2025 NFL Draft prospects set to immediately help Buffalo Bills’ defense

The draft is quickly approaching. Here are my top three rookie prospect options for the Bills’ defense in 2025.

Last week, I wrote about the three offensive players who I believe could be perfect matches with the Buffalo Bills in the 2025 NFL Draft. With the draft only a day away and the defensive side of the ball needing the most help by a wide margin, here are my top-three defensive fits for the Buffalo Bills.

Let’s dive in, and be sure to share your thoughts on my choices and where you’d change out a prospect or two.

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3. Darien Porter, CB (Iowa State)

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A former WR who recently and successfully transitioned to the defensive backfield, Darien Porter seems like a match made in heaven for the Bills if they can get him early during Day 3, or even late on Day 2 of the draft.

His physical traits are a standout: Porter is 6’3” and 195 pounds, with 33 1/8” arms and a blazing 4.30-second 40-yard dash. He possesses rare size, length, and speed for a cornerback prospect. Porter’s 9.99 RAS (Relative Athletic Score) and NFL Scouting Combine performance (6.71 three-cone, 4.04 shuttle, 36.5” vertical, 131” broad jump) highlight his elite athleticism, making him an intriguing option for the Bills, long term.

It’s not just physical traits that make him very enticing, though. Porter excels in zone coverage, particularly in Cover 3 and quarters, where he uses his length, instincts, and speed to read quarterbacks and close on passes. We know how defensive coordinator Bobby Babich and head coach Sean McDermott often employ zone-heavy schemes, making Porter’s instincts and route recognition a natural fit.

On top of that, Porter’s extensive special-teams experience (970 snaps, five blocked kicks, including four punts and one field goal) allows for him to become an immediate contributor in a phase of the game McDermott has stated as needing to be better.

At 24, the Iowa State product is older than most prospects, with limited starting experience (seven starts in 2024). However, if the recent addition of old friend Tre’Davious White to the fold, and Dane Jackson also back, it would be very difficult for any rookie CB to win a training camp battle against the vets. Those players already know the defense inside and out and most likely will get the first crack at the CB2 spot, opposite Christian Benford.

Porter wouldn’t be forced into a starting role immediately, and his speed and length make him an elite gunner and kick coverage player, ensuring he can dress on game days even as he develops defensively. The Bills hosted Porter for a top-30 pre-draft visit, showing they’ve done their due diligence on him this spring. I believe they have the perfect CB room to invest draft capital on a player like Porter and give him the best chance of succeeding at the next level.

2. Xavier Watts, S (Notre Dame)

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Xavier Watts is an ideal fit for the Bills in the 2025 draft, offering a high-upside solution to replace Taylor Rapp and complement Cole Bishop as a long-term starter in the secondary. At 6’0” and 205 pounds, Watts combines athleticism, instincts, and ball-hawking ability, matching Buffalo’s defensive needs and scheme under McDermott and Babich.

Watts’ elite ball production pops out every time he steps on the field, evidenced by his 2023 Thorpe Award-winning season, where he led the nation with seven interceptions. His ability to read quarterbacks and attack the ball (12 interceptions over two years) makes him a turnover machine, addressing Buffalo’s need for more play-making in the defensive backfield, especially at safety.

In 2024, despite a slight decrease in production (five interceptions), Watts showcased versatility, with 305 snaps in the box, 291 at free safety, and 158 in the slot, per Pro Football Focus. This flexibility fits Buffalo’s interchangeable safety system, where Rapp, Damar Hamlin, and Bishop are deployed across multiple roles, from deep coverage to box support.

Compared to Rapp, who’s signed through 2026 but struggles with a lack of ideal athleticism for the position and questionable durability, Watts offers superior range and coverage instincts. His 4.51-second 40-yard dash and 38” vertical jump provide the explosiveness Rapp lacks, especially against athletic tight ends and slot receivers. Watts is also a good tackler, and his football IQ — honed in Notre Dame’s complex defense — allows him to anticipate plays, which is crucial for McDermott’s zone-heavy schemes.

Long term, as a partner for Bishop, Watts is the perfect complement. Bishop excels in the box and as a blitzer (21.5 TFLs in college), but his deep coverage is developing. Watts’ free safety instincts and range (43” vertical, 10’8” broad jump) allow Bishop to play closer to the line, maximizing both players’ strengths. Their combined athleticism and versatility would create a dynamic duo capable of flying all over the field, making plays for the Bills’ defense.

Watts’ special-teams potential allows for him to contribute early , which is vital for a Day 2 pick. While he needs to refine his man-coverage technique, Buffalo’s coaching staff (known for developing defensive backs) can polish his skills. With Rapp’s durability concerns and Hamlin (hopefully, just a depth option at this point), Watts could become a great addition in the second round or later. A cost-controlled, high-ceiling prospect, who’d set up Buffalo’s secondary for future success alongside Bishop.

1. Tyleik Williams, DT (Ohio State)

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Every time I watched Tyleik Williams, all I could think about was: “Oh boy, this guy needs to be a Buffalo Bill!” At 6’3” and 327 pounds, Williams combines massive size, explosive athleticism, and run-stopping prowess. He aligns perfectly with Buffalo’s defensive needs as a short- and long-term complement to Ed Oliver within the team’s interior defensive line.

Williams excels as a run defender, earning third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2023 and 2024. His 2024 season included 46 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. His play helped the Buckeyes’ defense to rank third nationally against the run (87.3 yards per game).

Williams’ ability to anchor against double teams and clog running lanes (33 defensive stops in 2023, per PFF) would keep Buffalo’s undersized play-makers, like Terrel Bernard, Matt Milano, and Taron Johnson, clean to make plays. It would also give Ed Oliver, Joey Bosa, and Greg Rousseau more one-on-one opportunities — something veteran DaQuan Jones hasn’t been able to do consistently in recent seasons.

Compared to Jones, who is 33 and entering the last year of his deal, Williams offers a younger, more athletic profile. His 4.68-second 40-yard dash and 1.62-second 10-yard split at 334 pounds showcase rare explosiveness for his size. That explosion should allow him to shoot gaps and disrupt plays behind the line in the pros.

Williams’ versatility to play 0-, 1-, or 3-technique in Buffalo’s fronts is a perfect pair to Oliver’s gap-shooting style — and it would make for a dangerous interior duo. He has the potential to develop into a quality pass rusher with moves like rip, swim, and bull rush, despite inconsistent pass-rush production (11.5 career sacks).

Williams’ high football IQ and block recognition allow him to stack and shed blockers effectively, and he possesses that nastiness to his game — with a never-stop motor, and always trying to bulldoze the opposing offensive lineman ahead of him. His combine performance and pre-draft visit with the Bills show he’s on their radar, with mock drafts projecting him as early as the 30th overall pick or in Round 2 after a trade down.

With the state of Buffalo’s defensive tackle room, Williams would provide size and make an immediate impact at the NT role as a high-ceiling option. His run-stuffing ability and developing pass-rush upside make him a day one contributor and long-term partner for Oliver, strengthening the Bills’ defensive front for a Super Bowl push.

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Final Thoughts

I see defensive tackle as the position where it’s most likely a rookie can come in and play from the get-go — Jones is past his prime and may even become a surprising training-camp cut. The other D-tackles in the group don’t possess the size or skill set to effectively play the NT role the way it needs to be played, and the Bills seem to realize that with the DT profile they’ve prioritized in recent seasons.

After that, cornerback, safety, edge rusher, and linebacker are the positions where the long-term needs are still there, but there isn’t a clear path for playing time in 2025. McDermott loves his vets and has shown he’d trust a limited vet who minimizes mistakes over a rookie full of potential but still mistake-prone (we just saw it last season again with Hamlin and Bishop).

Tre’ White is the likely starter at CB2 until he proves he can’t be trusted there anymore. Taylor Rapp, with his leadership, communication skills, and dependable play, won’t be benched for a rookie on day one.

The edge rotation might give a rookie some opportunities, but he will need to fight for them with A.J. Epenesa, Michael Hoecht, and Javon Solomon (who has been there in the same situation before). At linebacker, Matt Milano’s Bills career may be nearing its end, but not today, not in 2025 (and Dorian Williams is still there).

General manager Brandon Beane has established a nice floor with proven vets yet again. It won’t be easy for a rookie to come in and start immediately. That’s why I’m totally in favor of, if needed, trading up and guaranteeing somebody they really like and trust.

Buffalo needs impact from its 2025 rookie class; they need players who can become stars, and the draft is their best shot at it. They need to identify their guys, go after each with intent. and start them early, giving them the necessary playing time to learn the pro game, adjust, and get ready to make an impact by the time playoff season begins.

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