Waking the “Dancing Bear”: Why Deone Walker Could Be the Steal of the Bills’ 2025 Draft
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When the Buffalo Bills selected Deone Walker in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, expectations were modest. At 6'7" and over 330 pounds, most assumed he’d be slotted into the traditional 3-technique role alongside DaQuan Jones. But Walker is far from an average big man.
Nicknamed the “Dancing Bear” by Ed Oliver, Walker’s agility and surprising quickness have caught the attention of teammates and coaches alike. Defensive coordinator Bobby Babich remarked, “People that are his size shouldn’t be able to do some of the things he does.”
Though consistency remains the missing piece, Walker has already delivered key moments — most notably against the Dolphins, when his tipped pass led to a Terrel Bernard interception that sealed the game.
Former Bills center Eric Wood praised him on Center Stage with Eric Wood and Josh Reed:
“He looks like a heck of a fourth-round pick. If he left school earlier, he’s probably a first-rounder. Right now, he looks like a steal.”
Yes, the flashes are there. Walker’s ability to disrupt both the pass and run game shows his ceiling is sky-high. The challenge now is consistency — holding his gap, reading plays, and beating double teams.
If Walker continues to develop and stays healthy, the Bills may have landed one of the biggest draft steals in franchise history — and perhaps the newest star of Bills Mafia’s defense.
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