To kick off Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills phoned a familiar friend.
Just the day before, the Bills made a deal with the Chicago Bears which included them trading away pick no. 109. Ironically enough, this pick had originally belonged to the Bears before Chicago traded it last year in a deal to move up and draft Austin Booker.
And then, at the beginning of Round 4 on Saturday, Brandon Beane moved back up to snatch back the selection. At no. 109, the Bills took a gamble on a player who truly embodies the "boom or bust" label.
Buffalo selected Kentucky defensive lineman Deone Walker, who has a pretty familiar pro comparison thanks to NFL Media's Lance Zierlein: Jordan Phillips.
On the surface, this was a bold move. It was a move that will have the fan base talking, that's for sure. But, they'll be talking for very different reasons and likely taking very different sides on this one.
Deone Walker is a massive risk for the Bills, but he could pay dividends
Walker came into the draft process as a polarizing prospect. There were many experts who acknowledged that he certainly has traits that could have made him an early Day 2 pick. And to take it even further, you might have been able to argue he was a first-round talent after his 2023 tape.
He is a massive human being at 6-foot-7, 331 pounds. For a player his size, Walker is far more athletic than he has any business being. The length, strength and overwhelming size show up very clearly when watching his highlights.
However, what you might not see on those highlight reels are the moments where Walker's lack of conditioning comes into play. One of his biggest knocks is the fact that he gets worn out quickly and thus, once he's gassed, he offers very little value to the defense.
Being so tall, his inability to display NFL-quality bend is also alarming. While his physical traits are positive on one hand, they can also be spun in a negative light. It's a double-edged sword with Walker.
Being slammed for inconsistent technique and a "lack of grit" are two consistent assessments on Walker's play as well, and that's notable.
Now, if he's able to correct some of those worries, Walker could be an absolute force with his raw traits. It's just a matter of whether or not he'll end up doing just that.