Defense, defense, defense. That’s exactly what the Buffalo Bills should be prioritizing in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft. Unless a dynamic offensive player falls to them or is within distance for the Bills to trade up, walking out of the draft the first night with a defensive player is a must.
Whether they go with someone in the secondary or upfront, defensive coordinator Bobby Babich should be hoping that he gets the opportunity to work with a first-round pick that Brandon Beane brings to the Bills. There is a great chance that the Bills will be able to land a valuable player late in the first round, but Beane will have to monitor every single pick to see what he will do to deliver.
Defensive tackle DaQuan Jones is heading into the final year of his contract with the Bills and quite frankly, Bills fans should be preparing for 2025 to be his last season in Buffalo. Even though the Bills took a chance on DeWayne Carter last year in the third round, they still need major help at finding another true disrupter to pair with Ed Oliver for the future.
One prospect that has endlessly been linked to the Bills has been defensive tackle Kenneth Grant out of Michigan. He’s a solid prospect that would slide right into the lineup as a potential starter right out of the gate. However, there is another prospect that Bills Mafia should have their eye on in hopes that Beane can bring to Buffalo.
NFL mock draft has Bills drafting Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen
Cody Benjamin from CBS Sports recently published a mock draft and the Bills somehow got lucky with the chance to acquire defensive tackle Walter Nolen out of Ole Miss.
"A move up for a speedy wideout like Matthew Golden could be in the cards. Otherwise, they might be content to sit tight and let the best available defender fall into Sean McDermott's lap. Nolen has the physical tools to become an All-Pro."Cody Benjamin, CBS Sports
The Bills getting Nolen is not only a great feeling, but it also keeps him away from the Kansas City Chiefs, who I’m sure would love to pair Nolen with Chris Jones. Nolen is a great disrupter in the middle of the trenches who specializes in getting in the backfield quickly. He can stop the run behind the line and can also cause chaos to open up a lane for a linebacker to fire through.
He recorded 11.5 career sacks (6.5 in 2024) with the Rebels and also had 48 total tackles in 2024. Nolen has the quickness like Ed Oliver, but he provides a bigger frame that can be overwhelming for blockers. Buffalo needs major help upfront and taking a swing on Nolen would be a win for the Bills on the first night of the draft.