It’s a new chapter for the Buffalo Bills as they have a new head coach in Joe Brady, who was promoted from offensive coordinator on Tuesday with a 5-year deal to be the new leader for the team.
After the Bills fired Sean McDermott, they went through nine interviews with candidates to see who would be the next head coach to pick up where McDermott left off. As it turns out, his replacement was in the building with him.
As Brady will now lead the charge, he and Brandon Beane will have to work together on figuring out this roster and what needs to be fixed. The biggest problem that the Bills need to fix is the defense. They couldn’t consistently stop the run and they were a huge liability from start to finish in 2025.
The good news is that they do have the chance to build around a young defensive tackle who was a major steal for the team in the 2025 draft.
Deone Walker listed as Bills' 2026 breakout star is no surprise
Dalton Wasserman from Pro Football Focus (PFF) put together a list of potential breakout stars for each team heading into 2026 and to no surprise, Walker was listed for the Bills. Here's a bit on what Wasserman said about Walker:
"Walker was a fourth-round pick who always had the potential to outperform his draft slot. He did so immediately, playing 549 snaps this season and placing second among Buffalo’s defensive linemen with a 78.3 PFF pass-rush grade."Dalton Wasserman, PFF
Walker has definitely earned himself a starting spot on the defensive line with Ed Oliver next season and this duo could be one of the most impactful duos in the league if they stay healthy. His presence puts pressure on the interior of the pass protection which forces quarterbacks to move more than they would want to.
When he was drafted by the Bills, he was someone who fans thought maybe he would eventually become a solid starter halfway through the season. However, he became an immediate contributor and now has the chance to become a true star of this defense next season.