Deone Walker will be a top player available on Day 3 of NFL Draft

Day 2 of the NFL Draft has recently been a fairly busy day for the Kentucky football program in recent years. Multiple former Wildcats stars started their professional football journey on Friday night of draft weekend. But that wasn’t the case in 2025.

Kentucky did not have a player come of the board in round two or round three. Deone Walker will be one of the top prospects available — along with Shedeur Sanders — when the draft resumes on Saturday afternoon in Green Bay.

Deone Walker earned numerous Freshman All-American honors in 2022 after signing with Kentucky as a four-star recruit out of Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech. 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 but the defensive tackle was slowed by a back injury, had his worst year on the field in 2024, and did not test well in the pre-draft process.

That has all led to a draft fall. Deone Walker should come off the board early in the fourth round. Kentucky center Eli Cox and linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson will also be in draft range on Day 3.

Luckett’s Scouting Report: Deone Walker

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.

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