Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane sits in an enviable position ahead of the 2025 NFL draft. He oversees one of the league’s most talented rosters, led by MVP quarterback Josh Allen, and he owns 10 picks to use as trade ammunition. It’s a group of selections starting with No. 30 overall in the first round.
Beane confirmed the Bills will probably do some wheeling and dealing during the draft, which kicks off April 24. Whether that’ll include using the franchise’s pick in the opening round as trade bait is less certain.
“I do like the ammo that we’re going into the draft with,” Beane told reporters. “We’re going to try and play the board, and move up and back where we think that makes the most sense.”
As a result, there are a wide range of possible directions the Bills’ 2025 draft could go. The front office’s decision on how to handle the first round will have a trickle-down effect on the rest of the proceedings.
Bills 2025 Draft: Ranking Most Likely First-Round Outcomes
1. Draft Cornerback
The Bills’ No. 2 cornerback spot is the starting lineup’s most obvious weakness. Christian Benford, who continues to emerge as one of the NFL’s best corners, will handle one perimeter role and Taron Johnson will once again lock down the slot.
For now, Dane Jackson is tentatively penciled in as a starter, but that’s almost guaranteed to change. Buffalo will either take a corner early in the draft they believe can play right away or it’ll dip back into the free-agent market for a more proven veteran on a one-year contract.
Options if the Bills decide to fill the void at No. 30 include Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston, East Carolina’s Shavon Revel Jr. and Ole Miss’ Trey Amos.
#Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston is making a pre-draft visit with the #Bills, per his Instagram.#BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/7JZV2fDDBH
— Ryan Talbot (@RyanTalbotBills) April 14, 2025
Beane faces a lot of pressure to get his next cornerback draft pick right after 2022 first-rounder Kaiir Elam couldn’t shake the bust label across three years in Buffalo. He was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in March.
2. Draft Defensive Tackle
Kenneth Grant is the best fit for the Bills among any prospect in the 2025 NFL draft. His combination of size (6’4”, 331 pounds) and power would be perfect alongside the smaller, more agile Ed Oliver in the middle of the team’s defensive line.
It’s unclear whether Grant will make it to No. 30, though. He came off the board to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 16 in our Last Word on Sports writers’ mock draft. He’s one of the toughest players to forecast because his production at Michigan often didn’t match his immense raw talent.
“He could be the best defender in this draft 10 years from now.”
More from @joelklatt on Michigan DT Kenneth Grant ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. pic.twitter.com/mjgSmkgXrW
— The Joel Klatt Show: A CFB Pod (@JoelKlattShow) April 3, 2025
The Bills likely won’t trade up for him unless he at least falls into the 20s, and they’d likely prefer to bet on a slide to No. 30 since they have other needs to fill. The other defensive tackles possibly going in the late first—Oregon’s Derrick Harmon and Ole Miss’ Walter Nolen—don’t fit nearly as well.
3. Trade Down
At last year’s draft, Bills fans waited until almost midnight before finding out the team traded out of the first round. First, it sent the No. 28 pick to the Kansas City Chiefs and then dealt the No. 32 pick it had received in the K.C. trade to the Carolina Panthers.
A repeat Day 1 performance could be in the cards. Trading down is the best option if Grant is off the board and Buffalo isn’t enamored with the available cornerbacks. It’ll allow Beane to accumulate more selections as he seeks out depth on team-friendly rookie contracts.
4. Trade Up
It’s hard to imagine the Bills making a significant trade to move way up, but a smaller move is possible. Beane used that tactic in the past when he really wants a player in Round 1. Most recently, he climbed from No. 27 to No. 25 to select tight end Dalton Kincaid in 2023.
Buffalo could use some of its pick stockpile to make a deal if Grant or a highly rated cornerback, such as Texas’ Jahdae Barron, is still available in the early 20s and it doesn’t want to risk waiting to see if they make it until No. 30.
Jahdae Barron is one of my guys in the 2025 NFL Draft.
+ Versatility to play CB, Nickel, Safety, and Dime LB
+ Route Recognition & Instincts
+ Short Area Athleticism
+ Ball Skills & Playmaking Ability
+ Physical ToughnessI expect Barron to keep rising throughout the process. pic.twitter.com/pihPah14TS
— Ryder McConville (@RyderM25) January 7, 2025
5. Draft EDGE
Now we move into some of the more unlikely scenarios. The Bills still need some long-term edge-rushing solutions. That said, they already used precious financial resources to sign Joey Bosa. They also have Greg Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa still on the roster.
Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. or Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku could make sense at No. 30, but it’s more likely a position Buffalo will address on Day 2.
6. Draft Safety
The Bills are going to draft at least one safety. It’d be shocking if they didn’t. That said, it feels like a position they’ll address in the middle rounds. Projected starters Cole Bishop and Taylor Rapp have some playmaking upside as a duo, so it’s not an urgent need.
Georgia’s Malaki Starks and South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori could garner consideration if they’re available when Buffalo is picking, though.
7. Draft Wide Receiver
The Bills already feature plenty of depth at receiver. Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer and Curtis Samuel will battle for playing time as part of the organization’s “everybody eats” philosophy. In turn, using a first-round pick on a wideout who’d play around 20 percent of the snaps wouldn’t yield much bang for the buck. It’s impossible to completely rule it out, however.
Buffalo does have a clear need at the position, though: a vertical threat. Tennessee’s Dont’e Thornton would make a ton of sense in the middle rounds.
If you were one-play scouting Tennessee WR Dont’e Thornton, this would be the play.
6-foot-5
205 pounds
4.30 40— Steve Palazzolo (@StevePalazzolo_) March 26, 2025
8. Any Other Outcome
The Bills’ 2025 draft could feature some surprises. Having so many picks and so few pressing needs gives Beane a lot of freedom. They could draft a running back early given the James Cook contract uncertainty. Perhaps they grab a quarterback in hopes of finding a future Allen backup.
Yet, it doesn’t feel like Buffalo will do anything crazy in the first round. The biggest needs are obvious and the front office’s track record suggests it’ll stick to filling those holes.
Main Image: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
