While many rookies have been up and down for the Buffalo Bills this season, one member of the 2025 draft class has caught the attention of the national media.
The 2025 NFL Draft will be remembered by Buffalo Bills fans as the one where general manager Brandon Beane went all in on defense. The first five of the team's nine picks were used on defensive players, with six of the nine total selections being on that side of the ball.
Overall, it's been a mixed bag for a unit that has played better down the stretch but has generally struggled against the run and sacking the quarterback. And when looking at the rookie class specifically, only one has truly stood out this season: defensive tackle Deon Walker.
A fourth round pick out of Kentucky, the 6-foot-7, 331-pound Walker went from being a possible first round pick to falling due to a less-than-stellar final season with the Wildcats. However, his fall was the Buffalo's gain, and national media has taken notice.
This week, ESPN's Ben Solack published his 2025 All-Rookie Team. While it featured the expected names like wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, quarterback Cam Ward, and edge rusher Abdul Carter, among others, Walker also found his name on the list this year.
As far as why, Solack spoke about Walker's ability to take on offensive linemen and create opportunities for not only himself, but his teammates.
"Walker regularly takes on two blockers at the line of scrimmage, creates tackle-for-loss opportunities and makes high-effort pursuit plays into the boundary," Solack said. "He has also found more quick wins as a pass rusher than I expected.
"He'll get his hands into passing lanes, too -- and at his size, that's a big impediment for opponent QBs."
As a rookie, Walker has played in all 16 games this season, starting 15 of them. He's put up 39 tackles, one sack, 12.5 run stuffs, four batted passes, and one fumble recovery.
At just 21 years old, Walker has already shown he has the potential to be a top-level defensive tackle in this league. And with the playoffs coming up, Buffalo's going to need that strong play and potential to show up even more if they want to get to the Super Bowl.