Most important Bills players of 2026: No. 13 Deone Walker

Ahead of the 2026 NFL season, Bills Wire’s countdown spotlights Deone Walker as the No. 13 most important player for Buffalo. Walker is a 22-year-old nose tackle in his second season, with a 2026 cap hit of $1,275,940. In 2025, as a fourth-round rookie, he appeared in every game and started both playoff contests, producing eight tackles for loss, 39 total tackles, four passes defensed, four quarterback hits, a fumble recovery and a sack. Pro Football Focus noted he recorded the eighth-most batted passes (4). For 2026, the Bills expect Walker to start at nose tackle as they transition to Jim Leonhard’s 3-4 defense, despite limited depth beyond Walker. Buffalo signed Greg Gaines on August 18 as additional support.