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

[CA OC Bills Fan]

On 5/4/2025 at 1:24 PM, Mister Defense said:

 

 

I heard Joe Marino  speak on him as well.

 

But it is interesting that Marino said this year that he has turned his attention almost exclusively to the pro game, the NFL, and so watched very little college football this year.

 

And so when he did his draft analysis shows he seemed to just be reading others' words about college players, one after another after...  Very boring, cliche stuff, repeatedly.

 

I just stopped listening, as I was doing that myself.

 

So don't take too much credence in what he says.  He is very definitive in his one man show, with no one there to push back at all on him.  And because it is every single day, I think, so much is just filler anyway.

 

 

Only part of this post is correct. He does spend all his time on Bills work now. However, that includes studying college players that the Bills bring in for 30 visits or private workouts. He also looks at several (I don't remember the number but I think closer to 100) players that he expects to be in the top rounds of the draft whereas in the past he'd study more like 250 players.

 

As such, he did study film on Walker and others prior to the draft and reported on his findings (he hated Walker as others have stated). After the draft, he studies film on those he hadn't originally studied.

 

Agree or disagree with Marino, he does study the players and his opinions are based on work he's put in, not just regurgitating other's analysis.

[Chandler#81]

I think he makes the roster, becomes a rotational starting DL and -back notwithstanding, has a good career.

[njbuff]

2 hours ago, Chandler#81 said:

I think he makes the roster, becomes a rotational starting DL and -back notwithstanding, has a good career.

Unless he’s a total flop in the preseason…..

 

Of course he’s making the roster.

[L Ron Burgundy]

I dont know why but I want Deone to make it more than anyone else.  Always loved giant, game-wrecking DTs like Wilfork and Washington.   I know his chances aren't great, his build isn't ideal, back problems for a big guy are a bad sign.  But this monster becoming a force could change our defensive identity.   

[BillsFanForever19]

On 5/2/2025 at 3:53 PM, Warriorspikes51 said:

 

Interesting.  Jones could be cut this summer IMO.   Compromise.  22 snaps per game lol 

ideally DaQuan is replaced by a larger veteran who is more true 1T

 

that would really complete a nice overhaul of the DT room 

 

There is no larger veteran that is an upgrade from Daquan Jones available. Cut him and we're rolling with just Walker at 1T (with the occasional pass rush package of Sanders next to Oliver) and Carter.

 

If they were going to move on from Jones this offseason, they'd have either a.) been more proactive in signing a veteran 1T to replace him early in FA and/or b.) Would have Drafted someone in the first couple Rounds.

 

If he were to be cut before the season started, it's pretty likely he would represent the top 1T on the market. Teams don't cut starting quality 1T's coming out of camp very often. 

[GunnerBill]

12 hours ago, CA OC Bills Fan said:

Only part of this post is correct. He does spend all his time on Bills work now. However, that includes studying college players that the Bills bring in for 30 visits or private workouts. He also looks at several (I don't remember the number but I think closer to 100) players that he expects to be in the top rounds of the draft whereas in the past he'd study more like 250 players.

 

As such, he did study film on Walker and others prior to the draft and reported on his findings (he hated Walker as others have stated). After the draft, he studies film on those he hadn't originally studied.

 

Agree or disagree with Marino, he does study the players and his opinions are based on work he's put in, not just regurgitating other's analysis.

 

He still does NFL Locked On Scouting with Kyle Crabbs. But I listened to a couple of episodes this year and they are definitely doing fewer really detailed breakdowns on prospects than the used to. To be honest it feels a it like they have mailed it in and are keeping going for the sake of keeping going because the Locked On network wants them to. It's a shame because when they were part of The Draft Network they did some really good stuff. I mean that place's demise was pretty predictable - running an expensive draft website with full time employees when you are really only driving serious levels of engagement 3 to 4 months of the year - which affects your advertising revenues etc - was never going to be straightforward. Even before you get into some of the personalities tied in with it.

 

But it definitely feels like post the collapse there Joe has turned his attention away from the draft stuff and on to Locked On Bills. 

[DJB]

Walker has a bad habit of being really slow to set himself up at the line. Often he’s just lowering himself down to his stance and by then the ball is snapped causing him to not be in position to attack. 
 

He already shoots out of his stance high and now he’s already half way up when the ball is snapped 

 

Hopefully the Bills can coach him to get down and ready earlier . 

Edited 3 hours ago by DJB

[GunnerBill]

5 minutes ago, DJB said:

Walker has a bad habit of being really slow to set himself up at the line. Often he’s just lowering himself down to his stance and by then the ball is snapped causing him to not be in position to attack. 
 

He already shoots out of his stance high and now he’s already half way up when the ball is snapped 

 

Hopefully the Bills can coach him to get down and ready earlier . 

 

I think the back probably plays a part in that (although his pad level was concerning even in 2023). 

[Chandler#81]

10 hours ago, njbuff said:

Unless he’s a total flop in the preseason…..

 

Of course he’s making the roster.

You did notice the comma, right? - i.e. continuing the statement and adding additional corresponding information? When I walked 2 miles uphill  both ways to school, that was 9th grade English. Didjja git that far?

[BearNorth]

4 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

If he were to be cut before the season started, it's pretty likely he would represent the top 1T on the market. Teams don't cut starting quality 1T's coming out of camp very often. 

Just witness the 1T late season signings Bills have done the past two seasons [Linval Joseph/Jordan Phillips] because the middle of their defense was getting shredded.