There are numerous ways the Bills could go in Round 1 — here are some names to keep in mind
Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft will kick off at 8 p.m. EDT tonight. If the Buffalo Bills elect to stay put at pick number 30 we can expect them to be on the clock somewhere in the ballpark of 11:30 p.m EDT.
Brandon Beane has been known to move around on the first night. For recent history, check out my trade scenarios article. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bills move out of pick 30.
With that in mind, let’s review a group of prospects for Buffalo consider in Round 1. These players aren’t necessarily who I believe the Bills will take — they’re players who I think the team should be interested in selecting in the first round that Buffalo has a realistic shot at drafting with pick 30.
Draft day is finally here! Let’s get to it! Listed in no particular order…
Maxwell Hairston, CB (Kentucky)
Hairston is my favorite cornerback option for the Bills at 30. He’s a fluid mover with elite speed (4.28-second 40-yard dash). Buffalo has lacked speed at the position in recent years, and it would be nice to have his athleticism on the outside.
James Pearce Jr., EDGE (Tennessee)
I’m not confident Pearce will fall to the Bills at pick 30, and I’m also uncertain that some possible off-field concerns won’t take him off of Buffalo’s draft board. However, in a vacuum, Pearce’s pass rush skills would be a steal at pick 30. Pearce would instantly improve Buffalo’s pass rush from day one, he is a special talent.
Kenneth Grant, DT (Michigan)
Grant has been a popular mock draft choice for the Bills, and rightfully so. His physical presence up the middle alone is a deterrent for teams to run the football. Grant is a nose tackle ready to cause disruption and would give the Bills a future replacement for DaQuon Jones.
Luther Burden III, WR (Missouri)
Burden may belong as a second-round pick, but he won’t be around for when the Bills pick at the end of Round 2. If they want Burden, it will have to be via a first-round pick or a trade back. Burden is a playmaker, plain and simple. He doesn’t have the elite speed or giant size of some of the other prospects, but he makes plays with the ball in his hands. Getting Josh Allen another playmaker sounds good to me.
Jahdae Barron, CB (Texas)
Barron might not make it to pick 30, but I feel as though he would be a great fit in Buffalo’s defense. His versatility of playing slot corner or on the outside is enticing. He was a productive player at Texas and has the fast-twitch play speed to keep up in the NFL no matter where he’s placed.
Nick Emmanwori, S (South Carolina)
I’ve written about Emmanwori in many pre-draft analysis articles, but I don’t know how else to describe him other than as an athletic freak. Some don’t like his coverage skills and think he gets by on just his athleticism, but I believe that’s selling him awfully short. Emmanwori is a difference maker and I have confidence that McDermott and company would find ways to get the best out of his talents.
Nic Scourton, EDGE (Texas A&M)
Scourton might be a bit of a reach at pick 30, but he fills a need and won’t be around by the time the Bills pick again in the second round. He is physical and relentless on the edge. His three-down capabilities make him a prospect that the Bills will likely be interested in.
Shavon Revel Jr., CB (ECU)
Revel isn’t the typical body type the Bills have targeted in the past. He’s big, long, and fast. An ACL tear in September might have him fall to pick 30, but his talent could warrant him a pick well above that range. If the Bills want to take a risk on someone still working his way back from an injury, Revel’s upside could prove to be a gold mine.
Other outside-the-box options:
Darius Alexander, DT (Toledo) — Call me crazy, but I have Alexander ranked above Harmon. I love Alexander for the Bills as a Day 2 option, but if the board falls terribly, why not earlier?
Tyleik Williams, DT (Ohio State) — Williams should go on Day 2, but I’ve seen him mocked to the Bills in the first round. The Bills need DT reinforcements.
Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE (Boston College) — A pure pass rusher who isn’t a perfect fit in Buffalo’s scheme, but his pass rush skills might entice them.
Emeka Egbuka, WR (Ohio State) — Egbuka plays primarily out of the slot, and the Bills already have a stockpile of weapons to use from the slot. However, he’s NFL ready and gives Allen another weapon.
Jihaad Campbell, LB (Alabama) — Let’s get crazy here. Campbell falls in the first round because teams are worried about his recent shoulder surgery or defensive fit (off-ball LB or stand-up EDGE), and Buffalo snags a top talent and figures out how to use him (probably similar to Micah Parsons).
Trey Amos, CB (Ole Miss) — I would rather have the corners listed in the above section, but the Bills met with Amos at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine and brought him in on a top-30 visit. If he’s their top-ranked corner on the board at 30, go for it.