Deone Walker
Deone Walker returns an interceptions against the Denver Broncos.
The Buffalo Bills are expected to see some big changes on defense after Sean McDermott was fired and Jim Leonhard brought on as new defensive coordinator, and that could include a shift in position for a breakout rookie.
Leonhard has promised to bring an aggressive new style of defense, along with a 3-4 base defense that will call for a position that didn’t really exist under McDermott’s 4-3 — a true nose tackle. One insider suggested that could be a role for defensive tackle Deone Walker, who showed plenty of promise during his rookie season in 2025.
As ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg predicted, Walker is the best fit on the current roster to anchor the middle of the defensive line.
“With the team switching to a 3-4 base defense, there are uncertainties about how the group will line up,” Getzenberg wrote. “Deone Walker, going into his second season, could take over the nose tackle role.”
The fourth-round pick in the 2025 draft, Walker is coming off a strong rookie season where he earned a spot on the PWFA NFL All-Rookie team. Walker appeared in all 17 games with 16 starts, making 39 total tackles including eight tackles for a loss and one sack.
He was also disruptive in the passing game, defending four passes with four quarterback hits and a forced fumle, adding an interception in the playoffs.
Bills May Need More Help
But Getzenberg added that the Bills may need to look to the NFL draft to find a more prototypical nose tackle. McDermott favored smaller, more nimble defensive linemen who rotated frequently.
“There’s a gap in the current roster for more players with size and who have strengths against the run,” Getzenberg wrote. The draft could be a logical place to add here.”