Draft Notebook: Deone Walker's stock is slipping heading into Scouting Combine

Expectations were extremely high for Kentucky junior defensive tackle Deone Walker heading into 2024. The former four-star recruit out of Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech earned first-team All-SEC honors as a sophomore when he recorded 55 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks on 51 pressures. The defensive tackle logged an absurdly high snap volume (728) snaps and was playing like one of the best defensive players in college football at the end of the 2023 season.

After the 2024 NFL Draft wrapped up, the Kentucky product was everywhere in first-round mocks. Now it feels like there is a chance that Deone Walker could fall into the third round. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler released his first top-100 big board on Saturday and Walker did not appear until No. 76 overall.

Walker certainly benefits from the “planet theory” — there are only so many 340-pound humans walking the earth who have his combination of size, strength and sweet feet. But there are sloppy elements to his game, and his technique and pad level must catch up with his physical talent for the flashes to become more consistent.

Dane Brugler

Deone Walker did play through a back injury in 2024 and earned second-team All-SEC honors with an impressive career stat line (37 games, 36 starts, 2-time team captain 132 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 10 sacks on 97 pressures, and 1,803 career snaps) but technique and bad pad level have been two major talking points surrounding Walker since he announced his draft entry. Now the three-and-done in Lexington seems destined for a Day 2 selection.

Maxwell Hairston (No. 54 overall) projects to be one of numerous cornerbacks to come off the board in the second round.

But there could be some first-round buzz moving forward for Maxwell Hairston

Maxwell Hairston went four-and-done at Kentucky and made a splash at the Senior Bowl. Despite missing most of Kentucky’s SEC games in 2024, buzz has not slowed down for the second-team All-SEC selection in 2023.

ESPN’s Field Yates has been very high on the Greater Detroit native. The two-year starter at Kentucky made an appearance in the first round of Yates’ latest mock draft.

23.) Green Bay Packers: Maxwell Hairston (CB, Kentucky)

The Packers have to look at their cornerback room this offseason. Improvements would allow them to play more man coverage under coordinator Jeff Hafley after tying with Tampa Bay for the lowest percentage of man coverage snaps in 2024 (29.2%). Hairston sat out some time because of a shoulder injury this past season, but he led the SEC with five interceptions in 2023 — two of which were returned for touchdowns. He’s a playmaking ball magnet who is going to fly in the 40-yard dash at the combine.

Perhaps no position than cornerback gets more mileage out of the speed and explosive athletic testing during the combine and pro day circuit. Top end speed matters a big deal in coverage.

Hairston measured in at 5-foot-11 with a wingspan reaching 6-foot-4 with a strong arm length (31 1/2″) in Mobile. The size box has been checked. Hairston’s tape is filled with sticky coverage reps and strong testing might just get the cornerback in the first round.

Maxwell Hairston (CB #Kentucky) was one of the most impressive players today.

He watches a ton of different DBs and likes to model his game after Jaycee Horn, Jalen Ramsey, and Pat Surtain.

One of my favourite prospects here. pic.twitter.com/MT6dqxtdIS

— SCOUTD (@scoutdnfl) January 29, 2025

Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter for Tennessee Titans?

The Tennessee Titans could be in the market for a quarterback this offseason after a disappointing year two from Will Levis under new head coach Brian Callahan. Tennessee’s front office made some massive changes at leadership positions and need talent help across the board.

There is a lot of buzz that this organization will go best player available (BPA). Do the Titans want Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter? Those are the best two players in this draft.

Hunter is undersized but could play both ways. A side might have to be picked eventually with defense being the favorite while the young phenom cornerback could moonlight at wide receiver. Abdul Carter is the best pass rusher in a deep pass rusher class, and has the skill set to also play some off-ball linebacker similar to Micah Parsons.

Tennessee will have to make a tough call, but this is not a bad place to be in. That likely means looking at the free agent market at quarterback. Could we get Aaron Rodgers on Lower Broadway?