Deone Walker's performance in Tampa caps a promising preseason for Bills' draft picks
The Bills didn’t get a tackle from T.J. Sanders during his brief appearance in the preseason finale Saturday, but he cleared the way for Deone Walker to show why his college coaches expressed confidence that he’ll make an impact as a rookie in the NFL.
Before Deone Walker described late Saturday night how he pushed around the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive line, the rookie defensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills gave credit to his teammates who made it possible.
Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Deone Walker, left, and defensive end AJ Epenesa sack Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback
Kyle Trask during the first half of their preseason game Saturdayin Tampa, Fla. Jason Behnken, Associated Press
“I do want to thank T.J. Sanders,” Walker, the Bills’ fourth-round pick, told The Buffalo News following their 23-19 win in the preseason finale at Raymond James Stadium. “He did take a few double teams for me ... finally. Now he knows how I feel.”
Sanders, the Bills’ second-round pick, cracked a smile when he overheard the remark. The two have grown close since they arrived for rookie minicamp in early May, and the defensive tackles lined up next to each other throughout training camp. They’ve celebrated their progress and challenged each other to improve each day.
The Bills didn’t get a tackle from Sanders during his brief appearance in the preseason finale Saturday. But he cleared the way for Walker to show why his college coaches expressed confidence he’ll make an impact as a rookie in the NFL. Tampa Bay’s backup offensive linemen couldn’t win one-on-one blocks against the 6-foot-7, 301-pound mauler.
With Sanders occupying two blockers on first-and-10 during the first drive, Walker rushed past third-string right guard Luke Haggard and pressured quarterback Kyle Trask into forcing a pass to the right flat. Bills linebacker Joe Andreessen dragged down running back Sean Tucker near the line of scrimmage.
On the next drive, Walker pushed his blocker aside and tackled Tucker for a 1-yard loss while two Tampa Bay linemen handled Sanders. A few plays later, Walker beat Haggard and combined with A.J. Epenesa for a sack. Walker had three pressures on his three pass-rush snaps in the previous two preseason games, according to Pro Football Focus.
“I need to get better every day,” said Walker. “I’m treating every day like it could be my last, because it could. Day in and day out, honing in on my training. I need to make sure that I don’t have a play where I get beat on a double. I don’t want to have a play where I got reached by the guard.”
The Bills limited Walker’s snaps during the spring to help him recover from the back injury that limited his impact and production last season at Kentucky. He was projected to be a first-round draft pick until the pain and soreness became so prevalent that it led to sloppy technique. The coaching staff held him out of practice so he got enough rest to play in games. Walker fell to the Bills in the fourth round, and he’s going to have a role in their defense this season.
Bills coach Sean McDermott and defensive coordinator Bobby Babich were quick to remind reporters throughout training camp that their rookies are still a work in progress.
The entire class struggled in the Bills' 38-0 loss to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field last week. Their three practices this week in Orchard Park were an opportunity for the group to learn from their mistakes and prepare for their final audition before the regular season.
Walker is still learning how to use his hands and long arms to defeat blockers at this level, but he took advantage of his last chance to show the coaches and general manager Brandon Beane he can rotate into their defense as soon as Week 1.
“I think he’s consistently gotten better,” Bills edge rusher Michael Hoecht said of Walker. “Obviously being that big, but there’s a lot of big people in the league who don’t necessarily work out. Being able to understand how to use his size and how to hit blocks – it’s still the NFL. Everyone is really good. .... For him, it’s awesome seeing his hands get better and being able to turn his hips, understanding how the entire thing is put together. Being able to use that gigantic frame of his.”
A progress report on the rest of the Bills' 2025 draft picks:
Maxwell Hairston, cornerback
The first-round pick’s LCL sprain challenged the Bills’ depth at the position and abruptly ended his brief competition with Tre’Davious White. Hairston has been off crutches for two weeks, and he’s inching closer to returning to practice, but he won’t be ready to start the season. The team will decide by 4 p.m. Tuesday whether to place him on injured reserve. The Bills’ coaching staff will need to get him up to speed quickly, especially now that White is dealing with a lower leg injury. If neither is available in Week 1, McDermott may have to use Dane Jackson as his other starting cornerback.T.J. Sanders, defensive tackle
Each of the rookie defensive linemen have endured growing pains during camp. Sanders got pushed around too much in their 38-0 preseason loss at Chicago. But he’s shown he can help the Bills' interior pass rush, particularly on obvious passing downs.The Bills view Sanders as a perfect complement to Ed Oliver, and the tandem created chaos during the Bills' joint practice with the Bears. The coaching staff wants to see more growth, but the upside is obvious. Before Week 1, Sanders’ focus is to be more consistent with how he attacks different blocks, whether it’s single, double or combo.
“I feel like I’ve grown in a bunch of areas I didn’t even know I can grow in,” said Sanders. “They’re showing trust in me to go out there on the biggest down of the drive and get a stop.”
Landon Jackson, edge rusher
The third-round pick showed speed and power at Arkansas, but he faces the steepest learning curve of the three rookie defensive linemen drafted by the Bills. Defensive ends have more to learn, including some coverage responsibilities, and he’s getting caught out of position on too many play-action passes.Jackson did make noticeable improvement from the first to second preseason game. He beat the left tackle multiple times using a cross-chop move, including a strong fourth-down play that was spoiled by Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent completing a pass. Jackson did the same Saturday night against the Buccaneers, though he could not finish to get to the quarterback.
Jackson Hawes, tight end
Draft analysts thought Hawes would be nothing more than a reliable blocker in the NFL, but it didn’t take him long to prove them wrong. The fifth-round draft pick showed his potential as a receiver again Saturday night, when he juked away from a defender and fought through contact for an 8-yard catch to pick up a first down. Most of Hawes’ snaps as a rookie will likely be as an inline blocker. Remarkably, he can take on 300-pound linemen in the run game. The Bills can also count on him to fill in if there’s an injury to Dalton Kincaid or Dawson Knox.“To see his work ethic and how he does everything, it’s remarkable,” said rookie left tackle Chase Lundt. “It shows on the field every single day, whether it’s practice or games. He’s blocking defensive ends on his own in duo or zone schemes, and it’s fun to watch. He can get nasty in the run game and make plays in the pass game as well.”
Jordan Hancock, safety/nickel cornerback
Hancock was playing well enough at safety to challenge for backup snaps behind Cole Bishop – until he suffered a shoulder injury in the Bills' preseason loss at Chicago. Hancock understands his responsibilities to stop the run, but he needs to be better in pass coverage. The Bills want safeties who can play in space or in the box. The versatility and potential Hancock showed in camp make him an intriguing prospect to watch.Dorian Strong, cornerback
It was an up-and-down preseason for Strong, but the growing pains were expected for someone at his position. Like most other defensive rookies, he needs to be more detailed with his coverage assignments and technique. His mistakes haven't been for a lack of effort. The sixth-round pick stays on the field after each practice to work with the other cornerbacks, including Christian Benford.Strong is competitive, and he routinely matched up against the top receiver during his time at Virginia Tech. The skills and potential are there. The Bills will need to use practice and special teams to develop him.
Chase Lundt, offensive lineman
The sixth-round pick lined up at left tackle, left guard and right tackle during the preseason, versatility that will help him make the 53-man roster and expedite his development. The Bills like to train their linemen to play multiple positions and, though he made mistakes, Lundt showed the coaching staff he’s a quick study. He started at left tackle Saturday night and allowed a sack in the second quarter when Tampa Bay defensive lineman Elijah Roberts beat Lundt with an inside move to get to Bills quarterback Shane Buechele.“It’s been different, man,” Lundt said. “You go six years playing right tackle your entire college career, then you get to the NFL and you get to play every single position. Being able to learn the intricacies of each position has been really cool. I have to be able to develop quickly, understand the technique and everything that goes with it. I’m really liking where I’m at right now with my progress. It was a lot of fun tonight.”