This year’s NFL Draft class isn’t one of the strongest that we have seen in recent memory, but in all honesty, none of that matters because these prospects haven’t played a down in the NFL. We can make projections on how these players will perform in their rookie season and beyond, but nothing is true until we get a sample size.
At the same time, we have to recognize the fact that on the surface level, this is not the year where teams should be looking to be aggressive and trade up. Unless there is a prospect on a team’s board that is dropping and they are within distance for a certain team, most teams may want to consider staying where they are at in the first round, or even see if they have the opportunity to trade down.
However, there are some teams out there that might be looking to trade up (maybe even back into the first round) and the Buffalo Bills are in a position at No. 30 where they could trade back and gain extra capital for both this year and next year. They did it last year when they traded back twice, including out of the first round. Would they do it again? There is that chance, and we have four potential trade-down scenarios for the Bills.
4 trade-down scenarios for Bills in 2025 NFL Draft
Bills trade down with Cleveland Browns
The Browns have the No. 2 overall pick and it’s unlikely that they will be using it on a quarterback. Instead, it’s more likely that they will either take DE Abdul Carter or WR/CB Travis Hunter. However, they are still going to need a quarterback. Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco are not the answers long-term.
The Browns have the first pick in the second round and if the Bills are looking to trade out of No. 30, then Cleveland could jump back up into the first round to get themselves a quarterback if one falls.
In the meantime, the Bills would gain an extra second round pick, as well as picks in the fourth and sixth round.
Bills trade down with New York Giants
There is a connection between the Bills and Giants. Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll worked in Buffalo with Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott up until Schoen and Daboll left for the Giants. Now both of them are in huge trouble as far as job security, especially Schoen. The Giants have the No. 3 overall pick and much like the Browns, there isn’t a guarantee that they will take a quarterback as well.
They could be a very realistic trade partner with Buffalo, who would get the chance to acquire a third-round pick that they currently don’t have.
Bills trade down with Las Vegas Raiders
This scenario is more than likely the least to happen, but anything is possible. The Raiders have a brand new regime and everything should be on the table as to what they could do. They have a lot more stability than they did a year ago, but they still need more to be competitive within the AFC West, let alone the league.
If the Raiders see a player falling down the draft board in the late 20s and want to make a big jump back up into the first round, they should call the Bills who would acquire a good-sized haul with an additional second round pick, as well as a third and seventh round (the two rounds that they don’t have a pick in).
Bills trade down with Philadelphia Eagles
With this trade, the Bills still get a pick in the first round, but they give the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles to steal a player from them, as well as letting the Chiefs take someone ahead of them too. However, the Bills still get the chance to make a first round selection and pick up an extra fourth round in the process.