Bills' Deone Walker: Solid rookie campaign in Buffalo
Rotowire
Walker logged 39 total tackles (17 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and four passes defensed across 17 regular-season games in 2025.
The 2025 fourth-round pick from Kentucky was thrust into action immediately, starting 16 regular-season contests during his rookie campaign. Walker was the Bills' most productive interior defensive lineman, finishing second on the team in tackles for loss (eight) and tying for fourth in passes defensed. The 21-year-old showed up when it mattered most during Buffalo's two playoff games, recording six total tackles and two passes defensed, including an interception of Bo Nix during the divisional-round loss. Walker is expected to remain an integral portion of the Bills' defensive front for years to come.
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Bills' Deone Walker: Cleared to play Week 18
Rotowire
Walker (illness) is active for Sunday's game against the Jets.
Walker popped up on Saturday's injury report due to an illness, but the rookie fourth-rounder has been cleared to play in Sunday's regular-season finale. Even if the Bills opt to rest their starters, Walker could still take on a larger role on the defensive line in the absence of DaQuan Jones (calf).
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Bills' Deone Walker: Questionable with illness
Rotowire
Walker (illness) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Jets.
Walker was added to Saturday's injury report due to a sudden illness, and the defensive tackle's availability for Sunday's game is now in jeopardy. If the rookie cannot recover in time for the divisional clash, Jordan Phillips (ankle), Phidarian Mathis and T.J. Sanders will likely see increased reps on the defensive line alongside Larry Ogunjobi.
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Bills' Deone Walker: Healthy in rookie camp
Rotowire
Walker, who is in rookie camp this week, revealed that he played the 2024 season with a back injury, Alec White and Maddy Glab of the Bills' official site report. "I had a pars defect in my back," Walker said on the night of the 2025 NFL Draft. "I didn't know about it until after the season, really until the combine. We didn't really know what it was, but I feel a 100 percent right now."
Walker, selected in the fourth round, is a giant of a man at 6-foot-7, 331 pounds, and at some point during his college career at Kentucky he was expected to be drafted higher, as he was a lot more productive when healthier in 2023. He'll begin as a rotational defensive lineman among a talented crew that includes Greg Rousseau. Ed Oliver, Joey Bosa and DaQuan Jones, though Walker offers plenty of upside. Perhaps the Bills got themselves a steal now that the back issue is mostly behind him.
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Bills' Deone Walker: Headed to Buffalo
Rotowire
The Bills selected Walker in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 109th overall.
The 6-foot-7, 331-pound Walker showed his versatility on the defensive line in Kentucky as an edge rusher and defensive tackle. His best season came in 2023, when he recorded 55 tackles (28 solo), including 7.5 sacks, 51 pressures and two pass deflections in 13 games. He earned preliminary first-round grades following his sophomore season, but his production dipped in 2024 partly due to a back injury. Walker has the physical capabilities to be an immediate contributor on the Bills' defensive front, and he'll have the opportunity to work on his technique while learning from veterans Ed Oliver, Joey Bosa, DaQuan Jones and Greg Rousseau.
