Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

‘And he liked Hairston the best, even though there were other intriguing options including Mississippi’s Trey Amos, a player who was projected in the same range as Hairston as a late first-rounder, but also, Will Johnson of Michigan whose injury struggles sent him tumbling from a top 15 pick right out of the first round.’

‘Hairston was a second-round projection at the start of the draft process, primarily because he missed five games with a shoulder injury in just his second season a starter. But then he showed up at the combine and ran the fastest 40 time (4.28 seconds) and his 39.5-inch vertical leap was second-best among cornerbacks and tied for 12th among all players.’

‘As you look at the depth chart, defensive tackle is the clear priority. With DaQuan Jones in the final year of his contract, and free agent signee Larry Ogunjobi suspended for the first six games of the season, the Bills have a hole in the middle of their line.’

‘While the Bills have had a checkered past in the first round of the NFL Draft, they have very often struck gold in the second round. Here is a sampling.’

‘“I told my agent, ‘If you can’t get Buffalo on the line, just don’t call me,’” White said.’

‘“Sitting as late as we pick, it’s so hard every year,” Beane said when he met with reporters Tuesday. “We’ve done a few mocks, and it can go so many different ways on who is really there. Just read the board and if we think there is a player we really love, fits a need as well, those are what I’m trying to trade up for. If not, and the board is getting wiped, now we’re looking at, ‘What are our options to go back? How far do you want to go?’”’

‘Obviously, the Bills weren’t always this good and there have been many years where they were picking higher in the first round than they would have preferred, and like most teams, they made obvious picks that turned out great. Here are a bunch of them.’

‘While the Bills will be playing in the current Highmark Stadium this upcoming season, it doesn’t hurt to take a look at what’s to come.’

‘Cook created some waves when he announced on social media that he believed he was worth a contract extension that would pay him $15 million per season. That was quite a bold ask, and Beane was asked about it at the scouting combine in late February and again at the NFL owners’ meetings in late March.’

‘Of the 12 players they selected in the first round of the 1970s drafts, seven were flat out busts.’

‘Nothing should surprise Bills fans when the draft commences Thursday. It’s possible that Beane will use some of his draft capital (he has 10 picks) to move up in the first round to get a player he covets with a first-round grade. He could stick and pick the best player available at 30. Or he could trade out of the round, get better value in the second round, and possibly pick up a much-needed third-round pick in the process.’

‘During the 1970s, the Bills made history by losing 20 consecutive games to the Miami Dolphins, a futility record that may never be matched. One of the reasons for their struggles against Miami and so many other teams (51-91-2 record for the decade) was their horrible track record on draft day. Of the 12 players they selected in the first round of the 1970s drafts, seven were flat out busts.’

‘The more pressing need for the Bills is defensive tackle, but there’s certainly a case to be made that edge rusher could use a bump from an early-round pick. If general manager Brandon Beane spent two of his first three picks – currently No. 30 in the first round, Nos. 56 and 62 in the second round – on one of each, no one should be disappointed.’

”The Beane/McDermott regime has unearthed several mid- to low-round success stories, but so have previous Bills’ regimes.’

‘Buffalo is in need of help at the position because 2023-24 starter Rasul Douglas is an unrestricted free agent and there has been no apparent interest from the Bills’ side in bringing him back.’