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New York Times
25-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
The Draft Files: A look at the Bills' Day 2 strategy after Buffalo took a cornerback in Round 1
The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft has concluded, and Bills general manager Brandon Beane held true to his words by adding a defensive asset to his roster. At pick No. 30, Kentucky cornerback Max Hairston became the newest early-round investment, as they'll hope Hairston becomes the long-term starter with top cornerback Christian Benford. Advertisement The draft quickly shifts to the second day, with the second and third rounds on tap. The Bills still have nine picks remaining, two in the second round at Nos. 56 and 62. How might they strategize and execute their Day Two plan? What about Day Three positions and players to monitor? As promised, here's Part Two of the Draft Files, attempting to channel Beane's rest-of-draft plan. The way the entire Bills offseason was setting up, along with the strengths of the 2025 draft class in the first round, we surmised in Part 1 of The Draft Files that the decision with their top pick would ultimately come down to two positions — defensive tackle and cornerback. And it would only have been defensive tackle if one of the top four of Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Walter Nolen or Derrick Harmon was available. All four were gone by pick 21, as expected, which meant cornerback was the leader in the clubhouse by a great margin. And although there was plenty of late speculation that the Bills could entertain drafting a safety in the first round, the simple fact is the Bills believe more in the starting duo of Taylor Rapp and Cole Bishop than the external opinions out there. That applies specifically to Rapp, who, when you listen to them talk, have discussed him becoming a leader on their defense over the last year. You could have made the case for Hairston or Mississippi cornerback Trey Amos, and the Bills opted for the game-breaking ability and speed. Beane has always been the type to swing for the fences rather than play it safe, and between the two, Hairston was the home run swing. Now, it sets the Bills up to take advantage of some positions they considered deep heading into the draft. To me, their second-round needs boil down to three top-end positions. Defensive tackle — They have a need for an infusion of youth and potential long-term starter, and will likely value versatility to play both positions above all else. If the Bills keep both of their second-round picks, defensive tackle is the new leader in the clubhouse to be one of those picks. There will be a strong contingent of players available at this position on Day Two. Advertisement Edge rusher — A pair of potential first-round picks fell out of the first day completely, which makes the second-round options even deeper for the Bills. They will likely want to add a player with a higher ceiling, and one that can win with speed. With both Joey Bosa and A.J. Epenesa on expiring deals, getting someone to develop as a potential starter in 2026 would be ideal. Wide receiver — The Bills have one spot open to fill out their receiver room in 2025, and would likely want someone who can win vertically with a home base at Z receiver. Bonus points for versatility to play inside, and if they have special teams abilities. But there are some interesting late second-round options available this year. If they trade up from the fourth round into the third, I think that could bring in two other legitimate positional considerations. Safety — This is the sweet spot to add all of the long-term depth, a potential starter one day, and an instant special teams asset. The player could become the starter as early as 2026, but more likely in 2027 after Rapp's contract expires. Free safety would be the lean, to complement Bishop's skill set. Offensive line — A versatile offensive lineman with some future starting potential could be in consideration in the third round. Both center Connor McGovern and left guard David Edwards are free agents in 2026. Left tackle Dion Dawkins is 31 years old. Right guard O'Cyrus Torrence is a free agent in 2027. Some future planning is needed. Most everyone is anticipating an eventual trade-up from Beane, considering they still have nine total picks remaining. If he gets the itch as the second round unfolds, he'll have options based on his draft capital. Here's a handy guide for trades up the board in the second round only. Of these options, the most reasonable starting cost for a Bills move begins at No. 43 with the 49ers, as it would only cost them one of their two fourth-round selections and some other later picks. If they can wait until No. 46, they wouldn't have to attach anything with a fourth-round pick to make it happen. Somewhere in the 43-53 range seems like it has some real potential for the Bills to move up the board if a run on defensive tackles begins. Advertisement What might their strategy be with their long-term boundary cornerback now in the program? Let's look at a path that makes sense based on their roster. The pick at No. 56: T.J. Sanders, DT, South Carolina I think this is an outstanding fit for the Bills, and one they could even move up to make happen on Friday. Sanders, with his strength at the point of attack, his run-defending abilities, his arm length and how he could grow into the one-technique role while maintaining three-down ability as a penetrating pass rusher, is an ideal solution. The 6-foot-3, 305-pound Sanders has an arm length of 33.25 inches and shows an all-around skill set to eventually become the starter in Buffalo. In the meantime, getting him closer to 310 or 315 pounds would make him an ideal solution as the long-term answer after DaQuan Jones. The pick at No. 62: Oluwafemi Oladejo, Edge, UCLA The fact that both Donovan Ezeiruaku and Mike Green remain on the board could go a long way for some high-ceiling edge rushers to drop down the board. Of that group, Oladejo is incredibly appealing in terms of his fit for the Bills and long-term potential. He was a middle linebacker his whole college career until his fourth game of the 2024 season and switched to the edge. Oladejo's 13.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in only his first nine games at a new position, along with outstanding athleticism and size will likely have teams around the league excited about what he can do with NFL coaching. He has explosiveness and bend around the edge that the Bills' defensive end room lacks, and he'd be an immediate special teams asset. End of Day Two — not so fast… Trade! Bills trade Nos. 109 and 169 to Vikings for No. 97 The pick at No. 97: Billy Bowman, S, Oklahoma With seven total picks on Day Three, the odds that Beane keeps all of them are not all that high. As the third round is coming to a close, here the Bills instead send out their top pick in the fourth round and their best late fifth-round selection to move up for a player with down-the-line starting ability. Bowman is one of my favorite Bills fits this year. At 5-foot-10 and 197 pounds, he isn't for every team. However, the Bills are one of those teams that care less about safety measurables and more about their ability to read, anticipate and react. What Bowman lacks in genetics, he makes up for with his mind. He profiles as a potential long-term fit at free safety next to Bishop and an early-career core-four special teams asset. One thing that contributed to the Bills and general manager Brandon Beane finding gems on Day Three of the draft, as much as they have since 2018, has been taking advantage of strong classes at specific positions in a single year. The two recent ones that spring to mind were when they selected Gabe Davis in the fourth round in 2020, and then moved up in the fifth round to secure Khalil Shakir in 2022. Both years were considered to be really strong at receiver, and because of all the talent available that year, it pushed those players down the board, and the Bills wound up with two multi-year starters who earned lucrative second contracts. In both years, the Bills didn't have a strong 'need' at the position, but it helped their depth and, eventually, their starting lineup. Had they been in different years of the draft, they likely both would have been a pick on Day Two. How does that apply to this year? The running back position is considered one of the strongest in recent memory. Like the Bills at wide receiver in both 2020 and again in 2022, running back certainly isn't a primary need for 2025 only. However, a little bit of a look to the future could yield a different picture entirely about their running back group, which the Bills have never invested a lucrative contract since Beane arrived in 2017. Advertisement James Cook's contract situation is now at the top of most Bills fans' minds, as he is a free agent after 2025, and unless he comes down from his demands, he is unlikely to sign an extension any time soon. They could easily have a need for a top-two running back as early as 2026 as a result. Plus, third-down back Ty Johnson is on a two-year deal, they have an easy out in 2026 to save cap space if they find the right player in this draft. In this year's class, the Bills have an excellent opportunity to find a significant future contributor on offense at a reduced cost than they would in most years. Taking advantage of a situation like that is what smart teams do, so if the right player is available at a reasonable cost, the Bills could very easily make a pick at running back. The most common question that I get about the Bills drafting a quarterback is simple. They already have Cook, Davis and Johnson, who are virtually roster locks for 2025, so can the Bills really keep four running backs on their 53-man roster this year? The answer, at least to me, is yes. But they need a specific type of running back to make it work. That player likely has to have a sizable receiving profile, or at the very least, have high-ceiling potential to become that in the NFL. Finding someone with home run speed would also be a big piece of the puzzle. If that running back could also be their return specialist in the meantime in 2025, that would be the cherry on top. How would they be able to keep four running backs this year? That leads us to our next piece of the puzzle for Day Three. The prevailing thought about the Bills is that they don't have enough room on their 53-man roster to make 10 picks. While they might not have room for 10, they have room for close to it, depending on the positions they select. There are two main things to consider when talking roster spots. First, not everyone who made the roster in 2024 is a lock to make it in 2025, and not every player they brought in via free agency is a lock to make the roster, either. The vast majority are safe, but there are exceptions. We'll get to those names in a second. But more importantly, one thing to remember when building out the 53-man roster from the draft is that free-agent signings Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi will not count against that squad for the first six weeks of the season due to their suspensions. That provides the Bills with an opportunity to keep two additional players they would have had to worry about cutting otherwise and the chance to allow general injuries and performance to dictate who they take off the 53-man roster when Hoecht and Ogunjobi are eligible to return. But in the meantime, two extra spots are two extra spots. As of now, the Bills have 49 roster spots spoken for — not all by specific names but just based on how they usually build out their roster. That gives them the ability to have four 'luxury' positions. They already used one when they selected Hairston in the first round, so they have three more. The luxury positions would include quarterback, running back, edge rusher and defensive tackle. Positions they could draft to without dipping into those luxury spots include wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, linebacker, safety and punter. In those cases, the Bills either have a vacancy for their 53-man roster as it stands, or someone who is on the roster bubble. Roster bubble players include wide receiver Laviska Shenault, tight end Zach Davidson, offensive tackle Ryan Van Demark, linebacker Baylon Spector, linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio, safety Darrick Forrest, return specialist Brandon Codrington and punter Jake Camarda. All those names are current placeholders of a roster spot but would be in jeopardy if someone gets drafted at their position. Advertisement So while the Bills might not want to make 10 picks, they can come darn close with a roster spot for each of those selections — including a fourth running back. Roster spots are one piece of the puzzle, but if there's one thing that stands out about the difference from the 2024 roster to 2025, it's that the Bills lost quite a bit to their special teams units in the offseason. My colleague Tim Graham captured it perfectly with his piece that published on Thursday. With the exception of a quarterback, offensive line or defensive tackle pick, if the Bills are using a Day Three selection on someone, they are quite likely to either have ample special teams experience in college, or workable traits with the potential to become a core-four player in the NFL. One key piece of this is to find someone who can become their new return specialist ahead of Codrington. He had a solid season last year, but he offers no value on defense and no other value on special teams. The Bills will very likely want to find someone who can offer more versatility somewhere else while being their main returner, and running back might be the best place to find one. Another common question, but an idea I'm skeptical of due to the setup of their roster as it stands today. The additions of cornerback Tre'Davious White, defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi and edge rusher Michael Hoecht likely take away the ability to double-dip at any of those positions. You could maybe make a case for cornerback, but that would mean cutting one of Dane Jackson or JaMarcus Ingram, which I don't think they want to do. If there was one legitimate position they could do it for, it's at linebacker if they find two special teams assets they love to replace two bubble players. We've got our best remaining piece that dropped this morning, which I'd encourage perusing both now and as a cheat sheet during the draft, but here are a few of my favorites, by round, with positions that have a real shot of being a Day Three pick. Of course, much of this will depend on the positions they select on Day Two. Running back 4th round – Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech and Brashard Smith, SMU 5th round – Jaydon Blue, Texas and LeQuint Allen, Syracuse 6th and 7th round – Marcus Yarns, Delaware Wide receiver 4th round – Tory Horton, Colorado State and Tai Felton, Maryland 5th round – Dont'e Thornton Jr., Tennessee and Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas 6th and 7th round – Ricky White III, UNLV and Jordan Watkins, Mississippi Advertisement Tight end 4th round – Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame 5th round – Jake Briningstool, Clemson and CJ Dippre, Alabama 6th and 7th round – Gavin Bartholomew, Pitt and Luke Lachey, Iowa Offensive line 4th round – Caleb Rogers, Texas Tech and Jackson Slater, Sacramento State 5th round – Bryce Cabeldue, Kansas and Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M 6th and 7th round – Jack Nelson, Wisconsin and Clay Webb, Jacksonville State Edge rusher 4th round – Kyle Kennard, South Carolina 5th round – Que Robinson, Alabama and Jah Joyner, Minnesota 6th and 7th round – Tyler Batty, BYU Defensive tackle 4th round – Deone Walker, Kentucky and Omarr Norman-Lott, Tennessee 5th round – J.J. Pegues, Mississippi and Cam Horsley, Boston College 6th and 7th round – Zeek Biggers, Georgia Tech Linebacker 4th round – Chris Paul Jr., Mississippi and Barrett Carter, Clemson 5th round – Teddye Buchanan, Cal and Nick Martin, Oklahoma State 6th and 7th round – Francisco Mauigoa, Miami and Jackson Woodard, UNLV Cornerback 4th round – Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech and Denzel Burke, Ohio State 5th round – Zy Alexander, LSU and Zah Frazier, UTSA 6th and 7th round – Cobee Bryant, Kansas and Tommi Hill, Nebraska Safety 4th round – Malachi Moore, Alabama and Maxen Hook, Toledo 5th round – Dante Trader Jr., Maryland and Marques Sigle, Kansas State 6th and 7th round – Sebastian Castro, Iowa and Rayuan Lane III, Navy With only the unproven Camarda and Brad Robbins, who are signed to non-guaranteed deals, the Bills are in an ideal position to use one of their last selections on a punter. Not only would it make for an incredible summer of punting competition goodness, but as they did at kicker when they drafted Tyler Bass, they have a chance to give a cost-controlled four-year deal to a potential ascending specialist. As for names, the three Australian-born punters all stand out. Alabama's James Burnip, Florida's Jeremy Crawshaw and Alex Mastromanno of Florida State could enter the #Puntapalooza fray. (Photo of Maxwell Hairston: Stacy Revere / Getty Images)
New York Times
23-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
The Draft Files: 11 thoughts analyzing the Bills as they prepare for the 2025 NFL Draft
The 2025 NFL Draft has arrived, and the Bills are attempting to be as unpredictable as ever. They hold the 30th pick — at least for now. With plenty of intrigue about their selection, it's time for a draft week staple. The Draft Files, an annual exercise of trying to channel what Bills general manager Brandon Beane is thinking, is an unpacking of my notebook and entire draft brain about the team's potential draft strategy. It combines what they have said, the team's actions, positional values, recent trends, roster and cap structuring and an excessive amount of time by yours truly considering every possible scenario. Advertisement We've got a lot to cover, so let's get to it. The 2024 and 2025 offseasons couldn't have been much different for the Bills. Last offseason was all about taking some medicine with their salary cap and doing a soft retooling for future cap health while keeping the elite pieces of their roster intact. This year, the Bills returned almost their entire starting lineup, minus only two players — one replaced in free agency by receiver Joshua Palmer. They've even upgraded some spots at defensive end and safety as Cole Bishop has the inside track to the job. As far as 2025 goes, the Bills are in a great place. But it's also worth considering what's coming, just as the Bills did by getting the new elite of their core signed to long-term deals. The team is aging in certain positions and has expiring deals in others. The Bills also have several positions they can cut from to provide cap relief next year. All of those positions are factored into what their draft leanings could be this year. The Bills will often say they'll stick to their board and go with the best player available, but as general manager Brandon Beane has shown, they pair the best values of their board with their top needs. Every year that Beane has been in charge, they have used their earliest pick on one of their top needs in that draft. The term I've used for years with Beane is 'need meets value,' and that's likely what they'll try to do again in 2025. As is the case every year, not every need is the same. Based on the structure of their roster, future cap sheet and values of positions, we can land on some of what their roster decision-making could hint at for their draft positional preferences. Edge rusher — The Bills have answers here in 2025, but two of their top three (Joey Bosa and A.J. Epenesa) are free agents in 2026, and the Bills are always looking to add significant investments to the group. Advertisement Defensive tackle — They have starters in 2025, but one-technique starter DaQuan Jones is 33 and in the final year of his deal. They also don't have a clear backup for him for 2025, meaning a succession plan is needed, and another young asset would help them get there. Cornerback — Christian Benford is the clear top starter, with Tre'Davious White or Dane Jackson available as one-year options who could play if needed in 2025. However, they need both a long-term starter and a potential short-term starter for 2025, which could be the incoming rookie if he wins the job outright. Wide receiver — The Bills invested their top pick into a pass-catcher in the last two drafts, which could take the Bills elsewhere. However, if the right type of player who adds something the Bills don't have is available at No. 30, you can't rule it out. I did not include safety for a pretty clear reason. The Bills have two starters designated for 2025 in Bishop and Taylor Rapp, both of whom are signed through at least 2026. They view Rapp as a leader in their defense heading into 2025. I don't get the sense they are actively trying to replace him this year. With that need so far in the distance, using their top draft asset on a non-premium position without an early path to playing time would be unlike how they've used their top picks in the past. Safety is a popular mock draft position for the Bills, but there seems to be a disconnect between the likely lack of internal need for it and the external belief that it is one of their top needs. Between edge rusher, defensive tackle, cornerback and wide receiver, analyzing the prospects available this year along with the Bills' needs may give us a better idea as to what the realistic chances are of the position they ultimately take with their top pick, and in turn, potentially pushing positions out of the equation at No. 30. By the way that things are trending, with the intel leading up to the draft, I think the likelihood of two specific positions of that top four takes a hit to be the team's top selection. Advertisement The first of those that the Bills may feel comfortable skipping at No. 30 is wide receiver. There are a few reasons for this. For one, they are confident in Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer and Curtis Samuel. They are smartly open to adding, because they lack a true number one, but they aren't going to force something. On top of that, it's a bit of a weaker draft class up top, and the last thing they should do is take one just to take one. Most of the receivers in first-round consideration, with one exception, duplicate a skill set the Bills already have at receiver. They may instead find what they're looking for in Round 2 or beyond. The other position the Bills may be out of at No. 30 is edge rusher. It's not for a lack of wanting one, but there seems to be a pretty clear drop-off from the top six, which includes Abdul Carter, Jalon Walker, Mykel Williams, Shemar Stewart, Mike Green and Donovan Ezeiruaku, to the next tier. Pass rushers generally go early and often in the first round, and the trends have shown all six getting picked within the top 25, if not the top 20. The seventh-best edge rusher is James Pearce Jr., though his weight (245), arm length (33 inches) and questions about his motivation generally fall outside of what the Bills covet, and he may be better suited to a 3-4 anyway. The lack of supply at No. 30, plus better values elsewhere, could push edge rusher out of the equation. As the offseason has gone on, the Bills' need to draft a defensive tackle has remained. With Jones likely in his final year with the Bills, they need a long-term starter next to Ed Oliver at one-technique, presumably without an answer on the roster. However, one question that lingered on my mind all offseason was how they viewed 2024 third-round pick DeWayne Carter's future, and more specifically, what position they would make his home base moving forward. As we discovered on Tuesday during Beane's pre-draft press conference, there is some internal thought that second-year player DeWayne Carter's first position could be at one-technique, a switch-up from their thoughts last year. Carter spent much of 2024 at three-technique and was described that way before the season by the team, but occasionally moonlighted at one-technique. Late in the season against the Jets, Carter even played a full game there and did relatively well. 'I do think that's one of those when a guy can play multiple spots like that for you, you look at your makeup once you finish out the build of the team, we'll know a lot more after this coming weekend of what we add,' Beane said. 'Let's look at all the ingredients. Who can only play one spot? Who can play multiple spots? And then figure out… and I'm just making this up, if you added another three-tech, maybe you say, 'Hey, DeWayne, we're going to major as a one (technique), but don't lose the three (technique) because injuries do happen.' So, what does this information mean to the draft? Above all else, it opens up the possibilities for a versatile piece that can play both spots, even if its home would be at three-technique. That doesn't mean the one-technique-only types are out of the equation, but they have more flexibility in who they add to the group than was perceived before knowing the Carter piece. The only defensive tackles that should be off the board play only three-technique and don't have the versatility to play the stout run-defending role, because they already have one of those in Oliver. Advertisement Beane's comments on Carter slightly change the math as to who is on their Round 1 radar. We won't waste our time on Michigan's Mason Graham. He definitely won't be in range for a Bills trade-up. As for the rest, four have cases to be the Bills' top choice. Derrick Harmon, Oregon Harmon comes in as my top fit for the Bills because he instantly becomes the long-term answer at one-technique while having the instant ability to stay on the field to rush the passer on third downs. He can defend the run well, he holds the point of attack, he gets skinny and rushes up field. He has multiple ways to win. Even with the size they covet at the position, he has enough versatility to play three-technique as well. At 313 pounds with an arm length of over 34 inches, Harmon, to me, is the no-doubt-about-it trade-up target if he becomes in range. Walter Nolen, Mississippi Nolen appeared to be somewhat of an imperfect fit before Tuesday. But after Beane said they'd be open to having Carter play one-technique as his primary position, Nolen's potential fit in Buffalo looks that much better. Nolen projects as someone rooted as a three-technique who can also play at one-technique next to Oliver in certain situations. There's also the potential for Nolen to grow into an every-down role next to Oliver. So if Carter can be the early-down one-technique, that helps the overall situation. The Bills are looking for game-wrecking types on the defensive line, and Nolen has the potential to be just that. Kenneth Grant, Michigan When Beane discusses a two-and-a-half down defensive tackle, that's Grant. He's an incredibly gifted run defender, which the Bills have said makes players more valuable in their eyes, and he's 330 pounds. However, it's how well he moves that provides some reasons for optimism that, with development, he can give his NFL team some more consistent pass-rushing than he did at college. Grant would be the instant answer as the long-term one-technique, but unlike Harmon and Nolen, he likely lacks the versatility to play both defensive tackle spots. Tyleik Williams, Ohio State Williams might be in a tier below Harmon, Nolen and Grant, but his run defending ability keeps him in the conversation. The 329-pound Williams can withstand double teams and also dish aside his blocker to impact the backfield against the run. The big debate with Williams is if the Bills believe he is a two-down player versus a potential two-and-a-half or three-down player down the line. If it's the latter, he's in the mix at No. 30 past the top targets. Like Grant, Williams is likely a one-technique only. Of these four, Harmon, Nolen and Grant are logical targets in a move-up scenario, with Harmon and Nolen being the ones to most aggressively pursue. Though it seems likely all three are off the board before No. 30. When it comes to what the Bills covet at boundary cornerback, there are very clear things they prefer. On the field, they have gravitated toward instincts and being comfortable operating in zone. Ball production, whether in the form of interceptions or pass breakups, is key. Being an amazing run defender isn't a necessity, but they need someone who is a willing run defender and shows a good baseline of tackling. Advertisement But there's one skill that has become a bit more into focus following their playoff exit this year — the ability to play man occasionally on top of the Bills' usual zone scheme. When talking about what would make a cornerback more valuable in their eyes, Beane alluded to someone who is scheme versatile, has speed and tackling ability, and can force turnovers. To help these primary attributes, the Bills have gone for a pretty specific body type with their cornerback investments. Good height and above-average arm length can go a long way in their zone, especially to help break up pass attempts when they have some ground the cover. As for who should be in play with their top pick, five stand out. The top two names are the least likely to be at No. 30 and would probably require a trade up, and the other three have a good chance of being available without a move-up. Here's how those five stack up to the size of the average Bills cornerback investment. As for the on-field, how would each fit the Bills? Jahdae Barron, Texas Barron falls below every single size threshold the Bills have gone for in the past. However, when you watch his games, his abilities more than justify veering from their usual prototype. Barron can play a little bit of everywhere for a defense, but most notably, he can play boundary cornerback well in the Bills' zone-heavy defensive scheme. His instincts are excellent, and he can become an impact run defender and tackler on the edge. For what it's worth, Trent McDuffie, who the Bills loved in 2022, is almost a perfect match with Barron's size. Will Johnson, Michigan Johnson's instincts and ability to close on the ball are excellent, and his nine interceptions in college show a key trait the Bills look for. That awareness to make plays seems well-suited to their zone scheme. Johnson has shown the ability to play man coverage in college as well, offering up the versatility the Bills could be looking for. On the downside, Johnson's long speed may be lacking, which would hurt him most when the Bills play man, but he can do both. His arms are on the short side, but his almost 6-foot-2 frame helps mitigate that. Advertisement Trey Amos, Mississippi His game is what helps push him into consideration at No. 30. Amos would give them a diverse skill set that can fit well into their zone-heavy scheme, while also giving them the versatility to turn to man coverage when the game plan calls for it. He's got solid ball skills and is a willing tackler who can hold his own on the edge. He could be an instant starter for the Bills in 2025. Amos is as close to a match for their height, weight and arm length averages as you'll find this year. Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky Hairston has great instincts to make a play on the ball. You can see the easy case for him to translate well into a zone-heavy scheme like the one the Bills use, giving them big play potential if those speed and instincts guess right on a play. However, his profile has some holes. Hairston is much lighter (183 pounds) than what the Bills usually target. On top of that, the tackling and run support is an issue for him in a way that it isn't for others. Azareye'h Thomas, Florida State Thomas has a ton of potential in a frame that zone defenses covet. His movement abilities and fluidity for a player of his stature are impressive, and so is his run-defending potential. However, there are a couple of holes in his profile, which are the exact opposite of Hairston's. Thomas's ball skills are lacking a bit, even if he breaks up some passes. In a zone defense that wants their cornerbacks to read the quarterback, anticipate and make a game-changing play, it could take a bit of projection for him to get there. Because the Bills are picking so late, you never know what will happen with so many variables. Here are exceptions if available — even though it looks like they won't be. Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College — He has the arm length (34 inches), production and complementary speedy skill set that would pair well opposite Greg Rousseau. Ezeiruaku would be the starter in 2026 and beyond. Matthew Golden, WR, Texas — Of the potential first-round options, Golden is the one that makes the most sense because the Bills don't have someone with his speed, and Golden can win at all three levels. He has the versatility to play multiple positions while rooted at Z receiver. Tetairoa McMillan (Coleman), Emeka Egbuka (Shakir) and Luther Burden III (Shakir and Samuel) are too similar to what they have. Mike Green, Edge, Marshall — Green has crazy college production and can win with speed off the edge. He falls into the maybe pile, though, because the Bills would need to feel comfortable with his off-field questions. They generally avoid those situations in the draft. Green also has short arms that fall well below the Bills' usual threshold. Advertisement Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M — Stewart has an unreal athletic profile with the prototypical build the Bills generally go for. The downside is that the lack of college production is very concerning and tends to be a no-go for the Bills. Stewart has only 4.5 sacks in three college seasons. While Beane didn't make it known how many first-round grades the Bills have on prospects, he did offer one thing. 'Not 30,' Beane said succinctly, referring to when the Bills pick in the draft. Depending on how the board falls, and with Beane's penchant for moving up the board, it can never be ruled out. How much would it take to move up to each spot using only this year's picks? Here's a handy chart to keep in mind Thursday, using the Rich Hill Trade Value chart for pick values. It all depends on which players they're moving up for, though giving up a second-round pick just to ensure one of them may be a non-starter for the Bills. I could see them justifying sending out No. 62 and getting a third-round pick back for the right player, so that situation exists at No. 23 with the Packers. However, I think the trade-up sweet spot resides with the Vikings at No. 24. From that point on, the Bills wouldn't need to give up more than Day Three selections, which they have plenty of this year. The Vikings are an attractive trade-up target because they have only four picks total in 2025 and could be more willing than other teams. But the Bills should only do so if someone from their top tier with a first-round grade remains on the board. Whenever the Bills turn their pick in, I don't think this year is an all-or-nothing for one position like we've seen in most other years. There appears to be enough depth at both defensive tackle and cornerback to believe they'll get a potential starter with one of their picks in the second round, which turns this into a tiered discussion for how they might act. Tier 1 — Realistic trade-up candidate, or cross your fingers for No. 30 Of this group, I think the ideal trade-up targets reside with Harmon, Nolen, Barron, Johnson, Grant and Ezeiruaku. Harmon is the home run fit for needs and value, and if he, for some reason, were available at No. 23, would be worth the move-up price. Despite his inexact fit to a one-technique role, Nolen might have the second-best case of the group after the intel on DeWayne Carter. I could see them doing a minor move-up for the rest. Advertisement Tier 2 — Stick and pick at No. 30 or trade down With all the studying of the draft intel, the prospects available this year, the Bills' needs, and usual values at positions, the most logical outcome leads to Amos being a strong contender as the team's first-round pick without a move up. Every trait Beane talked about in a cornerback that would have more value to the team, Amos fits most into the description of, along with the prototypical build. If the Bills moved up, any of Harmon, Nolen, Grant or Johnson would make sense, depending on who's there. Golden will likely be gone, so that would remove one variable. The big unknown, though, is if the Bills feel confident in Williams' ability to become a three-down asset, or in Beane's words, to at least be a two-and-a-half down player. If Williams checks that box, there is a strong case for him to be the choice. However, because the depth at defensive tackle seems better in the second round than at cornerback, I ultimately land at the Bills selecting Amos with their pick at No. 30 if they stand pat. Amos may even be teetering into the top-tier discussion due to his fit with the Bills scheme. But if the top tier is gone, Beane could always tap into his 2024 draft playbook and trade down. The only thing we know about quarterbacks in 2025 is that Cam Ward is likely to be the first overall pick. Past that, it's all up in the air as Shedeur Sanders' projection has gotten worse by the day. There remains a complete possibility that Sanders doesn't get selected until some point in the early 20s, if not later. And if Sanders doesn't get picked until the 20s, that pushes the rest of the quarterbacks down the board. There has recently been some intel that has pushes by Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, and Jalen Milroe to be in that late-first to early-second-round category. Once the quarterback run starts, it might become a domino effect. And with so many teams possibly needing one, the Bills at No. 30 could offer a chance to jump ahead of all of them to secure their favorite quarterback remaining at a much-reduced cost. The trade-up team would also get the quarterback's fifth-year option rather than settling for a standard four-year rookie deal as second-round picks. So, if the board doesn't fall the way the Bills want it to with the players they're targeting, they could become the very key to the quarterback destinations. It all comes down to opportunity cost. If the Bills have someone available in that first tier, they should stick where they are and secure the player. But if all those players are gone, being the liaison for an early second-round team to take the all-important quarterback position is a path worth considering. Teams are always more aggressive in trading to find their potential franchise quarterback. It's important to remember that when he trades down, Beane doesn't like to move too far down the order. For that reason, I limited the search to dropping down to No. 40 at the latest. The four teams to monitor for a quarterback are the Browns (No. 33), Giants (34), Raiders (37) and Saints (40). I included all of the picks below 30 as a trade-down guide, though for the quarterback-needy teams, that may only be a starting point, as the Bills, who would have the leverage, might come away with more. If the Bills moved down, any tier-two players they considered at No. 30 would be the likely lean if available. And if they moved down, it likely means they've got two additional picks to play with on Day Two — the early second and a potential third-round selection to go with Nos. 56 and 62. That could certainly make for a fun Day 2. Advertisement There you have it, my entire draft brain leading into the first round. Coming up on Friday after Round 1, a recalibrated Part 2 of The Draft Files, taking a hard look at what the Bills could do from Rounds 2 through 7 after seeing what they did on Thursday. Until then, friends. (Top photo of Brandon Beane: Kirby Lee / Imagn Images)
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Steelers Scouting Report: DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
The Pittsburgh Steelers may have addressed the wide receiver room this offseason, but the defensive line—arguably the biggest area of concern positionally—was left on the back burner in free agency. Several free agent signings and re-signings like DTs Isaiahh Loudermilk, Daniel Ekuale, and Esezi Otomewo were solid for depth, but the Steelers lack a true, starting-caliber defensive lineman next to DT Cam Heyward and NT Keeanu Benton. Enter Ole Miss Rebels DT Walter Nolen III, a first-round caliber defensive line prospect fans should begin to familiarize themselves with as the 2025 NFL Draft grows ever closer. Name: Walter Nolen III College: Ole Miss Height: 6'4" Weight: 296 lbs Combine performance: N/A, did not participate in drills Nolen played with Texas A&M from 2022 to 2023 before transferring to Ole Miss in 2024—a decision that proved to be the right one, as he was named First-Team All-American for his efforts. 2022: 10 games, 29 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack 2023: 12 games, 37 tackles, 9 TFL, 4 sacks 2024: 13 games, 48 tackles, 14 TFL, 6.5 sacks What Nolen lacks in technique, he more than makes up for with impressive raw talent. He boasts considerable power and a sturdy base that allows him to eat up double teams with ease. He also has an explosive get-off at the snap, enabling him to attack the gap quickly against zone runs and catch offensive linemen off guard on passing downs. Despite his size and incredible strength, Nolen's technique still needs refinement. He can be overzealous in his pass rush at times, which leads to mistakes such as exposing his chest to opposing offensive linemen, poor hand placement, and a limited pass-rush move repertoire. While he's been able to get away with these errors in college thanks to his freakish physical traits, these are fixable issues even at the next level. Nolen has the size, agility, and strength to play either DE or DT for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Ole Miss DT would likely fill the hole left by former Steelers DT Larry Ogunjobi—who recently signed with the Buffalo Bills but was quickly suspended by the NFL for a PED violation. While Nolen's strength is impressive, it likely wouldn't be enough to earn him a starting role in Pittsburgh right away. His raw talent doesn't outweigh the need to refine his pass-rush moves, and he could benefit from learning behind veterans like Heyward and Ekuale as he continues to develop. Walter Nolen is a DOMINANT run defender and flashes excellence as a pass rusher 🚀Nolen posted 72 stops while only missing 5 tackles in his college career. He's also posted 67 pressures and 14 total sacks. He's a player I expect to see go in round 1. — NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 30, 2025 This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Broncos sending scouts to RB Devin Neal's pro day
The Denver Broncos are taking a close look at Kansas running back Devin Neal ahead of the 2025 NFL draft. After previously meeting with Neal at the Senior Bowl and again at the NFL combine, the Broncos are now sending scouts to his pro day, according to the Denver Post's Luca Evans. The Big 12 is hosting a joint pro day featuring 16 schools in Texas from March 18-21, so the Broncos will undoubtedly be scouting multiple prospects at that mega pro day, but Evans noted that multiple scouts will be there specifically to watch Neal. Neal (5-11, 213 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 4.58 seconds and a 10-yard split in 1.59 seconds at the combine. He finished his time at Kansas with a school-record 4,343 rushing yards and 49 rushing touchdowns. NFL mock drafts now have him projected as a fourth-round prospect. Devin Neal has ELITE elusiveness 👀He's put up 34 TDs and 2452 rushing yards in the last two seasons while forcing 126 missed excels in a balanced Kansas rushing attack thanks to his vision. Also has good ball security (2 fumbles, 421 carries).Day 2 talent. — NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) February 1, 2025 The Broncos hold seven draft picks this year, including No. 122 in the fourth round. The 2025 NFL draft will be held in Wisconsin from April 24-26. These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL draft: Broncos sending scouts to RB Devin Neal's pro day
Boston Globe
10-03-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Who is Harold Landry? Meet the Patriots' new pass-rusher, a former Boston College standout.
Related : Here are four things to know about Landry. He's been an effective pass-rusher for years Landry, 28, might have been released by the Titans this week ahead of free agency amid what was a slight dip in his pass-rushing production. But the veteran linebacker has been a regular force when it comes to getting after opposing quarterbacks and putting them under duress. Laundry appeared in 17 games with Tennessee in 2024, leading the team in sacks (nine) while also racking up 71 tackles, 15 QB hits, and 15 tackles for loss. Among edge defenders, Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up He earned Pro Bowl nods for the 2021 season after recording 12 sacks and 22 QB hits — only to then miss the entire 2022 campaign after suffering a torn ACL during practice in August. Advertisement Amid the concerns of his game potentially slowing down, Landry has still recorded nine or more sacks in each of the past three seasons. Every Harold Landry sack from 2024. Some really impressive wins here. But a lot of stunts and effort plays rather than true pass rush dominance. Weird player, but production is production even if manufactured. 2024 was his worst season. Maybe Vrabel will make me eat my words. — NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) He has plenty of familiarity with Mike Vrabel It should come as little surprise that Landry identified the Patriots as a fit before the start of free agency, considering that Vrabel was coaching Tennessee in 2018 when the Titans drafted Landry in the second round, with the young edge player immediately carving out a role on Vrabel's defensive unit. Speaking at the end of the 2023 season, Landry was candid when asked if he could envision himself playing for any other coach than Vrabel. 'Not really to be honest,' Landry said of Vrabel shortly before his eventual firing, via Advertisement ''I feel like with [Vrabel], my entire career, situationally, I've been as prepared as I can possibly be for every game. I feel like if you just look at [the Titans' season-ending win over Jacksonville], guys are playing hard for him, guys are wanting to win for him and … I really can't imagine him not being the Titans head coach. I mean, I just can't.' Landry addresses an immediate need The Patriots' most pressing offseason needs revolve around the team's porous offensive line and a dearth of playmakers on offense. But New England's pass-rushing talents also left a lot to be desired in 2024. New England struggled to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks all season long, with the Patriots finishing last in the league with just 28 sacks on the season. New England was also tied with the Browns for the second-lowest mark in the league with just 0.7 takeaways per game. Landry should remedy some of those pass-rushing woes, with his sacks (nine) and tackles for loss (15) last year both leading New England had he been on the roster. It was to be expected for New England's defense to regress following the decision to trade Matthew Judon in August 2024. But the addition of Landry should help bolster a defensive unit that should have more room to grow, especially if Christian Barmore is cleared for game action and Keion White continues to develop. He was a former standout at Boston College Landry already has plenty of ties to the New England region. The Spring Lake, North Carolina, product played at Boston College from 2014-17. Advertisement Landry recorded 26.0 sacks over his four seasons at Chestnut Hill, with his 16.5 sacks during the 2016 season tied for the program record for most sacks in a single year, shared by 2025 NFL Draft prospect Donovan Ezeiruaku. Conor Ryan can be reached at
