No one can deny the fact that Brandon Beane delivered a solid rookie draft class for the Buffalo Bills this offseason. He not only addressed big positions of need, he added a lot of depth to them as well. There are some players who can help immediately while others will have the chance to develop and become impactful players later on down the line.
Focusing on defense throughout the draft, the Bills have potential Day 1 starters and a lot of depth/rotational players. Both in the trenches and in the secondary, Buffalo’s defense should look a lot better with some of the young guys that they brought in.
That makes you think about the impact they could have for the Bills in their first season…
Superlatives for notable Bills rookies in 2025
CB Max Hairston
Most likely to record 3+ interceptions
Buffalo’s first round pick was Max Hairston out of the University of Kentucky and it was no surprise to see the team going with secondary help right away. Hairston has speed and was a bit of a ballhawk at Kentucky as well. One of the most underrated factors in his game is his ability to make up for lost steps during a route.
If that is the case, don’t be surprised to see him make some unbelievable interceptions in his first year.
DT T.J. Sanders
Most likely to lead Bills DTs in tackles for loss
The Bills are huge believers in T.J. Sanders, seeing as how they traded up 15 spots in the second round to get him. He can play almost anywhere in the trenches and he is explosive once the ball is snapped. He has a little bit of Ed Oliver traits as far as quickness off the ball and if he can beat the blocks in front of him, he’s going to be a great disrupter for the defense.
DE Landon Jackson
Most likely to be a starter in second half of season
When we look back on the 2025 season, there is a good chance that we will see that Landon Jackson was Buffalo’s best draft pick considering the fact that he fell to the third round. He’s quick off the edge and is a lengthy player who has a big step towards the ball. We have to consider the fact of Joey Bosa’s injury history the last couple of years so if he deals with yet another injury, that could open the gate for Jackson to take the field more times than fans think.
DT Deone Walker
Most likely to have 3+ batted down passes
Not only did the Bills trade up for T.J. Sanders, but they would do the same thing in the fourth round to acquire Max Hairston’s college teammate, Deone Walker. At 6-foot-7, Walker is a massive player who can take on double teams both against the pass and the rush. However, one thing that could be beneficial for the Bills is his length to knock down middle of the field passes within his reach.
It’s a stat that doesn’t get mentioned a lot but it does make a big difference in a game.