ORCHARD PARK – The Buffalo Bills wasted no time getting active in the fourth round of the NFL Draft Saturday as they traded up 23 spots to select Kentucky defensive tackle Deone Walker.

Here’s what I think of the pick:

Deone Walker scouting report

The Bills doubled up at defensive tackle after picking TJ Sanders Friday, and this time they got a true one-technique beast as Walker stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 331 pounds.

He has 34 ½-inch arms and a wingspan of 84 ⅛ inches so that should help him fend off blockers plus disrupt passing lanes over the middle. He also showed great movement for a man his size, though his legs are lacking in true power.

How Deone Walker fits the Bills

Walker brings exactly what the Bills’ defensive line has needed; size to clog up the middle against the run and drag blockers away from both Ed Oliver plus the back seven on run plays. His pass rush is not elite, but he did have 7.5 sacks in the 2023 season when he was named second-team All-SEC.

Walker could be the ideal one-tech backup for DaQuan Jones who can move into the starting role in 2026, while Sanders backs up Oliver at the three-tech spot.

Deone Walker key statistics

Walker finished his career at Kentucky with 10 sacks, 132 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 13 QB hurries. He also broke up six passes, forced a fumble and recovered one across 37 games in three seasons. He was a captain his last two seasons and of course was a teammate of Buffalo’s first-round pick, cornerback Max Hairston.

What analysts said about Deone Walker

Dane Brugler of The Athletic said, “Walker is a unique athlete with impressive balance and movement skills for a 330-plus-pounder, but his technique and pad level must catch up with his physical talent for the flashes to become consistent. If he adapts topro coaching, he has the skill set to become an NFL starter.”

Deone Walker highlights

Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for four decades including 35 years as the full-time beat writer for the D&C, he has written numerous books about the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast/YouTube show. He can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com, and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social. Sign up for his Bills Blast newsletter here:  https://profile.democratandchronicle.com/newsletters/bills-blast

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Bills draft Deone Walker with first-round pick: Fit, scouting report