plasticman
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Not saying the Cowboys are heading in that direction for sure. however.......
Deone Walker, Kentucky
Walker is a massive interior presence, checking in at 6-6 and 348 pounds. A consensus four-star recruit out of Texas, he chose Kentucky over a number of top college programs and immediately made a name for himself, dominating out of the gate on the way to earning freshman All-American status.
As a sophomore, he stepped up his game even further, establishing himself as a premier interior force and winning multiple All-American and All-SEC honors. Over two seasons, Walker has 17 tackles for a loss and eight sacks, highlighting his versatility in run defense and pass rush. Heading into his junior season, Walker will look to take another step forward and be the first interior defender taken in the 2025 NFL draft.
True unicorns are rare in football, especially once you get to the NFL, but Walker certainly fits that description — especially at his size. He is a well-rounded player who stops the run, rushes the passer, plays all along the defensive line and can even drop into coverage. That versatility speaks to his otherworldly athleticism at his size. Walker has wiggle to his game and a surprising amount of lateral agility. He can punish guards with a variety of moves to slip past them for a stop in the backfield. When he’s dropped into coverage, he’s held his own, with enough lateral quickness to successfully defend some underneath zones.
Of course, you can’t talk about Walker without talking about his power profile. He’s a monster down in the trenches and he knows it. Opponents double-teamed him frequently, devoting significant resources to preventing him from breaking loose. In the run game, he can easily handle double-teams, holding the point of attack and not getting pushed back. When he’s rushing the passer, even two linemen aren’t enough to stop him every time. He can overpower them or use his bag of tricks to find a way around them, causing havoc even when initially contained. His stamina is also noteworthy, having played over 700 snaps in 2023. Conditioning often separates the good defensive tackles from the great ones, especially when they get to be Walker’s size.
The bottom line is 6-6, 350-pound players aren’t supposed to move the way Walker does. His quickness and versatility are uncanny. I have a clear first-round grade on Walker, and he could push to be a top-five pick when it’s all said and done. There just aren’t many players like him that have come through the ranks of the NFL. He needs to back up his 2023 tape with another great season in 2024, but he has the makings of one of the most unique and exciting prospects in years.
https://nfltraderumors.co/2025-nfl-draft-summer-scouting-top-10-defensive-tackles/#:~:text=2025 NFL Draft Summer Scouting: Top 10 Defensive,... 5 5: Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech
Deone Walker, Kentucky
Walker is a massive interior presence, checking in at 6-6 and 348 pounds. A consensus four-star recruit out of Texas, he chose Kentucky over a number of top college programs and immediately made a name for himself, dominating out of the gate on the way to earning freshman All-American status.
As a sophomore, he stepped up his game even further, establishing himself as a premier interior force and winning multiple All-American and All-SEC honors. Over two seasons, Walker has 17 tackles for a loss and eight sacks, highlighting his versatility in run defense and pass rush. Heading into his junior season, Walker will look to take another step forward and be the first interior defender taken in the 2025 NFL draft.
True unicorns are rare in football, especially once you get to the NFL, but Walker certainly fits that description — especially at his size. He is a well-rounded player who stops the run, rushes the passer, plays all along the defensive line and can even drop into coverage. That versatility speaks to his otherworldly athleticism at his size. Walker has wiggle to his game and a surprising amount of lateral agility. He can punish guards with a variety of moves to slip past them for a stop in the backfield. When he’s dropped into coverage, he’s held his own, with enough lateral quickness to successfully defend some underneath zones.
Of course, you can’t talk about Walker without talking about his power profile. He’s a monster down in the trenches and he knows it. Opponents double-teamed him frequently, devoting significant resources to preventing him from breaking loose. In the run game, he can easily handle double-teams, holding the point of attack and not getting pushed back. When he’s rushing the passer, even two linemen aren’t enough to stop him every time. He can overpower them or use his bag of tricks to find a way around them, causing havoc even when initially contained. His stamina is also noteworthy, having played over 700 snaps in 2023. Conditioning often separates the good defensive tackles from the great ones, especially when they get to be Walker’s size.
The bottom line is 6-6, 350-pound players aren’t supposed to move the way Walker does. His quickness and versatility are uncanny. I have a clear first-round grade on Walker, and he could push to be a top-five pick when it’s all said and done. There just aren’t many players like him that have come through the ranks of the NFL. He needs to back up his 2023 tape with another great season in 2024, but he has the makings of one of the most unique and exciting prospects in years.
https://nfltraderumors.co/2025-nfl-draft-summer-scouting-top-10-defensive-tackles/#:~:text=2025 NFL Draft Summer Scouting: Top 10 Defensive,... 5 5: Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech
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