ready, more durable, and letting that thing continue to heal," Bills general manager Brandon Beane said on draft weekend. "But we feel there's a good prognosis with him. We feel he'll be full go, ready to play when we get to training camp." Walker joins a defensive line with top players like Ed Oliver and Greg Rousseau looking to force pressure on opposing quarterbacks. He isn't the only defensive player drafted either. Buffalo spent their first five picks in the draft on defensive players. That included edge rusher Landon Jackson, and fellow defensive tackle TJ Sanders. Advertisement Walker isn't going to be an every down player in the league. He isn't being drafted to, though. Walker should help tremendously with Buffalo's run defense next year, as well as offer situational pass rushing skills to make him a top commodity. By that mark, he might end up being a steal. Related: Bills' Super Bowl Hopes Hang On 1 Key Thing Related: Bills Schedule Release Wish Is Prime-Time Revenge
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bills Draft Steal Loves College Brothers Joining Him
If there's one thing that the Buffalo Bills have tried to build over the last decade under Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane, it's a culture of familiarity with players from across the league. That means surrounding incoming draft picks with players they know and trust. Advertisement The latest example of that came two weeks ago. Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston was taken with the 30th overall pick in the 2025 draft. Three rounds later, the Bills went back to the Kentucky realm by selecting defensive tackle Deone Walker. Walker is a 6-7 specimen who has the ability to both stop the run and dominate in pass rushing reps. Playing with a former college teammate in Hairston, and last year's draft pick Ray Davis is something that excited the defensive tackle going into his rookie year. "I know Max told me as soon as he got drafted, he was standing on the table for me," Walker said via team reporter Maddy Glab. "…Max and Ray are like my brothers. A band of brothers who stick together, can't nobody stop you. So, it's just great to be back to being teammates with those guys." Teams drafting from one particular school is not unheard of. The Philadelphia Eagles are notorious for drafting defenders from Georgia over the last few years. Advertisement For the Bills to be focusing on Kentucky for their draft selections is not uncommon, even if it isn't from a top football program just yet, like the Bulldogs. The Bills are hoping that familiarity will help them in the long run, though. Related: Elijah Moore Takes Shot At Browns, Needs Bills' Josh Allen To Save Career Related: Bills Josh Allen Stands Alone as Optimism Key
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bills Defend Defensive Focus in 2025 NFL Draft
The Buffalo Bills had nine draft picks throughout the 2025 draft. Seven of those picks were made on the defensive side of the ball. There is good reason for this. Buffalo's offense is situated nicely with an MVP quarterback, a strong offensive line, and a dominant collection of skill players moving forward. Advertisement Defensively, though, Buffalo added many key players to each position group. Deone Walker solves their hole at defensive tackle, Maxwell Hairston is a day one starter at cornerback, and Landon Jackson is quality depth along the edge rusher role. Still to avoid the offensive side of the ball is shocking. General manager Brandon Beane made it clear there was a reason to the strategy and it makes the Bills looking stronger than ever at this point. "I thought it was stronger with more depth on the defensive side of this draft," Beane said. "We talked about that even before the draft, the D-line, and there were some (positions) in the secondary. So, it truly comes down to where (the value) is when you're drafting or you're like, 'Man, I really like this guy. He can help us. Let's go up and get him.' We did that a couple times." Advertisement Buffalo has done enough to bolster the defense in a major way this offseason. The only hope is that it will be enough to compete with the Kansas City Chiefs moving forward. That's what it all comes down to. And the Bills should be thrilled with how their improvements look early on. 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
USA Today
26-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
National reactions: Bills select DT Deone Walker at pick No. 109
National reactions: Bills select DT Deone Walker at pick No. 109 The Buffalo Bills selected defensive tackle Deone Walker with the 109th pick in the 2025 NFL draft. The Bills traded up to get their guy. Walker, a junior from Kentucky, is a big-bodied one-tech defensive tackle that the Bills have been lacking aside from DaQuan Jones. Walker is 6'7" and 331 pounds. He was a freshman All-American and made the All-SEC freshman team in 2021, a second-team All-SEC selection in 2022, and third-team All-SEC in 2024. In 2024, while dealing with a stress fracture in his back, he recorded 37 tackles, 5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, and 2 PBUs while starting 11 games. The Bills now have addressed the defensive side of the ball with all of their first four picks in the draft. Walker will join fellow Kentucky Wildcat Max Hairston on the Bills. Here is what the national media had to say following the Bills selection of Walker: Deone Walker highlights
