What will get the Buffalo Bills over the hump and through to the Super Bowl in 2025? Beyond the arm of Josh Allen, the reigning AFC East champions are going to need to get stronger and deeper on defense.
Going into the 2025 NFL Draft, the Bills made one key addition via free agency that should help bolster their pass rush with the signing of Joey Bosa to a one-year deal. Adding to the defense, Buffalo also signed defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi and defensive end Michael Hoecht. Both players should add depth to the Bills’ defense.
Buffalo Bills address top needs:
The Bills also turned to defense as their primary focus in the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting a defensive player with their first five picks in the draft. In all, 6 of the 9 draft selections were defenders as the Bills look to solidify things on defense to make another Super Bowl run.
Which players will make an immediate impact?
Here are 3 rookies to watch for the Buffalo Bills:
Round 1, Pick No. 30 – Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky: The Bills got their cornerback with the No. 30 overall pick in the 2025 Draft with the selection of Kentucky product Maxwell Hairston. Although slender in build, Hairston is boundary corner with speed to close out on receivers. He also does a great job at reading cornerbacks. He should make an immediate impact in the Bills’ secondary playing alongside Christian Benford and learning from a veteran corner like Tre’Davious White.
After seeing his draft stock after the NFL Combine, the next step for Hairston is to adjust his game to the next level. He will get plenty of opportunity in Buffalo, which he is excited about.
“It’s a different game now,” Hairston said during rookie minicamp. “Just adjusting from the college terms to now my Buffalo Bills terms and just going from writing it down to going out there and actually playing in coverages and all that stuff. Like I said, it’s an adjustment, but it’s something I’m very excited for. It’s something I know I can get better every practice at.”
The Bills rookie corner is a player to watch in the AFC East.
Round 3, Pick No. 72 – Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas: The Bills signing Bosa to a one-year deal and extending Greg Rousseau assured the Bills will have a pass rush in 2025. Another key addition is third-round pick Landon Jackson who landed in the perfect situation to flourish as an edge rush defender.
At 6-foot-4, 264 pounds, Jackson adds length, high character and a high motor to the Bills’ defense. As a player who can get after the quarterback, Jackson’s ability to play against the run will earn him snaps often and early in Year 1 with the Bills. He could end up as one of the steals of the draft given his instincts as a edge rush defender. Another player with a strong NFL Combine, Jackson looks like he is going to be a quick fan favorite in Buffalo.
Round 4, Pick No. 109 – Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky: Second-round pick T.J. Sanders will make his own impact, but watch out for fourth-round pick Deone Walker to make an impact of his own. By double dipping at this position, the Bills have added youth and depth to the middle of their defensive line.
Walker, who was projected as a high first-round pick going into the 2024 college football season, is massive in size at 6-foot-7, 331 pounds. He is a player with extreme athleticism who can play multiple positions along the line. That size and athleticism allows him to push the pocket and his strength as a defender helps him set the edge. Without much pressure on him as a rookie will allow him to work on his technique, learn from the veterans and be an impactful depth player by midseason with the Bills.