Buffalo has reached double figures in the wins department in six straight seasons, a huge step forward for a franchise that, before this run, went 19 seasons without a single 10-win campaign. That said, they are still in search of their first Lombardi Trophy.
With Josh Allen leading the way, the foundation is set for a deep winter run, but the NFL draft allows them to build around the fringes and elevate their ceiling. We take a look at their picks in the 2025 NFL Draft and how they project for a team that is clearly in win-now mode.
Looking for all 32 teams’ draft grades? Head to our 2025 NFL Draft Grades for All 32 Teams Tracker to see how we’ve graded other drafts.
Overall Bills Draft Grade: B
The Buffalo Bills hit the positions they were supposed to, and they did so with urgency. All of their first five picks addressed three of the team’s most pressing needs on defense, and the Bills were able to add contrasting skill sets as well. The problem is, for some of the Bills’ early picks, the idea of the pick is better than the addition in its actual value.
Maxwell Hairston no doubt brings speed, easy coverage mobility, and playmaking ability, but he’s a near-liability in run support, which may impact his utility in certain situations. Deone Walker is a size-athleticism specimen, but isn’t the high-level anchor the Bills needed to succeed DaQuan Jones.
And while T.J. Sanders is a good overall addition, it’s hard to envision how he’ll function next to an undersized Ed Oliver and Walker, who drifts too high with his pads and is easily washed off the line.
To their credit, the Bills scored a great talent and schematic fit with Landon Jackson, and acquired high-end nickel and safety utility with Jordan Hancock. And on Day 3, Jackson Hawes, Dorian Strong, Chase Lundt, and Kaden Prather were all solid depth additions.
Overall, the Bills put together a decent class, but there are enough holes to poke into the early-round picks to invite uncertainty.
Grades for Every Bills Draft Pick
- Round 1, Pick 30
Maxwell Hairston, CB | Kentucky
Grade: B-
The defensive line would have been a preferred target area for the Bills in Round 1, but their options were limited with Kenneth Grant and Tyleik Williams off the board. Cornerback was a logical alternative, and the Bills banked on upside with Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston.
For Sean McDermott’s zone-heavy scheme, Hairston is a great fit. He’s a little bit lighter than average, but his 4.29 speed shows up routinely on tape. That blistering speed lets him click and close from depth and hawk in front of ill-fated passes. He also has effervescent short-area quickness, reactive athleticism, and crisp fluidity, enabling him to match and transition.
Hairston will ultimately need to bulk up to withstand the rigors of the NFL, particularly as a press-man and run-support defender. On PFSN’s board, there were better options available. But Hairston’s speed can’t be replicated, and Christian Benford and Taron Johnson funneling targets his way, which makes Hairston dangerous for opposing offenses.
- Round 2, Pick 41
T.J. Sanders, DT | South Carolina
Grade: B
It was a near-consensus belief that the Bills would invest in the interior defensive line early in the 2025 NFL Draft. They ended up trading up in the second round and taking South Carolina’s T.J. Sanders – an ascending player with an appealing two-phase, three-down skill set.
At around 6’4”, 297 pounds, with over 33” arms, Sanders has a sturdy profile for interior work. Despite his average mass, he’s very hard to uproot in run defense with his strong anchor and lower body, and he has the explosiveness, lateral range, and prying strength to win 1-on-1 as a pass rusher.
He’s a bit stiff in the midsection, and his consistency is still coming along, but he’s a worthwhile investment for Buffalo at this stage.
- Round 2, Pick 72
Landon Jackson, EDGE | Arkansas
Grade: A
This was one of the easiest player-team matches to project ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. Landon Jackson met with the Bills twice in the lead-up to the big event, and he fits the Bills’ needs at the EDGE position to a tee.
At 6’6”, 261 pounds, with near-34” arms, Jackson is long and lean, with elite explosiveness off the snap. And for his size, he has incredible lower-body flexibility and ankle mobility, which he can use to reduce his surface area and run the arc as a pass rusher.
You’d like him to play with more power and pop at times, as he doesn’t always play up to his size. But as an even-front defensive end in Buffalo’s scheme, he’ll be in his most comfortable role and able to work effectively in both phases.
- Round 4, Pick 109
Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
Grade: B
It was hard to predict where Deone Walker would come off the board with such a unique profile. He’s a size-athleticism freak at 6’7”, 331 pounds, but he’s a complete liability with his pad level, and a back injury from 2024 could spell doubt on his long-term durability. Nevertheless, the Bills chose to bet on the talent at the top of Round 4.
How the Bills use Walker could dictate how much they get out of him. Despite his size, he doesn’t have the lower-body strength or leverage game to be a true nose tackle alongside T.J. Sanders. If he can be utilized as an attacker, where he can more often get his base beneath him on acceleration, that’s where his torque output and motor can shine.
- Round 5, Pick 170
Jordan Hancock, CB | Ohio State
Grade: B - Round 5, Pick 173
Jackson Hawes, TE | Georgia Tech
Grade: B - Round 6, Pick 177
Dorian Strong, CB | Virginia Tech
Grade: A
- Round 6, Pick 206
Chase Lundt, OT | UConn
Grade: A- - Round 7, Pick 240
Kaden Prather, WR | Maryland
Grade: B