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It was Deja Vu all over again for the Buffalo Bills in the 2024 season. They won another AFC East Championship, advanced in the playoffs to the conference championship game, and unfortunately lost, for the fourth time on 5 years, to the Kansas City Chiefs. They’ll take another kick at the can in 2025, and here’s our preview of the upcoming season:

Front Office/Coaching

GM Brandon Beane loaded up on defense in the draft, a nod to the fact that it has been the unit that has consistently failed in the playoffs. Two of the 3 coordinators return – Joe Brady on offense and Bobby Babich on defense, but a couple of key additions were made to the staff. Veteran special teams coach Chris Tabor takes the reins of that unit, bringing years of experience to a position that has lacked just that in recent years. Also, another veteran coach – Ryan Nielsen, was brought in as a senior defensive assistant to help Babich with his unit.

Quarterbacks

QB Josh Allen, NFL MVP

Josh Allen is no longer just the starting quarterback of the Bills, he’s the NFL’s Most Valuable Player. His quest to bring a Lombardi Trophy to Western New York will continue in 2025. Mitch Trubisky returns as his backup, hopefully only to carry a clipboard and offer emotional support on the sidelines, while doing some mop up duty in the fourth quarter of blowout games.

Running Backs

Ray Davis, second year power back

Beane solved his biggest offseason problem when he signed star running back James Cook to an extension, locking up a key player on the offense who scored 16 touchdowns in 2024. Although Cook is the team’s bell cow back, Buffalo employed a bit of a running back by committee approach last season, with veteran Ty Johnson filling the role of the third down back and rookie Ray Davis taking on the job of the change-of-pace power back. Davis filled in admirably when Cook was hurt for a game last year also.  The lone fullback on the roster, Reggie Gilliam, remains in place. He is a key blocker, can catch the ball out of the backfield occasionally and is key special teams contributor.

Receivers

Keon Coleman needs to develop in 2025

The Bills’ receiving corps got another infusion of talent this offseason. The top pass catchers are incumbents Khalil Shakir, Josh Allen’s most reliable target, Curtis Samuel, who came on late in the season to provide some highlights after battling injuries, and Keon Coleman, last year’s top draft pick who also was hampered in his development by injuries, and is expected to make a major jump in production in year two. Also there are 3 new additions. Josh Palmer joins the squad as a veteran free agent, as does Elijah Moore, while Tyrell Shavers, a practice squad player last year, fought his way onto the main roster this season with an impressive showing in training camp and the preseason. The Bills will carry 3 tight ends again in 2025, with Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid being the main targets at the position. Knox has been reliable in his tenure here, while Kincaid, like Coleman, is expected to reach a higher level this year. Rookie Jackson Hawes, who has a reputation as an excellent blocker, is a new addition, replacing the departed Quinton Morris.

Offensive Line

Dion Dawkins, Bills’ blind side protector

Once again in 2025 the Bills will have the same 5 starters on the offensive front. Connor McGovern begins his second year as the starting center, flanked by guards David Edwards and O’Cyrus Torrence. Left tackle Dion Dawkins is one of the best in the game, and right tackle Spencer Brown has shown improvement in every season since joining the team. Alec Anderson is a valuable reserve. He can play any O line position and serves as the team’s sixth offensive lineman when they go with a power run formation. The rest of the backups include veteran Ryan Van Demark, second year center/guard Sedrick Van Pran-Granger and rookie Chase Lundt, who worked at both guard and tackle in the preseason. Tylan Grable, who won the swing tackle job over Van Demark last season as a rookie, will spend the first 4 games on injured reserve but should return at some point.

Defensive Line

Joey Bosa, Prize free agent pass rusher

This is an area that Bene clearly identified as needing improvement, and he set out to do that in the draft and free agency. He drafted 3 large individuals to add to the D line rotation in tackles T.J. Sanders and Deone Walker and edge rusher Landon Jackson. Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones remain the starting tackles, but with DeWayne Carter suffering a season ending Achilles injury, Sanders and Walker will be thrust into larger roles. The Bills also have recently signed vet Jordan Phillips available on the practice squad. Free agent Larry Ogunjobi must serve a 6 game suspension, but he’ll be an option at DT in the second half of the season. At defensive end/edge rusher, Buffalo is pretty well stocked. Joey Bosa was signed as a free agent and the expectations will be high for him. As long as he stays healthy he should provide a major spark to the pass rush. The other starter at end is Greg Rousseau, who has raised his level of play every year. Capable reserves are in place with A.J. Epenesa and Javon Solomon. Like Ogunjobi, edge rusher Michael Hoecht is suspended for 6 games, but he’ll be a welcome infusion to the pass rush after that.

Linebackers

Terrel Bernard, QB of the defense

The Bills have a pair of top linebackers in Matt Milano and defensive captain Terrel Bernard, although the contract gymnastics done in the offseason by Beane with Milano suggest they may be ready to move on from the oft-injured star after this season. If Milano’s injury problems persist, Dorian Williams is a more than adequate replacement. The Bills also have a new veteran available to add to the LB depth in Shaq Thompson. Last season’s revelation, “Buffalo Joe” Andreessen, is back and in the preseason appears to have secured himself a larger role in the defense in addition to his special teams contributions.

Defensive Backs

Christian Benford, solid starting CB

Defense has been the Achilles heel of Buffalo’s postseason failures, and the secondary getting torched and having rashes of injuries has contributed to that. Despite Beane’s efforts to shore up the secondary, the Bills enter the season with question marks here. Top draft pick Maxwell Hairston was expected to compete for the border CB opposite solid starter and borderline All Pro Christian Benford, but a training camp injury landed him on injured reserve, which means he’ll miss at least the first 4 games. Old friend Tre’Davious White was brought back to add some depth and push Hairston, but he also is having injury issues. That leaves rookies Dorian Strong and Jordan Hancock as possible starters, which would not be an ideal scenario. Hancock was impressive in the preseason but he seemed to get most of his work at either safety or nickel corner, where he would back up the team’s best secondary player, Taron Johnson. The 2 University at Buffalo products – Ja’Marcus Ingram and Cam Lewis – are also available. Ingram could be an option for the starting CB2 spot, while Lewis has mostly backed up all secondary spots and been a top special teamer. A desperation option is Brandon Codrington, listed as a corner on the depth chart but he is on the roster as the main kick returner. At safety, Taylor Rapp is locked in as one of the starters, and it appears that Cole Bishop will man the other spot, despite losing valuable reps in training camp due to injury. Damar Hamlin is back in a reserve role, and the only other possible backups are the versatile Lewis and Hancock.

Special Teams

New punter Brad Robbins

The most exciting change to the Bills’ bomb squads took place in the coaching ranks, not on the field, with the addition of new ST coordinator Chris Tabor. One significant roster change is the addition of new punter Brad Robbins, a reliable veteran booter. Placekicker Tyler Bass and long snapper Reid Ferguson man their respective roles again. Codrington is back as the punt return specialist, and will likely share kickoff return duties with running backs Davis and Ty Johnson.

Here’s your annual song to get psyched up for the upcoming season, the Bills’ Shout song:

Buffalo General Manager Brandon Beane went heavily on the defensive side in the 2025 draft, with good reason as the team had trouble getting stops all season in 2024. The Bills entered the draft with 10 picks and despite making a couple of trades, still wound up with 9 players. Here is the list of players chosen:

Round 1 – Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky – an infusion of youth and speed to the secondary is just what the doctor ordered for the Bills. Hairston ran a sub-4.3 40 at the combine, and is an immediate prospect to start at outside corner opposite Christian Benford.

Round 2 – T.J. Sanders, DT, South Carolina – Beane traded up to get this player, who adds much needed size and again, youth, to the interior defensive line. He should be a good addition to the D line rotation provided he develops as expected.

Round 3 – Landon Jackson, DE, Arkansas – a large, mature defender who is slated to step into the role vacated by the departure of Von Miller. He was a 2 year captain for the Razorbacks, highlighting his leadership.

Round 4 – Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky – this pick could be a steal. In drafting Hairston’s Wildcat teammate, the Bills get a mammoth player (6’7 331 lbs.) whose production tailed off in 2024 due to a nagging back injury, but based on his 2023 tape he could’ve been a top 10 pick.

Round 5A – Jordan Hancock, DB, Ohio State – his listing as a defensive back, rather than a safety or corner, is due to his versatility, a trait the Bills’ coaches love. His best spot appears to be at slot corner.

Round 5B – Jackson Hawes, TE, Georgia Tech – a need since the team jettisoned Quinton Morris. He has been called the best blocking tight end available in this draft.

Round 6A – Dorian Strong, CB, Virginia Tech – highlighting a glaring need, the Bills select a third defensive back. His coverage skills make him a “strong” candidate to make the squad and be a contributor as a rookie.

Round 6B – Chase Lundt, OT, Connecticut – Beane scours the smaller schools for a large (6’7 304) offensive lineman in the mold of Spencer Brown. With the team enjoying a huge amount of depth on the O line, he may be relegated to the practice squad, where he would be open to be poached by other teams.

Round 7 – Kaden Prather, WR, Maryland – late round picks like this are always long shots to make the team, but Prather has some traits that could help him. He was a secondary option for the Terps behind Tai Felton, so who knows what untapped potential might be there?

The NFL college player selection draft is this week, so our staff here at Rayonsports has submitted their predictions for the seven round draft for the local club, the Buffalo Bills. No scouting reports on this year’s predictions, just the predicted players, mainly because there are a lot of repeat picks among our experts. It’s a six round mock draft since the Bills currently have no seventh rounder. Here are the choices:

Round 1, Pick 30

Connor Pohlman – Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon

Bobby Salami III – Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

Scott Prelewicz – Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

Ray Prelewicz – Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

Round 2, Pick 56

Connor Pohlman – Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky

Bobby Salami III – Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State

Scott Prelewicz – Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State

Ray Prelewicz – Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame

Round 2, Pick 62

Connor Pohlman – Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State

Bobby Salami III – J.T. Tuimoloau, Edge, Ohio State

Scott Prelewicz – Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State

Ray Prelewicz – Landon Jackson, Edge, Arkansas

Round 4, Pick 109

Connor Pohlman – Oluwafemi Oladejo, Edge, UCLA

Bobby Salami III – Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State

Scott Prelewicz – Billy Bowman, Safety, Oklahoma

Ray Prelewicz – Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State

Round 4, Pick 132

Connor Pohlman – Zy Alexander, CB, LSU

Bobby Salami III – Chris Paul Jr., LB, Mississippi

Scott Prelewicz – Jordan Phillips, DT, Maryland

Ray Prelewicz – Jaylen Reed, Safety, Penn State

Round 5, Pick 169

Connor Pohlman – Ty Robinson, DT, Nebraska

Bobby Salami III – Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia

Scott Prelewicz – Simeon Barrow, DT, Miami (FL)

Ray Prelewicz – Jamaree Caldwell, DT, Oregon

Round 5, Pick 170

Connor Pohlman – Jordan Hancock, Safety, Ohio State

Bobby Salami III – Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon

Scott Prelewicz – Sebastian Castro, Safety, Iowa

Ray Prelewicz – Jackson Slater, OL, Sacramento State

Round 5, Pick 173

Connor Pohlman – Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Edge, Georgia

Bobby Salami III – Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre Dame

Scott Prelewicz – Nick Nash, WR, San Jose State

Ray Prelewicz – Zy Alexander, CB, LSU

Round 6,Pick 177

Connor Pohlman – Jalin Conyers, TE, Texas Tech

Bobby Salami III – Logan Brown, OT, Kansas

Scott Prelewicz – Riley Leonard, QB, Notre Dame

Ray Prelewicz – Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre Dame

Round 6, Pick 206

Connor Pohlman – Ricky White, WR, UNLV

Bobby Salami III – Shaun Dolac, LB, Buffalo

Scott Prelewicz – Upton Stout, CB, Western Kentucky

Ray Prelewicz – Elijah Roberts, DT, SMU

The National Football League will host it’s annual college player draft in Green Bay this year, with the first round kicking off on Thursday, April 24th. Every year our Rayonsports staff predicts each of the 32 teams’ choices for that round. Connor Pohlman, Robert Salami III, Scott Prelewicz and Ray Prelewicz were primed and ready for this year’s picks. The staff got 3 of the first 4 players right last season, but it was pretty much all downhill from there. Here are the 2025 picks:

1. Tennessee Titans (Connor Pohlman) – Cam Ward, QB, Miami (Fl)

2. Cleveland Browns (Robert Salami III) – Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado

3. New York Giants (Scott Prelewicz) – Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

4. New England Patriots (Ray Prelewicz) – Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

5. Jacksonville Jaguars (CP) – Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State

6. Las Vegas Raiders (RS III) – Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

7. New York Jets (SP) – Will Campbell, OT, LSU

8. Carolina Panthers (RP) – Tetalroa McMillan, WR, Arizona

9. New Orleans Saints (CP) – Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia

10. Chicago Bears (RS III) – Matthew Golden, WR, Texas

11. San Francisco 49ers (SP) – Armand Membou, OT, Missouri

12. Dallas Cowboys (RP) – Mykel Williams, DE, Georgia

13. Miami Dolphins (CP) – Jahdae Barron, S, Texas

14. Indianapolis Colts (RS III) – Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M

15. Atlanta Falcons (SP) – Walter Nolen, DT, Mississippi

16. Arizona Cardinals (RP) – Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State

17. Cincinnati Bengals (CP) – Mike Green, DE, Marshall

18. Seattle Seahawks (RS III) – Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (SP) – James Pearce, Edge, Tennessee

20. Denver Broncos (RP) – Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

21. Pittsburgh Steelers (CP) – Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

22. Los Angeles Chargers (RS III) – Trey Amos, CB, Mississippi

23. Green Bay Packers (SP) – Donovan Ezeiruaku, DE, Boston College

24. Minnesota Vikings (RP) – Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon

25. Houston Texans (CP) – Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas

26. Los Angeles Rams (RS III) – Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

27. Baltimore Ravens (SP) – Princely Umanmielen, DE, Mississippi

28. Detroit Lions (RP) – Landon Jackson, DE, Arkansas

29. Washington Commanders (CP) – Jihad Campbell, LB, Alabama

30. Buffalo Bills (RS III) – Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky

31. Kansas City Chiefs (SP) – Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

32. Philadelphia Eagles (RP) – Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina

There’s a three-way tie among schools for most players chosen, between Michigan, Ohio State and Ole Miss, with 3 each. Four other schools had 2 players picked, the most surprising of which is Colorado, with 2 of the first 3 picks.

Here we go again with Part 4 of our annual review, answering the questions of what do the Bills need to do to get to the top of the mountain in the NFL. With trades, free agency and the draft all being considerations, GM Brandon Beane’s priority has to be shoring up the defensive side of the ball. With that in mind, we’ve highlighted only one position on offense that may need an upgrade.

Here are our suggestions:

Edge Rusher/Defensive End

The Bills need an upgrade here for certain to improve the pass rush. They have a promising rookie in Javon Solomon but haven’t gotten consistent enough performances from the likes of Von Miller, A.J. Epenesa and Greg Rousseau. Plenty of pundits are suggesting the best route for GM Beane to take to add a difference maker to the unit is through a blockbuster trade. There are numerous candidates, the best of which is Myles Garrett of the Browns, who has requested to be dealt. The Raiders’ Maxx Crosby was a possibility but new Las Vegas coach Pete Carroll seems reluctant to trade away his core pieces. Trey Hendrickson of Cincinnati is an interesting possibility. The Bengals’ GM, already facing having to pay star receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins big dollars to go along with Joe Burrow’s contract, has stated “we can’t have huge contracts at every position” so where does that leave Hendrickson? The Bengals are also notoriously cheap when it comes to paying players. The free agent market is packed with big names who range from aging stars like Khalil Mack, Matthew Judon, Haasan Reddick and Calais Campbell to younger options such as Josh Sweat, Chase Young, Charles Omenihu and Zach Baun. The Bills pick at 30 in the draft’s first round. Possible choices at edge rusher there are Nick Scourton of Texas A&M, Jack Sawyer of Ohio State, Nick Green from Marshall and Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruwaku. In later rounds, there’s Landon Jackson from Kentucky, Ashton Gillette of Louisville and LSU’s Saivion Jones.

Wide Receiver

This may be the only position on offense that the Bills need to address. Amari Cooper and Mack Hollins are both entering free agency, and the need for an outside threat is still present. There is word, maybe or maybe not substantiated, that Josh Allen would like to team up with Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, currently with Kansas City but a pending free agent. There are a lot of other names on the free agent market, but no others that fit the Bills’ need. That means the draft is the best option for an upgrade. With 3 picks in the first 2 rounds, the best receivers look to be already off the board in the first round, leaving intriguing prospects like Texas’ Isaiah Bond and Tre Harris of Ole Miss in round 2. Later round possibilities are Jayden Higgins of Iowa State, TCU’s Jack Bech and a possible real diamond in the rough – Oregon’s Tez Johnson.

Defensive Tackle

Three of the Bills’ veteran DTs are free agents, and Daquan Jones is a possible salary cap casualty, so there is a massive need for additions on the interior defensive line. The team should be salivating at the possibility of signing Philadelphia’s Milton Williams in free agency. He’s only 26, was a standout in the Super Bowl and shouldn’t command huge money. Defensive tackle is also the deepest position of players available in the draft, so that is the most likely place where the Bills will add, with at least 2, maybe 3 players drafted. Derrick Harmon from Oregon is almost certain to be there at pick 30, and later round choices could be Kentucky’s Deone Walker, T.J. Sanders from South Carolina, Texas’ Alfred Collins, and Toledo’s Darius Alexander. There are quality D tackles spread out throughout this year’s draft.

Safety

I can’t see any other possibility than the Bills focusing almost entirely on defense this offseason, and the safety position is in need of a quality starter and some depth. With former Jaguars’ DC Ryan Nielsen joining the staff, a free agent possibility is Andre Cisco. He’s only 25 and is a 4 year starter for the Jags. He could be plugged immediately into the starting lineup. Miami’s Jevon Holland is another player worth a look. He’s relatively young and has stood out in games against Buffalo. If the draft is the place to find answers, Nick Emmanwori of South Carolina is a first round possibility, and Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts could be had in the second round. For depth purposes, a couple of later round guys are Sebastian Castro from Iowa and Penn State’s Kevin Winston.

Cornerback

Cornerback is almost as big of a need for additions as defensive tackle and safety going into the offseason. The free agent market isn’t eye-popping. The best option might be to bring back Rasul Douglas and draft a couple of rookies to develop behind him. There are 3 top candidates who consistently drop to Buffalo in mock drafts – Texas’ Jahdae Barron, Shavon Revel Jr. of East Carolina and Azareye’h Thomas of Florida State. Later round depth possibilities – Maxwell Hairston of Kentucky, Ohio State’s Denzel Burke, Jacob Parrish of Kansas State and late rounder Justin Walley of Minnesota.

Part 3 of our annual Buffalo Bills’ season review deals with the defense and special teams. Despite head coach Sean McDermott’s specialty being on this side of the ball, the defense has been mostly responsible for the team’s playoff failures over the years. In his first year as coordinator, Bobby Babich can take pride in the fact that his unit was a machine in causing turnovers, but needs improvement in stopping the run, pass rush ability and percentage of third down conversions against. Toward that end, the Bills have made a few additions to the defensive coaching staff to help Babich. They also replaced the special teams coordinator with a much more experienced coach.

Here is a position-by-position look at the defense and special teams:

Defensive Line

Overall, and especially in the conference title game, this unit underachieved. They were gouged against the run too many times and produced too few sacks on passing downs. After a stellar 2023 season, tackle Ed Oliver regressed, and his fellow starting tackle, Daquan Jones, began to show signs of his age. At the backup tackle spots, rookie DeWayne Carter, like most of the draft class, was slowed by injuries and never developed as he should have. Austin Johnson was a free agent signee who made some plays in limited snaps as the team used a rotation system. Quinton Jefferson and Jordan Phillips were in-season stopgap signings that likely won’t return as they were on one year contracts. The production of the edge rushers/ends was also limited by the rotational usage. Von Miller has not produced the expected results since he was signed, and his snap counts being as low as they have been may signal his end. Like Oliver, Greg Rousseau was decent but inconsistent, and the same can be said for A.J. Epenesa, although he produced more splash plays in less playing time. Veteran Dawuane Smoot had a decent season, and he has the added versatility of being able to play inside and out on the line. It sounds like a broken record, but rookie Javon Solomon, just like the other draftees, showed tremendous potential at times but needs experience to grow into what he can possibly become. The D line could use an infusion of size and power on the interior next season, and a star pass rusher would help also.

Linebackers

The duo of Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard should be a force for opponents to reckon with. The problem is Milano has trouble staying on the field, as he has dealt with multiple injuries the last couple of years. Bernard has grown into the leader of the defense, and was named a team captain last season. He is one of the few playmakers on the unit. Dorian Williams is a capable starting linebacker, as he proved while filling in for Milano last year. The rest of the reserves are a mix of a special teams guy, Baylon Spector, and 2 young, inexperienced rookies, Joe Andreessen and Edefuan Ulofoshio.

Defensive Backs

After being the most solid unit on the team in 2023, alarm bells need to go off for help for the secondary next season. Buffalo routinely plays a 5 man nickel defense as their base unit, and as of now only 2 of those spots, border corner with Christian Benford and slot corner with Taron Johnson, can boast competent players. The concussion Benford suffered in the championship game looked severe enough to even worry about his future as a player. At the other CB spot, Rasul Douglas was a great trade acquisition in 2023, but his play slipped noticeably this past season. Both starting safeties, Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin, are adequate at best. Rapp is also prone to injury. Among the reserves, Ja’Marcus Ingram is a more than capable backup, while Kaiir Elam is now officially a first round bust who won’t be back. Cam Lewis is a player whose value is important to the team, both as a backup to all the secondary positions and as a special teams player. It’s conceivable, maybe even expected, that rookie Cole Bishop will play his way into a starting safety spot in 2025. He ended the year there as a replacement for Rapp, who was injured. The secondary is a prime spot for both new starters and added depth for next season.

Special Teams

After 2 seasons of the special teams not only not being special but being a hindrance, the Bills parted ways with ST coach Matt Smiley. His replacement, Chris Tabor, is a much more experienced and respected coordinator. It will be interesting to see what he bring out of these units. Those units include a solid long snapper in Reid Ferguson, a potential game-changing return man in rookie Brandon Codrington, an aging punter, Sam Martin, and an inconsistent placekicker in Tyler Bass. There are useful bomb squad contributors like Reggie Gilliam, Cam Lewis, Mack Hollins (if he re-signs), Baylon Spector and Quinton Morris. Competition for Martin is already on the roster, as Jake Camarda inked a futures contract right after the season.