The Buffalo Bills are headed to the playoffs once again. In what could be a final run by veteran linebacker and sack king Von Miller, the team may have some big shoes to fill in 2025.
While a retirement decision is not currently on the mind of the once dominant pass rusher, the Bills still must think about the future at the position. Buffalo did draft Troy standout Javon Solomon with the No. 168 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but he is a player still in development mode.
So, the question is – will the Bills use their top pick on an edge rusher in the 2025 NFL Draft. In a position that is deep, Buffalo should be able to find a player on Day 1 or Day 2 who can come in and pair well with Greg Rousseau on the edge.
With some dynamic talent on the board, one NFL Mock Draft sees one of the top players sliding down to the Bills who are currently selecting at No. 29. If that happens, the Bills might just hit the jackpot.
2025 NFL Mock Draft: Yahoo! Sports has Bills selecting exiting Tennessee EDGE
In the latest mock draft by Nate Tice and Charles McDonald, the 2025 NFL Draft board will play right into the biggest need of the Bills. With the No. 29 overall pick, Buffalo’s eyes light up when they see James Pearce Jr. still available near the end of the first round.
Nate Tice writes:
“The Bills look to constantly add to their defensive line and do so again with Pearce. While Pearce can be up and down against the run, he has upside as an impactful pass rusher. Pearce is long and can be a handful for offensive tackles right at the snap of the ball. He can be easily taken out of the play a bit too often, especially against the run. Pearce could continue to develop his consistency for a Bills franchise that prefers to have a deep rotational line under head coach Sean McDermott.”
This would be a fantastic pick for a Bills’ team looking to get both healthy and younger on defense. But is it realistic that a player with the skillset of Pearce slides down to the bottom of the draft? With teams ahead of them with other needs, it’s possible, but is Pearce that far off from edge rushers like Penn State’s Abdul Carter and Georgia’s Mykel Williams who are both projected to go in the top 10?
Also, would teams pass over Pearce to select players like Arkansas’ Landon Jackson or Marshall’s Mike Green? Interesting questions as both the college football season and NFL season concludes. Things do change when it comes to prospects, but for a team like the Bills to land a player in Pearce who has been projected as a top 10 pick would be huge for this AFC East squad.
With 7.5 sacks this season, the 6-foot-5, 243-pound junior has demonstrated the athleticism and versatility that fits what an older version of Von Miller has given the Bills. If he improves on run defense and establishes a signature move in the NFL to get past blockers, this would be a big-time steal for the Bills.