The Buffalo Bills 2024 season ended a game short of going to the Super Bowl, bringing back into focus some needs the team had on defense. After finishing 13-4 with a trip back to the AFC Championship game, and coming closer to securing a No. 1 seed, first-round bye, and homefield advantage, GM Brandon Beane got to work strengthening the roster.

And in the NFL Draft and free agency periods, BBB cooked.

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During the draft, Beane was making moves up and down the board when he traded up with the Chicago Bears in the fourth round to select Deone Walker with the 109th overall pick. It was potentially one of the biggest picks, both literally and figuratively, of the GM’s tenure in Orchard Park.

At 6’7″ and 330 pounds, the defensive tackle out of Kentucky was brought in to add a disruptive force and depth to the trenches in the team’s defensive line rotation. Walker proved to be a standout performer during the preseason, with his athleticism and dominance on display when he took the field.

He’ll likely be a key rotational player for the team, and his preseason performance has caught the attention of CBS Sports writer Chris Trapasso, who named Walker to his NFL Preseason All-Rookie Team.

In Buffalo, Walker looked like the player he was at Kentucky in 2023 when he got first-round buzz before an injury-plagued 2024. On 41 pass-rushing opportunities, the 6-5, 340-plus pounder registered six pressures. He also made six tackles, didn’t miss one, and batted down a pass.

Trapasso broke down the honors by position, and Walker shared them with Yahya Black of the Pittsburgh Steelers as the two players chosen from their group.

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Walker will likely start the season as a backup in the defensive line rotation as he’s slotted in behind veteran DaQuan Jones on the depth chart, but could see situational time on key downs as well. With his impressive abilities, with continued consistent performance, his playing time could gradually increase as well.

This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: NFL Buffalo Bills Deone Walker CBS Sports Rookie All-Preseason Team