NFL Draft Profile: Deone Walker

The 2025 NFL Draft is just over a week away. Professional football organizations are hosting final visits and making the final adjustments to their big board rankings. Personnel departments are focusing on the last weekend in April for the three-day mega-event in Green Bay that will include 257 picks over seven rounds.

For the Kentucky football program, the Wildcats are scheduled to have a busy Day 2 and Day 3 but might see one player sneak into the end of the first round. There are a handful of players that could become draft selections. KSR is here to get you ready after being there every step of the way during the pre-draft process.

Before our yearly draft guide publishes on draft week at KSR+, profiles on every expected Kentucky draft pick will hit the world wide web in preparation for the biggest non-game event on the sports calendar.

Player: Deone Walker

• Height: 6074
• Weight: 331
• Age: 21.1
• Arm: 34 1/4″
• Hand: 10 5/8″
• 40-Yard Dash: 5.35
• 10-Yard Split: 1.90
• Short Shuttle: DNP
• Vertical: 25″
• Broad Jump: 8’8″
• Bench: 22 reps

Per Relative Athletic Score, Deone Walker has terrific size for the defensive tackle position but the athletic testing was very underwhelming. Walker posted poor scores in the vertical and 40-yard dash. Walker did not do any shuttle testing. That will be a concern for NFL franchises when considering drafting this pass rush first defensive tackle.

Production

• 2022 (Freshman): 13 games, 11 starts, 535 snaps, 74.2 PFF grade, 40 tackles (7.3% missed tackle rate), 4.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 24 pressures, 2 pass breakups, forced fumble
• 2023 (Sophomore): 13 games, 13 starts, 728 snaps, 80.6 PFF grade, 55 tackles (14.3% missed tackle rate), 12.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 51 pressures, 2 pass breakups
• 2024 (Junior): 11 games, 11 starts, 540 snaps, 71.2 PFF grade, 37 tackles (10.3% missed tackle rate), 5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 22 pressures, 2 pass breakups
• Career: 37 games, 35 starts, 1,803 snaps, 132 tackles (10.9% missed tackle rate), 22 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 97 pressures, 6 pass breakups, forced fumble

Background

Deone Walker was a top-300 recruit in the 2022 recruiting cycle whose decision came down to the wire. The Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech ultimately pointed to relationships as the No. 1 reason why he signed with Kentucky over in-state Michigan. The big defensive tackle would make a splash once he arrived on campus the summer before the 2022 season.

Walker became a rare true freshman starter on the defensive line at Kentucky and quickly developed into one of the defense’s best players. His impressive run stuff in a massive Week 2 win over Florida was the first thing that got him on the draft radar.

Walker earned numerous Freshman All-American honors after the impressive debut season. That led into a sophomore campaign where there were some high expectations. Walker met those expectations as he earned first-team All-SEC honors and turned into one of the best defensive tackles in college football. Walker played a high snap count volume and was one of the best best pass rushers in the SEC. That led to some preseason All-American recognition as a junior.

The third-year player unfortunately put together his worst season in college in 2024 as he played through a back injury and failed to produce the pass rush wins that littered his tape his first two years in college. Walker still produced some highlight plays but they were not as noticeable.

Scouting Report

Deone Walker was a three-year starter at Kentucky who turned into one of the best pass rushing defensive tackles in college football. At 6-foot-7 and 331 pounds, Walker brings a unique skill set to the position. With skinny legs, this does not look like your prototypical nose tackle, one-tech, or three-tech defensive tackle but Walker has a dancing bear play style that can create havoc.

Kentucky used Walker in a variety of alignments across the front and his next team will likely need to be willing to do the same to maximize Walker’s value. Pad level is a concern and Walker can get pushed around in the run game. Shows good movement as a rusher and can slip off blocks. Shows real athleticism for the position despite poor testing scores.

The defensive tackle has some impressive traits as a rusher and the tape to back it up at Kentucky. The junior season may have just been a one-off due to the injury. Some coaching versatility will be needed at the next level as this is not a cookie cutter projection. Walker must go to a scheme-diverse organization willing to utilize him outside the box to maximize his potential.

A pass-rush first defensive tackle who can win one-on-one. Everyone needs players like that.

Draft Window

• Dane Brugler (The Athletic): 4th round
• Lance Zierlein (NFL Media): 3rd round
• PFF Big Board: No. 173 overall

Deone Walker’s draft window is a bit difficult to figure out. Defensive tackle is loaded with second and third-round grades. That means about 10-12 players will need to go off the board first at the position before the Kentucky product gets into draft range. That should take the first two rounds off the board.

Once we get into the back half of the third round, we should be on Walker watch. Every team in the NFL is looking for defensive tackle help. Interior rush is a box that everyone wants checked. Walker can provide that. The fourth round seems like the floor.