Will the 2025 Buffalo draftees live up to their Bill-ing?
The way a team approaches the draft is maybe the most telling way fans can get a grasp of how general managers across the league feel about their situation.
For example, would former Bills Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll be trading back into the first round to select a quarterback if they were not feeling the heat?
What about last years’ rookie quarterbacks?
Both Chicago and New England equipped their respective quarterbacks with weapons to ensure they take that ‘step’ in year two.
And Washington recruited offensive line support for Jayden Daniels in a bid to keep him upright.
Offence is alright, alright, alright
Bills General Manager Brandon Beane only used three of nine draft picks on the offensive side of the ball. That is a pretty good sign he feels confident the Bills offence can run it back next season.
Blocking tight end Jackson Hawes was selected in the fifth round. He will aim to fill the third tight end role this season and beyond.
Then Chase Lundt, a languid offensive tackle was taken in the sixth round. This is maybe a roll of the dice on finding another Spencer Brown who is of similar build.
With the Bills’ final pick of the draft, Kaden Prather, wide receiver out of Maryland landed in Buffalo with potential upside for special teams.
That was it. No major roll of the dice. No trade for a number one wide receiver. Clearly the coaches felt comfortable with the approach to last season – death by a thousand paper cuts.
The running back pen is not a concern either – maybe they know something about James Cook’s future?
Considering the Bills beat their opponents by an average margin of 9.2 points per game last season, I can understand the Bills desire to run it back.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2441148/episodes/16964584-afc-east-offseason-review-and-2025-preview-huddleuk-episode-12
The Picture of Dorian Williams
Terrel Bernard signed his extension this offseason and, barring injury, will be the Bills starting middle linebacker and green-dot wearer of the future.
Matt Milano missed substantial time again and heading into this season, the Bills have voided the last year of his deal in a restructure. That makes him a free agent after 2025.
Whilst Milano was out, we saw plenty of Dorian Williams in his second season, getting the start in 11 games.
The Bills hierarchy clearly like what they saw from him – as in the draft, they didn’t feel it necessary to draft a replacement for Milano. This suggests they believe his replacement is already on the team.
Joey Bosa, do not get comfortable
When Bosa signed his one year contract with the Bills it was seen as a ‘prove it’ deal with the aim of cashing in one final time on a larger pact in the league.
After the swing and miss on Von Miller in Buffalo – Brandon Beane was not willing to give Bosa that this season. So it is a marriage of convenience for both.
But it will certainly be a one-and-done for Bosa in Buffalo, as the Bills selected Landon Jackson in the third round.
Jackson is built in an almost identical fashion to current Bills defensive end Gregory Rousseau. I am sure the Bills coaching staff will be keen for him to learn behind his teammates in year one before taking a significant step in year two.
Interior decorating
The Bills selected TJ Sanders in the second round and Deone Walker in the fourth round – both defensive tackles but cut from different moulds.
Sanders, 6’4″ 290lbs, is built like Ed Oliver and will clearly compliment him in his role as a three-technique defensive tackle.
Walker, 6’6″ 345lbs, is closer to a traditional run-stuffing nose tackle – similar in build to DaQuan Jones.
This certainly confirms that Walker is in line to replace Jones long term, with Jones’ deal effectively up next season.
Sanders will be competing with 2024 draftee DeWayne Carter who underwhelmed in his first season.
Beane has spoken with his draft picks – the interior defensive line needs to get pressure when it counts. In the playoffs.
Summary
Okay, so none of this is ground-breaking.
What did you expect? The Bills don’t need a revolution – just an evolution.
Beane has done a great job retooling a defence that got old real fast. Now the onus is on Sean McDermott to coach it.
