The NFL Draft is truly a phenomenon. NFL fans lock in every April and get just as excited to hear players' names called as they do watching their teams play games in the fall. Fans research players, watch film, and tab prospects as guys they want their team to get. While it feels like free agency just started, the 2025 NFL Draft week is officially upon us, and the final mock drafts (including this one) are now coming out.
The Buffalo Bills have some work to do to fill in their roster ahead of training camp in July. The biggest question marks remain at cornerback and defensive tackle. While edge rusher and wide receiver are also needed, the Bills can work on those later in the draft. So, without further ado, let’s dive into our final Bills mock of the offseason.
Round 1, Pick #30: Bills trade back with the Giants for No. 34
The Bills are in a weird position, similar to last year. They might just miss out on the first tier of players in a draft that doesn’t have loads of top-end talent. The top defensive tackles will likely be gone by now, including Kenneth Grant, Derrick Harmon, and Walter Nolen. Same goes for the cornerback spot, as Jahdae Barron and Will Johnson are likely to be gone.
So, Brandon Beane plays the board, like he usually does, and makes a move back with old friend Joe Schoen. The Bills deal pick No. 30 to the Giants for picks No. 34 and No. 99. Brian Daboll gets his redshirt rookie quarterback in Jaxson Dart, and the Bills get to select a player at the top of the second tier, while adding a third rounder they don’t have.
Round 2, Pick #34: DT Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
The Bills have to make a choice here between corner and defensive tackle, and they get the best defensive tackle still left in Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams. For too long, they have had issues with the interior of their defensive line, especially against the run. They get an excellent run defender to pair next to Ed Oliver, and a guy who many believe can still develop some real pass-rushing chops. At 6’3” 334lbs he adds much-needed size to their room.
Williams played four seasons at the prestigious Ohio State, appearing in 51 games and notching 136 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, 10 batted passes, and a forced fumble. Violent at the point of contact, Williams opens up things for the rest of the Bills’ defensive line, allowing Ed Oliver to work more one-on-ones. Clogging stuff up in the middle, which he did very well for the Buckeyes, will help keep Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano clean to do their thing.
TRADE: Round 2, Pick #45: CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
Brandon Beane sees a run on the second tier of cornerbacks and gets aggressive. After seeing a shoe-in cornerback, Trey Amos, come off the board, he sends the recently acquired pick No. 99, along with picks No. 56 and No. 170, to the Colts, who need extra picks, for No. 45. Jumping up eleven spots, Beane nabs Maxwell Hairston and fills a massive need while continuing to revamp the defense. The 5’11” 186 lbs defensive back ignited the combine when he ran a blazing 4.28 forty-yard dash, paired with a 39.5” vertical.
The Bills had him in for a pre-draft visit, and he would provide some much-needed playmaking ability to the back end of their defense. In 2023, Hairston was named Second-Team All-SEC after he picked off five passes and returned two of them for touchdowns; he also added 68 tackles and six pass breakups.
Last season, he appeared in just seven games due to a shoulder injury, but still notched a pick-six, four pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. Hairston plays with an attitude the Bills defense could really use, especially in the playoffs.
Round 2, Pick #62: EDGE Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA
After moving around a bit, the Bills got to keep pick No. 62, which is more like a third-rounder. With it, they select UCLA edge rusher Oluwafemi Oladejo. A converted linebacker, Sean McDermott is licking his chops at what defensive packages he could roll out there with Oladejo.
While he’s still growing at the edge position, the 6’3”, 259lbs, 21-year-old had a nice season last year with 4.5 sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss, 57 tackles, and a ton of pressures. He is still raw but can be deployed in unique pressure packages to help this year, and keep developing to overtake A.J. Epenesa’s role next year.
Round 4, Pick #109: S Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma
The Bills took their safety of the future last year in Cole Bishop, now they get his future running mate in Billy Bowman Jr. If Bowman were a bit bigger, 5’10” 192lbs, he would go much earlier in the draft. The Bills had a dinner with him before his pro day and also held a virtual interview.
He’s a hard-nosed player who ran a 4.42 forty-yard dash with a 35.5” vertical, and 10’3” broad jump. The former Sooner appeared in 49 career games, registering 199 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 11 interceptions, three pick-sixes, two forced fumbles, and 14 passes defended. Bowman gets to learn behind Taylor Rapp, who plays a similar style and could be a cap casualty next offseason.
Round 4, Pick #132: LB Chris “Pooh” Paul Jr., Ole Miss.
The Bills continue to reload their defense completely, this time adding some much-needed linebacker depth. The team reportedly is very interested in the former Ole Miss. Rebel. At 6’1” 222lbs, Paul is undersized, but that has never deterred the Bills before. Matt Milano is a free agent after this season and there isn’t any trusted depth after Dorian Williams.
Paul, a Third-Team All-American, Second-Team All-SEC, and finalist for the Butkus award, Paul gives them nice depth and the potential to become an impact player in the future. Last season, he had 88 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and 4 pass breakups.
TRADE: Round 5, Pick #152: WR Dont’e Thornton, Tennessee
The Bills finally go offense here and get a blazer. To do so, they deal picks No. 169 and No. 173 to the Cardinals, who are running low on picks, for No. 152. Thornton has the extremely rare combination of size and speed, at 6’5”, 205lbs, the former Volunteer can fly. He ran a 4.3 flat forty-yard dash at the combine with a 33” vertical.
The Bills finally get a true vertical field stretcher, who averaged 21.9 yards per catch in his career. The team held him on a pre-draft visit, so the interest is there; however, in the real draft, they might have to go up further to get him. While he’s far from a polished prospect, Thornton’s speed alone immediately makes the Bills offense better.
Round 6, Pick #177: CB Cobee Bryant, Kansas
The Bills stay put the rest of the draft and complete the double-dip at cornerback. Bryant has been a First-Team All-Big 12 selection for three straight seasons. The potential is there, and he gets to work with defensive back guru Sean McDermott. Bryant provides depth and special-teams play immediately.
Round 6, Pick #206: OL Jack Nelson, Wisconsin
The Bills' offensive line is fully intact and one of the best in the league. They take a flyer here on a massive tackle prospect in Jack Nelson, at 6’7”, 315lbs. A four-year starter at Wisconsin who’s worth taking a look at this summer.