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.”
While many analysts believe the Bills will look for a wide receiver or edge rusher with their first-round pick, some suggest they could look for an interior lineman instead. Bleacher Report predicted the Bills would take Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, one of the top prospects at his position.
“Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald can be the tip of the spear for the entire unit,” the report noted.
The Bills attended McDonald’s Pro Day at Ohio State, sparking some speculation that their interest in him could be real.
For his part, McDonald is confident in his ability to grow in the NFL and become one of the best defensive linemen.
“I’ll say my preparation,” McDonald said about his strengths, via SI.com. “I believe I’m the best defensive tackle in this draft class. Really pride myself on being consistent, competitive, holding my teammates accountable, and I put it all together—working on my diet and just staying consistent. Just doing what I got to do.”
The Bills already took McDonald’s friend and former teammate, Jordan Hancock, in last year’s NFL draft.
“When we were in like middle school, we won a AAU basketball tournament with each other,” McDonald said of his friend. “He lived a block away from me, so he could walk to my house. His family, I love his family. We just got a really tight bond. I got a lot of respect for him and his family.”
Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty
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