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Buffalo Bills 2025 NFL Mock Draft (Full 7 Rounds; v1.0)

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The Buffalo Bills watched Sunday night as the Philadelphia Eagles defensive line dominated the Kansas City Chiefs en route to a Super Bowl triumph. Philly’s performance laid out the championship blueprint, and the Bills’ need for more playmakers on defense will be reflected throughout mock draft season.

We’ll operate under the expectation Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane will acquire a high-profile edge-rusher via trade or free agency for the first installment of the seven-round mock. The Cleveland Browns‘ Myles Garrett, Las Vegas Raiders‘ Maxx Crosby, or impending free agent Khalil Mack are among the notable potential targets.

If that doesn’t happen before the draft, which kicks off April 24 at the Green Bay Packers‘ Lambeau Field, the Bills will likely target a defensive end with one of their first two picks.

Note: This mock draft is based on the Pro Football Network simulator, which attempts to project compensatory picks that haven’t been officially announced. The number of selections and their exact location will be finalized as the draft moves closer.

Bills Mock Draft: Predictions For Buffalo’s 2025 Picks (v1.0)

Round 1 (No. 30): Kenneth Grant (DT, Michigan)

DaQuan Jones was one of the Bills’ biggest disappointments in 2024. His lackluster 64.6 Pro Football Focus grade accurately captures his underwhelming play. While he’d been a viable interior partner for Ed Oliver over the previous two seasons, it appears the 33-year-old Penn State product is no longer an impact player.

Accordingly, Buffalo needs to find a new starter at defensive tackle. It’ll ideally be someone with a lot of size to offset Oliver’s lack of it. Grant (6’3”, 342 pounds) fits the bill to perfection. His ability to take on blockers would create a lot more one-on-one opportunities for Oliver.

Round 2 (No. 56): Jalen Royals (WR, Utah State)

The Bills desperately need a receiver who can stretch the field. Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Mack Hollins, and Curtis Samuel all found varying levels of success in 2024, but they all do most of their best work on short and intermediate routes. The same is true for Amari Cooper, an impending free agent who may not return to Buffalo next season.

Royals was putting together a monster senior season for the Aggies before suffering a season-ending foot injury in October. He’d recorded 55 catches for 834 yards and six touchdowns in seven appearances (119.1 yards per game). It came on the heels of a 15-touchdown campaign in 2023.

If the wideout’s medical check is clean—and the foot injury doesn’t appear to have sapped any of his 4.3 speed—he’d be a perfect fit for Buffalo’s offense.

Round 2 (No. 62): Darien Porter (CB, Iowa State)

The Bills project to have a competition for their No. 2 cornerback role. Christian Benford will lock down the top spot and Taron Johnson will handle the slot, as always. Rasul Douglas probably won’t return as a free agent coming off a mediocre season, though.

Given the top in-house option is Kaiir Elam, a 2022 first-round pick who’s heading toward bust territory, the Bills will likely look outside to fill the void. Porter is coming off a three-interception season with the Cyclones. He’d be a quick study in Buffalo’s zone scheme.

Round 4 (No. 108): Jaylen Reed (S, Penn State)

Damar Hamlin put together an amazing, inspiring comeback story, but he’s not a starting-caliber NFL player. He’s too slow and gets exposed in coverage far too often. It put the onus on the Bills front office to create competition for Taylor Rapp and 2024 second-rounder Cole Bishop at safety.

Reed made steady progress across his four seasons with the Nittany Lions. It culminated with a senior season where he tallied 98 total tackles, three interceptions, three passes defended, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 16 games.

The Michigan native could make an impact on special teams as a rookie before potentially taking over as a starter next to Bishop in 2026.

Round 4 (No. 131): Fadil Diggs (EDGE, Syracuse)

Even if the Bills do land a marquee edge-rushing specialist in free agency or the draft, you can expect the team to add depth in the draft. Although Beane’s draft classes have typically been strong, defensive end is one position where he’s struggled to identify key contributors.

Diggs transferred from Texas A&M to Syracuse and found a new level as a pass rusher. He posted 7.5 sacks in 2024, which nearly matched the eight he compiled across four seasons with the Aggies. The uptick in production makes him a worthwhile mid-round flier.

Round 5 (No. 171): Jacob Gideon (C, Western Michigan)

Buffalo’s offensive line graded well in 2024, but the eye test wasn’t as favorable. The unit benefited greatly from quarterback Josh Allen’s escapability. While it didn’t prevent the Bills from making a deep playoff run, it’s still an area where increased competition could help.

Gideon was a Rimington Trophy finalist as one of the country’s top college centers. He also gave Bills scouts a close-up look at his talent as the Western Michigan offensive line mauled the University at Buffalo defense in a 48-41 MAC road win back in October.

Round 5 (No. 175): Demetrius Knight Jr. (LB, South Carolina)

The Bills are set at linebacker with Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard, but we’ve reached the stage of the draft where teams are looking for special teams contributors and developmental projects. Knight falls into both categories after a three-stop college career.

Even though the linebacker didn’t make much impact across four years at Georgia Tech, he started to show signs of progress during one-season stops at Charlotte and South Carolina. He racked up 82 total tackles, three forced fumbles, and two sacks in 13 games for the Gamecocks.

Round 6 (No. 179): Connor Colby (OG, Iowa)

David Edwards was decent but far from extraordinary in 2024. His struggles getting a push against the Chiefs’ interior linemen was a major factor in the Bills’ playoff loss. While it won’t cost him his starting role next season, adding depth should still be on the table.

Colby has experience at both guard spots and also played some right tackle. That type of versatility is important for a reserve offensive lineman. His pass protection must improve to eventually start at the next level, but his run blocking is already NFL-ready.

Round 6 (No. 181): Jah Joyner (EDGE, Minnesota)

Joyner possesses an impressive combination of size (6’5”, 265 pounds) and athleticism. It never translated into dominant numbers at the college level, though. He posted a modest 12 sacks across his last two college seasons but did have an impressive seven passes defended in 2024.

The Golden Gophers stalwart is the type of player Buffalo will hope can flip a switch with more intense coaching. Generally, players with three years of modest college tape don’t become NFL superstars. Nevertheless, taking a player with Joyner’s measurables this late would be a worthwhile lottery ticket.

Round 6 (No. 208): Riley Leonard (QB, Notre Dame)

The Bills need to try developing a long-term backup for Allen. Although Buffalo’s offense will likely be doomed if the face of the franchise misses an extended period, there are benefits to having a young reserve rather than a veteran.

Most notably, it’s the financially savvy play. Mitchell Trubisky is scheduled to count $3.3 million against the salary cap next season. A rookie contract is more cap-friendly. It’s also possible to draft a quarterback like Leonard, spend a few years developing him, and then trade him for real assets if he emerges as a possible starter.

The Notre Dame star has big-game experience. He also brings a dual-threat aspect that better matches Allen’s skill set. The offense could then operate closer to normal in a short-term injury situation. It creates an intriguing opportunity with minimal investment.

Main Photo: Brian Losness-Imagn Images

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