The Buffalo Bills, one of the NFL’s flagship franchises, are on the cusp of a once-in-a-lifetime prospect. The first round of the NFL Draft isn’t until April 23rd, but the Bills are positioned at 30th. They find themselves with a rare luxury to use that pick on one of many short-term needs. GM Brandon Beane has chosen an original first-round pick just twice since taking over in early 2018. Now, he is armed with enough budgetary flexibility and significant clout to make choices that will define the franchise’s direction.
The Bills have identified cornerback as an area of need given their lack of a solid starting opposite Tre’Davious White. This follows a strong season where they were defensive powerhouses. The Bills have re-signed Damar Hamlin. The team is looking to build its safety group, hoping to create competition and more talent within the position. As they prepare for the draft, the Bills are not only looking to fill these gaps but considering potential free-agent signings to strengthen their roster further.
Priorities in the Draft
The Bills’ draft strategy should now be focused on bolstering their secondary and solidifying their defensive front. With a need for depth at cornerback, they aim to find a player who can adapt to their defensive scheme. Considering the team’s pass coverage issues as of late, this is a crucial pick to get right.
Making baseball sense on players Beane has been vocal about the need to acquire players who can excel in the A’s system. Most teams heavily penalize or reward prospects based on their perceived fit within specific schemes. As an anonymous scout noted, “What to know for the 2025 NFL draft… If you take how he’s wired and you take the God-given talent he has, you feel with good coaching and time on task that you can turn this player into something.”
The Bills have made no secret of their desire to add another starting linebacker. This friendly wager follows their recent restructured of starter Matt Milano’s deal, set to expire after this season. A comprehensive backup is indispensable in this newly impactful position. Injuries have derailed their campaign thus far and continue to threaten performance over the course of the season.
Offensive Line and Running Back Considerations
With the draft approaching, the Bills are considering bringing in a veteran free agent to help solidify their interior offensive line. That leaves their current center in Connor McGovern and guard David Edwards both hitting free agency next year. This unexpected turn of events has forced the team to boldly re-imagine what’s possible. Fortifying the o-line is the most important. It leaves quarterback Josh Allen with enough protection to buy time and make a play on the run.
Along with shoring up their offensive line, the Bills made it an emphasis to improve their running back corps. While James Cook has a hold on the job right now, Ty Johnson and Ray Davis Jr. both show exciting potential to be strong contributors. What Cook’s future looks like is less clear. Given this uncertainty, assessing running back prospects in the draft should be a top priority for the Bills.
Even legendary ESPN NFL analyst Mel Kiper Jr. had to stop and acknowledge Cook’s competitive fire. He stated a firm belief that depth is key to staying successful during the rigors of a long season. “I just love his competitive spirit,” Kiper said, emphasizing the need for multiple dependable options in the backfield.
Defensive Line Strengthening
Another key area of focus for the Bills has been their defensive line. The team badly needs a run stuffing defensive tackle to aid its weak run defense and strong side of the defensive front. Striking the right balance between being able to stop the run and pressure opposing quarterbacks is incredibly important in today’s NFL.
The Bills open willingness to keeping their roster deep through shrewd acquisitions. As they look to the talent still out there, identifying players who can help them succeed with their system will be the key. This means distinguishing defensive linemen from one another at various spots and who can make an immediate impact on game day.
Leave a Reply