The Buffalo Bills’ draft outlook became more clear after a wave of signings during the first week of NFL free agency. Five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Joey Bosa headlined the additions by filling the team’s glaring need for an edge rusher.
Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane also landed wide receiver Josh Palmer, defensive end Michael Hoecht, defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, safety Darrick Forrest, cornerback Dane Jackson, return specialist Laviska Shenault Jr. and running back Darrynton Evans during the initial free-agent frenzy.
Now the focus shifts to the draft to fill the remaining holes on the roster. The Bills likely need at least a few prospects to emerge as instant-impact contributors to chase down a Super Bowl title next season.
Bills Draft 2025: First-Round Prospect Targets
1. Defensive Tackle: Kenneth Grant (Michigan)
Grant’s stock has steadily risen throughout the draft process. In turn, the Bills may need to trade up from their current No. 30 slot to get the Wolverines defensive tackle. He’s the type of player who’s worth the additional investment, though.
Buffalo desperately needs a space-eating, double-team-taking interior force next to the smaller, more agile Ed Oliver. DaQuan Jones filled to role well for a couple years, but his play dropped off significantly in 2024. Ogunjobi is more of a rotational piece at this point in his career.
Michigan DL Kenneth Grant confirms he has met with the #Bills at the combine. His impressions of that meeting: “Smooth.” #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/15qk7Vr4s7
— alex brasky (@alexbrasky) February 26, 2025
Meanwhile, Grant is a near-perfect fit. He’s got the size (6’4”, 331 pounds) and power to create massive problems for opposing offensive lines. His presence alone would create far more one-on-one opportunities for Oliver.
Taking Grant would also give the Bills terrific depth at the position. He’d join Oliver in the starting lineup with Jones, Ogunjobi, and DeWayne Carter giving head coach Sean McDermott plenty of variety to stick with his preferred heavy line rotation.
2. Cornerback: Shavon Revel Jr. (East Carolina)
The Bills brought back Jackson, who spent four years with the organization before joining the Carolina Panthers last season. Jackson will probably be given a chance to compete for a starting role alongside rising star Christian Benford and slot sensation Taron Johnson in the secondary. It wouldn’t prevent the team from drafting a corner early, though.
Revel was making a case as the draft class’ top corner before suffering a torn ACL in September. He underwent surgery in October and his doctor, Daniel Cooper, wrote a letter to interested teams at the NFL Scouting Combine to confirm the corner should be ready for action by the summer.
East Carolina CB Shavon Revel — a first-round draft prospect who had ACL reconstruction Oct. 15 — is on schedule to be fully cleared this summer, his surgeon Dr. Daniel Cooper told NFL teams in a letter.
Revel is in Indianapolis this week for interviews and medical checks. pic.twitter.com/UQc0AngPw3
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 24, 2025
The injury creates as opportunity for Buffalo. Revel would have likely been long gone before pick No. 30 if he stayed healthy. Now there’s a good chance he’ll be available at the end of Round 1.
In all likelihood, it’ll take him some time to get back up to full speed. That makes the recent addition of Jackson more important. Yet, he still represents a terrific buy-low opportunity for the Bills, especially if Grant is off the board before they pick.
3. Safety: Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina)
Defensive tackle and cornerback are far and away the Bills’ two biggest needs right now. Beyond that, it’s a difficult call between safety and wide receiver. Buffalo’s wideout need (a vertical deep threat) has a better chance to find a hit in the middle rounds, though.
Emmanwori, who like Grant could require a modest trade-up, is a better option than any receiver who may still be available late in the opening round. His senior season with the Gamecocks featured 88 total tackles, four interceptions, and two defensive touchdowns.
Nick Emmanwori is absolutely someone the Bills should try to get
pic.twitter.com/yMspnN1WHI— SleeperBills (@SleeperBills) March 14, 2025
The Bills’ two starting safety spots are completely up for grabs. The North Carolina native, who ran a sub-4.4 40-yard dash, would likely join Taylor Rapp, Cole Bishop, Damar Hamlin, and Forrest in a wide-open competition in training camp.
It’s possible the range of Emmanwori and the hard-hitting of Bishop could eventually give Buffalo the same type of safety production and stability that Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer did for so long. That’s an intriguing possibility Given how much the team’s safeties struggled in 2024.
Main Photo: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
