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A comprehensive look at what more than two-dozen national analysts had to say about the Bills’ 2025 rookie class.
The
Buffalo Bills welcomed nine rookies from the 2025
NFL Draft class to One Bills Drive this week, with general manager Brandon Beane placing heavy emphasis on defense in the wake of last season’s performance. One Bills Drive’s preferred plan in Round 1 was to sit and let the board fall to them, which allowed cornerback Maxwell Hairston to land with Buffalo at pick 30.
After selecting Hairston, the Bills continued prioritizing defense with four additional picks on that side of the ball between Rounds 2 and 5. With their remaining four draft picks, Buffalo made moves to add three players on offense and one additional defensive back.
Buffalo Bills 2025 NFL Draft full results:
- Round 1, Pick 30: Maxwell Hairston, CB (Kentucky)
- Round 2, Pick 9 (41st overall): T.J. Sanders, DT (South Carolina)
- Round 3, Pick 8 (72nd overall): Landon Jackson, DE (Arkansas)
- Round 4, Pick 7 109 overall): Deone Walker, DT (Kentucky)
- Round 5, Pick 34 (170 overall): Jordan Hancock, DB (Ohio State)
- Round 5, Pick 37 (173 overall): Jackson Hawes, TE (Georgia Tech)
- Round 6, Pick 1 ( overall): Dorian Strong, CB (Virginia Tech)
- Round 6, Pick 30 (206 overall): Chase Lundt, OT (Connecticut)
- Round 7, Pick 24 (240 overall): Kaden Prather, WR (Maryland)
With a few days between us and the grand spectacle that is any NFL draft, that means plenty of football outlets have handed out snap-judgement grades for the Bills (and every other team’s) latest rookie NFL draft class.
René Bugner, a German NFL fan, took things quite a few steps further in evaluating NFL draft evaluators, providing a total team grade based on 24 of the evaluators discussed below. He then sorted his chart and each evaluation by GPA. It’s a fascinating 30,000-foot view of this year’s crop of draft evaluations, and reveals which analysts are the tougher graders.
So how did the Buffalo Bills fare, overall, in this exercise?
According to Bugner’s work, the
Bills finished tied at 17 out of 32 teams, with a 3.05 GPA.
Bugner’s substack entry goes into more detail about this year’s draft class grades, which you can
check out here.
2025 NFL Draft Team Grades
I´ve compiled 24 evaluations of the 2025 NFL draft and totaled the team grades.
Sorted by GPA for all 32 teams. I sorted the 24 evaluations by GPA as well. From left (soft) to right (hard graders).
Thanks to all who give out grades every year!
pic.twitter.com/HW69yxX702
— René Bugner (@RNBWCV)
April 28, 2025
With that in mind, let’s dive in and take a look at what those in the media have to say about the work that Beane and company did during the draft.
We begin with former
Buffalo Rumblings editor in chief, Chris Trapasso...
Buffalo Bills’ overall draft grade: B+
Trapasso understands the offense wasn’t going to be a priority with so many starting positions locked up:
“The overwhelming majority of job openings on this Bills team are on the defensive side of the ball, and general manager Brandon Beane added some candidates for said openings with a defensive-laiden [sp] draft. Hairston raises the ceiling of the cornerback room — which was very much needed — and Sanders gives Buffalo another explosive interior rusher. Jackson has upside on the edge, and Walker is the mammoth nose tackle the defensive front had to get in this draft.”
Chris Trapasso,
CBS Sports
Buffalo Bills’ overall draft grade: B+
Prisco is all-in on Hairston, but sees the trade up for Sanders as Buffalo’s worst move in the 2025 NFL Draft:
“Best Pick: I loved their first pick of corner Maxwell Hairston. They had to get an upgrade at that position and he should start as a rookie.”
Worst Pick: Second-round interior D-lineman T.J. Sanders is a good player, but I think there were better options when they took Sanders and they traded up to get him.”
Buffalo Bills’ overall draft grade: B-
Nystrom is always a fantastic read, and his write-up on Buffalo’s draft class provides a candid and succinct-yet-thorough look at the team’s newest players. You can read all of Nystrom’s thoughts
here.
“Hairston’s speed is all over his film. Nobody is faster than Hairston, and he knows it. He never panics, and he’s not grabby, staying sticky through the route break with footwork.
When he’s playing downhill with the ball in the air, Hairston’s burst vaporizes distance in an instant, earning him extra invitations to the catch point party. Hairston is thin, but he possesses decent height and good length.
Bigger, stronger receivers can paper-cut Hairston on the short stuff, seizing leverage through muscle. The lack of bulk hurts him in run defense—he’ll never be better than mediocre in this phase.”
Buffalo Bills’ overall draft grade: B
The writers are
PFN have put together an impressive in-depth look at each NFL team’s draft class, with nearly 900 words of copy devoted to the Bills’ overall grade as well grades for each of the nine players drafted, which you can read in its entirety
here. Interestingly, Hairston received the lowest individual grade among Buffalo’s picks.
Round 1: Maxwell Hairston (
B-)
Round 2: T.J. Sanders (
B)
Round 3: Landon Jackson (
A)
Round 4: Deone Walker (
B)
Round 5: Jordan Hancock (
B)
Round 5: Jackson Hawes (
B)
Round 6: Dorian Strong (
A)
Round 6: Chase Lundt (
A-)
Round 7: Kaden Prather (
B)
“The Buffalo Bills hit the positions they were supposed to, and they did so with urgency. All of their first five picks addressed three of the team’s most pressing needs on defense, and the Bills were able to add contrasting skill sets as well. The problem is, for some of the Bills’ early picks, the idea of the pick is better than the addition in its actual value...
...Overall, the Bills put together a decent class, but there are enough holes to poke into the early-round picks to invite uncertainty.”
Buffalo Bills’ overall draft grade: A-
The writers at
PFF provided decent analysis on each of the Bills nine picks, which you can read more about in-depth
here.
“The Bills needed a high-caliber cornerback opposite Christian Benford, and Hairston provides that for them due to his solid tackling ability and good length at the position. He profiles well as a zone-heavy cornerback with high-level athleticism.”
Buffalo Bills’ overall draft grade: A-
Verderame believes defense was the way to go, given how successful the Bills were on offense last season:
“Analysis: Buffalo had one of the league’s top offenses last year behind MVP quarterback Josh Allen. However, the defense has struggled for years in the postseason to get key stops. General manager Brandon Beane aggressively attacked that side of the ball with Hairston in the first round, followed by three defensive linemen in Rounds 2–4. Hairston will start alongside Christian Benford and Taron Johnson, while Walker and Sanders will form a nice rotation next to Ed Oliver. —MV”
Buffalo Bills’ overall draft grade: A
Wilkins finds favor with Buffalo’s draft class, pointing to how the team lost in its final game of the 2024
NFL playoffs:
“Defense was bound to be the focus heading into this draft and the Bills didn’t disappoint. Hairston is an elite athlete who brings some much-needed playmaking skills to the secondary. Sanders is an explosive pass-rush talent who could complement Ed Oliver nicely on the interior. Jackson is a three-down player with size, athleticism, and a great motor - he’s a steal in the third round. The same can probably be said for 6-foot-7, 331-pound defensive tackle Deone Walker. He moves incredibly well for his size, and he likely would have been long gone by the fourth round if injuries didn’t contribute to a down 2024 season. This is the exact draft haul the Bills needed coming off their latest playoff disappointment.”
Buffalo Bills’ overall draft grade: B+
Reuter sees a solid draft, but took some exception with the Bills decision to trade up a second time for a defensive lineman:
“Hairston’s speed and feisty coverage skills should bolster the Bills’ secondary. Jackson was also a good value. He possesses the ideal build for Buffalo’s scheme. Sanders has a chance to be an interior presence but will need to be a more consistent threat for the team’s trade up for his services to pay off.
Walker is a massive body in the middle but trading up a second time for a defensive tackle didn’t maximize the team’s draft capital, in my opinion.”
Buffalo Bills’ overall draft grade: B
Easterling sees the pick of Dorian Strong as the latest late-round cornerback steal from Brandon Beane:
“Steal of the Class: CB Dorian Strong (6th Round, No. 177 overall)
Bolstering the defensive backfield was clearly a priority for the Bills, as they loaded up on corner help with first-rounder Maxwell Hairston, fifth-rounder Jordan Hancock, and a Day 3 bargain in Strong, getting bigger/faster/stronger across that whole unit. Trading up for DL T.J. Sanders in the second round was pricey, but he’s a disruptive interior defender who should make a big impact right away. Pairing him with mountainous DL Deone Walker in the fourth round should bolster the defensive trenches immediately.”
Buffalo Bills’ overall draft grade: B-
Yahoo! writers Tice and McDonald see Buffalo’s draft class as “solid” though they see the team as perhaps wading into over-reach waters in certain rounds:
“Here’s why: Defense was on the menu for the Bills. Their first five selections were all on that side of the ball. I was a little lower on Maxwell Hairston, but he brings world-class speed to the Bills’ defensive back room. Head coach Sean McDermott has always loved having a deep defensive line rotation, and the Bills continued to add to their defensive line room after adding Joey Bosa and other veterans in free agency. Third-round selection Landon Jackson is a smooth athlete off the edge and second-round pick T.J. Sanders has length and twitch, and gives the Bills’ coaches an interesting bundle of tools to work with. It’s a solid class that makes sense for what the Bills need, even if a few of the players went a little higher than I would have preferred.
Buffalo Bills’ overall draft grade: A
Rang has bought into Brandon Beane’s draft methodology, stating:
“Sometimes, it isn’t just the positional fit that warrants a high grade but the specific prospect chosen. I love Buffalo’s bet on the speed and playmaking of cornerback Maxwell Hairston, as the Bills needed more game-breaking ability on the defensive side of the ball. GM Brandon Beane could have stuck to the “same old” Bills formula of drafting good, physical players, but Hairston is a gamble that could be the finishing touch needed for a
Super Bowl run.”
Buffalo Bills’ overall draft grade: B
McCrystal doesn’t see any of the Bills’ draft picks making an immediate impact:
“Instant impact: None?
Best value: Landon Jackson, EDGE
Riskiest pick: Maxwell Hairston, CB
It’s easy to understand why the Bills liked the value with most of their selections, but it’s surprising to see a Super Bowl contender get such little immediate help. Hairston will compete for a starting job, but he’s a developmental prospect who struggled at times in the SEC last year and probably needs time to develop.”
Buffalo Bills’ overall draft grade: B+
Fronton was quick and to the point that so many observed, with Buffalo prioritizing speed, measurables, and defense early and often:
“The Bills were not subtle about their intentions, bolstering their defensive line and secondary in an effort to subdue the potent offenses of their primary AFC rivals. Hairston famously had the fastest 40-yard dash at the 2025 Combine (4.28s), and Dorian Strong was ranked in the CB15 range in many pre-draft publications representing a solid value at #177.”
Buffalo Bills’ overall draft grade: B
Knox had a lot of positive things to say about Buffalo’s defensive approach to the draft, while pointing out the team’s lack of a defined WR1.
“Overall, this was a defensive draft for the Bills, which was largely expected. While Buffalo may still lack a true No. 1 receiver, it can coax enough offense out of Josh Allen, James Cook and a good collection of complementary pass-catchers. Ideally, it’ll now have a chance to finally stop Patrick Mahomes and the rival
Kansas City Chiefs in the postseason.”
Buffalo Bills’ overall draft grade: B-
Many in Bills Mafia will share Bielik’s sentments about how the Bills attacked offense in the draft:
“Breakdown: After allowing more points to the Chiefs in the playoffs than any team did all season, to see Buffalo go mainly defense is not surprising at all. Getting edge rusher Landon Jackson in the third round felt like their best value pick of the weekend.
DT Deone Walker in the fourth round could be a steal after he had first-round potential early in the draft cycle. But reaching on DT T.J. Sanders at pick 41 and waiting until pick 173 to address offense knocks this grade down.”
Buffalo Bills’ overall draft grade: B+
Maaddi was short and to the point in his assessement of Buffalo’s draft class, stating:
“CB Maxwell Hairston (30) brings energy and aggressive coverage skills to a secondary that needed the help. DL T.J. Sanders (41) will boost run defense. Edge Landon Jackson (72), DL Deone Walker (109) and CB Jordan Hancock (170) provide more depth for Buffalo’s defense.”
Analysts who ranked the Bills draft class against the rest of the NFL
Buffalo Bills’ overall draft grade: B-
Davis chose to sort his rankings from best to worst, which dropped Buffalo all the way down to 24th out of 32 NFL teams. Here’s what Davis had to say:
24. Buffalo Bills (B-)
“A team that seems oh-so-close to its first Super Bowl breakthrough didn’t seem to come out of this draft with that player or two who seem capable of putting it over the top. We’ll see how the trade up for DT T.J. Sanders in the second round plays out, but going heavy on defense – including Round 1 CB Maxwell Hairston and Round 3 DE Landon Jackson – seemed sensible given how the AFC East champs faltered on that side of the ball down the stretch in 2024.”
Buffalo Bills’ overall draft grade: C+
Dunleavy also chose to list grades based on best to worst, which landed the Bills (again) at 24. Here’s what Dunleavy had to say:
“Key picks: Maxwell Hairston (CB, Kentucky), T.J. Sanders (DT, South Carolina), Landon Jackson (Edge, Arkansas), Deone Walker (DT, Kentucky)
Analysis: The mayor of Buffalo could lose a popularity contest if the ballhawking speedster Hairston pairs great play with a magnetic personality. Addressing the defensive front with each of the next three suggested the Bills are just going to overtax Josh Allen to score points again.”
Buffalo Bills’ overall draft grade: B+
Iyer also chose to list his rankings based on what he saw as best to worst, with the Bills landing at 15.
“Analysis: GM Brandon Beane avoided the outside noise asking for more offense and wisely focused the draft on defense, almost to a fault. Buffalo missed out on getting a needed impact receiver, which wasn’t addressed until late at tight and and wideout. Hairston filled the biggest need for a speedy cover corner, while Sanders, Jackson, and Walker are good fits for Sean McDermott’s rotation replenishment. Lundt is a sneaky-good developmental tackle.”
Buffalo Bills’ overall draft grade: C+
Kelly also listed his team grades from best to worst, with Buffalo again landing at 24.
“The Bills focused heavily on their defense early on in this draft, adding a versatile defensive back in Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston during the first round; this should help fill a big need in the secondary (though Kentucky
investigated Hairston for sexual assault in 2021, which GM Brandon Beane addressed after the pick). They then turned around and bolstered the trenches with their next three picks, grabbing a powerhouse defensive tackle in South Carolina’s T.J. Sanders, a rough-and-tumble pass rusher in Arkansas’s Landon Jackson, and an absolute unit in Kentucky interior defender Deone Walker. All three of those picks make Buffalo more physical and more stout up front. This is going to be a tough defense to run on. The team added two more corners on Day 3, grabbing
Ohio State’s Jordan Hancock and
Virginia Tech’s Dorian Strong. The Bills seem to be saying here that the best way to help Josh Allen in 2025 and beyond is to give him a much stouter defense to lean on.”
2025 NFL Draft grades from other countries
Buffalo Bills’ overall draft grade: C+
Buffalo Bills’ overall draft grade: B
Analysts whose Bills grades/content was behind a paywall
Buffalo Bills’ overall draft grade: B-
Buffalo Bills’ overall draft grade: B
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