Chiefs Draft: Kentucky DT Deone Walker could help the defensive line

Within the 2025 NFL Draft, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs will likely be wanting so as to add defensive position expertise — and on Day 2, they might be contemplating Kentucky defensive sort out Deone Walker.

Background

A four-star faculty recruit out of Detroit’s Cass Technical, Walker selected Kentucky after receiving affords from 30 colleges throughout the nation. With the Wildcats, he began 35 of 36 video games over three seasons, accumulating 132 tackles (53 solo, 23 for loss), 10 sacks, six passes defensed and a pressured fumble.

Checking into the NFL Mix at 6 ft 7 and 331 kilos, this huge man was measured with 34 1/2-inch arms and 10 5/8-inch palms.

Due to his dimension, his athletic testing hasn’t been nice — however these metrics don’t inform the story of his sport.

Movie analysis

Weight room energy and testing pace are a lot totally different than energy and pace on the soccer discipline. When Walker is on his sport, there aren’t many gamers who can overpower him.

The one-arm sort out we see right here is spectacular, however there’s rather more to his sport. His movie reveals one of many extra attention-grabbing gamers on this yr’s draft class.

He’s robust to double-team — and even tougher to beat one-on-one.

On this snap, Walker stays stout on the road of scrimmage, giving up little motion. As the middle picks up the run blitzer, Walker stands as much as lock out the left guard. The working again decides to hit a small gap opening within the B-gap, however Walker rapidly works his manner off the block to make the cease.

Walker’s dimension is so overwhelming that and not using a strong double-team, it’s practically inconceivable for offenses to maneuver him from his spot.

Right here, Walker aligns a shade over the middle. On the snap, the appropriate guard makes an attempt to create motion off the ball — however the further assist does no good. Walker makes contact and bullies the middle three yards into the backfield, blowing up any lane the working again would have had. The remainder of the protection rapidly swarms the again, ending the play earlier than it might actually get began.

To make sure, run protection is the place Walker will make his NFL cash. However along with his size and energy, he additionally has the potential to develop into an efficient inside cross rusher.

Whilst such an enormous man, Walker can play rapidly in bursts. Many inside offensive linemen attempt to work their units rapidly in opposition to him — hoping to close down his highly effective bull rush — however that is the place Walker’s lengthy arms and fast twitch come into play.

On this snap, the appropriate guard makes an attempt to work a fast set on Walker. However with a heavy hand and good pace off the snap, Walker executes a gorgeous hand swipe and flushes the quarterback from the pocket.

Walker collected seven and a half sacks as a sophomore in 2023. As a junior, he recorded solely a sack and a half. However in 2024, it was obvious that opposing offenses have been giving him quite a lot of respect, continuously double-teaming him and sliding their protections towards him.

To match these seems, Kentucky used Walker everywhere in the line of scrimmage. The Wildcats additionally used his mass to assist create stress with stunts and twists.

On this tackle-end twist, Walker is the penetrator. He first forces the appropriate guard off stability, giving the looping edge a great lane to the quarterback. Then he offers the appropriate sort out an enormous shot and barrels by the B-gap. He and the looping finish meet on the quarterback for the sack.

Walker’s bursts of quickness don’t come usually — however after they do, they’re sight to behold. If he can deliver consistency to his sport, he may develop right into a fierce cross rusher.

The underside line

Together with his huge body, the 21-year-old Walker will doubtless be chosen on Day 2. Whereas his upside is immense, he does have some purple flags.

The primary of those is his normal conditioning. On movie, we see a number of snaps the place Walker is both gassed or not giving 100%. On these reps, Walker both performs too excessive or shuts off his motor too early.

On some lengthy drives, there are additionally snaps the place Walker does not even get a hand down earlier than the ball is snapped — and he’s constantly one of many final gamers to the road of scrimmage.

In faculty, his dimension allowed him to get away with all of this. Within the NFL, he gained’t be as fortunate.

When he flashes, Walker seems like a future All-Professional. However when he’s slacking, he resembles a participant who will likely be out of the league earlier than his rookie contract is up. So there will likely be some danger in choosing him — but when he lands on a workforce with the appropriate ambiance, he may flourish.

Below Kansas Metropolis defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo (and defensive position coach Joe Cullen), Walker may become an above-average starter. Early on, he would most likely play on working downs, the place he would change Derrick Nnadi — and finally, Mike Pennel. This is able to assist him construct his endurance — and below the tutelage of Chris Jones, proceed to develop as a cross rusher.

The Chiefs want long-term stability at defensive sort out. Throughout head coach Andy Reid’s tenure, the workforce has proven it might get essentially the most out of its gamers. Taking a bet on a participant like Walker looks like a reasonably secure wager.