Dane Brugler targets defense for Buffalo Bills in 2025 NFL Mock Draft at ‘The Athletic’

Though it’s still early for Bills Mafia to turn the page to mock drafts, Brugler’s results are conversation-worthy

The Buffalo Bills are still alive in the playoffs and Bills Mafia’s hopes for a return to the Super Bowl for the first time in 30 seasons are higher than ever. Long gone are the days of scouring the internet halfway through the NFL season for anyone who dared to release a mock draft.

However, for 24 other NFL teams, the season is already over, and their attention shifts to the upcoming crop of college prospects and how their team might improve for next season via the NFL Draft. Dane Brugler from The Athletic just released a two-round mock draft for the 2025 NFL Draft. The Buffalo Bills have three selections in the first two rounds, so let’s review who Brugler has the Bills taking.

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1st Round

Pick 29: Shavon Revel Jr., CB (East Carolina)

“Revel suffered a torn ACL in September, so his upgraded medical information at the combine will be key to his draft stock. But if fully healthy, he would be a lock as a top-15 pick. The Bills are getting a discount on him at No. 29 in this mock.”

Obviously, Buffalo’s pick slot isn’t set in stone yet, as that depends on how well they do the rest of the playoffs. In truth, their real pick could be sooner or later than 29th. Regardless, the Bills have a decision to make with cornerback Rasul Douglas next season with him set to become an unrestricted free agent.

Although Douglas has performed admirably since the Bills traded a 2024 third-round pick for him last season, he will be 31 next year. I would imagine Buffalo attempts to sign him for a relatively cheap veteran deal for one or two years, but they need to work on their replacement plan for Douglas sooner than later.

Former sixth-round pick Christian Benford has been a steal of a draft choice and figures to be Buffalo’s top cornerback of the future. Ideally, former first-round pick Kaiir Elam would fill a starting cornerback role, but that seems unlikely.

Considering general manager Brandon Beane’s propensity to find late-round defensive back talent (Christian Benford, Taron Johnson, Dane Jackson, and Levi Wallace), it would be surprising if the Bills sprung for another first-round cornerback. However, if the value is right it certainly is a need for Buffalo.

As Brugler noted in his pick recap, Revel’s draft stock will largely hinge on how his physicals go at the NFL Scouting Combine. The injury was early enough that he should be able to play in 2025, but that isn’t for certain. Revel is a big corner at 6’3” tall and he recorded two interceptions in three games to start the season.

For being such a tall corner, Revel moves with ease and flashes freakish athletic traits. His upside is intriguing, but entering the NFL after being out an entire year of football might mean his development takes a little longer. Are the Bills prepared to wait?

2nd Round

Pick 56 (from MIN): Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE (Boston College)

I expect the Bills to address the defensive line multiple times throughout the 2025 NFL draft. They need reinforcements at both edge rusher and defensive tackle.

Buffalo’s starting group of Greg Rousseau, DaQuan Jones, Ed Oliver, and Von Miller/A.J. Epenesa are all likely to return next season, but the Bills need to develop players behind them. Drafting defensive tackle DeWayne Carter and edge rusher Javon Solomon in last April’s draft was a fantastic start for the Bills, but they need another crop of young talent to throw in the mix.

Ezeiruaku is one of the top pass rushers in the 2025 NFL Draft class, recording the second-most sacks in the nation with 16.5 in 2024. He’s a phenomenal speed rusher known for his ability to bend around the corner of an offensive tackle. He isn’t the biggest EDGE at 6’2” and 247 pounds, but he has the potential to be a problem in the NFL. If he makes it this far, I like this pick for the Bills.

Side note: Unfortunately for Buffalo, the Minnesota Vikings were way better than almost anyone expected them to be this past season, pushing the second-round draft pick the Bills got in the Stefon Diggs trade down the board. However, the Vikings’ Super Wild Card Weekend exit bumps Buffalo’s top pick in Round 2 up a little further.

Pick 61: Xavier Watts, S (Notre Dame)

Bills 2024 second-round draft choice Cole Bishop will be a starting safety for Buffalo next year. Current starting safety Taylor Rapp has one more year left on his contract, and his running mate Damar Hamlin will be an unrestricted free agent. It’s hard to imagine Damar Hamlin not being a Buffalo Bill, but I’m not sure if they bring him back in 2025.

I expect the Bills to probably select a safety at some point in the 2025 NFL Draft, but taking a safety in the second round for the second year in a row seems unlikely to me. A Day 3 pick on a safety makes more sense. However, if the right player falls to them, like Watts, I wouldn’t mind the pick.

Watts is the best ball-hawking safety to come into the NFL Draft in recent memory. He led the nation last year in 2023 with seven interceptions and was second in the nation in interceptions this season with six. Fans can watch the 6’0”, 203-pound safety in the National Championship game on January 20. Watts would be a fun addition to Buffalo’s defense and certainly is on the radar as a potential draft selection.