Gunner's 2025 Mock Draft - v1.0

[Pete]

16 hours ago, NoSaint said:

I’ll say I’ve thought of him as a guy on the radar before but after the senior bowl mvp he will be a familiar name to many more here: jack bech

 

i don’t love him as the guy I’d want to target but boy does he present as a prototype for what we’ve seen in our wr room. Large frame, physical blocker… has long speed but not super twitchy. 
 

character wise- is from a really solid family. Brother played at Princeton and died saving others during the NYD attack in NOLA. 
 

 

just strikes me as the absolute prototype for this regime as a mid round pick, so I’d be curious to see a work up from someone that’s seen more TCU games.

That’s my #1 draft crush.  Jack is shooting up draft boards after 3 impressive days at senior bowl. Hes a great blocker, route runner, and deep .   I’ve seen Jack now projected in the 2nd round, and I’d like to see Buffalo use a 2nd on him.  Jack oozes Bills DNA

[HappyDays]

31 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Maybe. I am up for making a splash move at both to be honest.

 

I don't think we can afford to do both. The team has not made a splash move at WR since 2020. It's time. In three great WR drafts - 2019, 2020, 2024 - we drafted a total of 1 WR before day three. As a result we continue to chase the position. They need to just get it solved. Right now we have zero WRs on the roster that are definite starters outside. It's the worst the room has looked since, well, 9 months ago when we were having these same conversations almost verbatim.

 

16 minutes ago, Process said:

What splash moves exist at WR though?

 

The only legit WR1 FA is Higgins and he's not someone I'm interested in. Injury issues and I don't think it makes sense to have a $30M WR in this offense. 

 

Are the Jets going to cut Adams? Maybe that's someone we can look at, but he's going to be 33yo this season. 

 

DK, Cupp, Hill? Not sure if these guys will actually be available for trade.

 

Higgins is the move. You live with the injury concerns because beggers can't be choosers. It's nothing like when we handed Von a franchise altering contract. Higgins just turned 26 and has proven #1 ability. Add him and some other WR with our first 3 picks, then you hope Coleman develops. Either way that strategy gives the room a very solid floor.

 

I would make a splash trade for Metcalf if available but I agree I don't think he will be. There's been no buzz around it at all and this isn't a draft where Seattle is going to want to sell out for a QB trade up.

 

Edited Sunday at 07:35 PM by HappyDays

[BADOLBILZ]

16 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

I would make a splash trade for Metcalf if available but I agree I don't think he will be. There's been no buzz around it at all and this isn't a draft where Seattle is going to want to sell out for a QB trade up.

 

 

 

I wouldn't say there is necessarily "no buzz" around Metcalf being dealt.   It's being discussed in the Seahawks fan base/sites.  Because JSN has become a 100 catch receiver and is their WR1 now.  And that transition basically happened when Metcalf missed some time to injury at midseason and when he came back they just didn't try to push the ball to him because JSN was flourishing.   They might decide to become an increasingly defense-first team that tries to move the ball the way the Bills did this season.   They have top-end talent in their RB room but couldn't run the ball......you have to think that they will want to find a way to get those guys the ball a lot more.   I could see a big shift for them.   Metcalf is a real trade possibility there, IMO. 

[Kelly to Allen]

Kenneth Grant reminds me of Ted Washington. I would be happy if we drafted him

[MasterStrategist]

Thanks @GunnerBill, great job as always!

 

I haven't started any player evals / draft board fits, but this has to be the year we hit the draft/FA hard on defense:  DT, DE, CB (no particular order).   

 

Defense is slow, and often the coverage/rush never worked together because we lacked in both areas.  Need more speed at CB, hopefully Bishop sees massive coverage improvement (talent is there).  Rasul and Elam were liabilities in coverage.  Safety play was slow, at least Bishop adds speed but he's out of position too often.

 

WR to me, makes more sense via trade/FA.  I'm a firm believer of mixing youth/vets, Keon is our youth at WR...Dalton as well as a big slot, we have 2 young guys in position to step up.  Someone who can stretch the defense is still the top need at WR.  Basically run it back, replacing Coop.  Metcalf would be a dream come true.

[GunnerBill]

16 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

I don't think we can afford to do both. The team has not made a splash move at WR since 2020. It's time. In three great WR drafts - 2019, 2020, 2024 - we drafted a total of 1 WR before day three. As a result we continue to chase the position. They need to just get it solved. Right now we have zero WRs on the roster that are definite starters outside. It's the worst the room has looked since, well, 9 months ago when we were having these same conversations almost verbatim.

 

 

Higgins is the move. You live with the injury concerns because beggers can't be choosers. It's nothing like when we handed Von a franchise altering contract. Higgins just turned 26 and has proven #1 ability. Add him and some other WR with our first 3 picks, then you hope Coleman develops. Either way that strategy gives the room a very solid floor.

 

I would make a splash trade for Metcalf if available but I agree I don't think he will be. There's been no buzz around it at all and this isn't a draft where Seattle is going to want to sell out for a QB trade up.

 

 

I don't disagree with you at all on receiver. The last two drafts there have been makeable tradeups there - for Addison in 2023 who I know they loved and went 4 spots before their original pick and for Thomas in 2024 who went 5 spots before their original pick. They have underinvested in receivers. I think only Tampa have invested less in day 1 and 2 capital during Beane's era and they had Evans and Godwin. 

 

I am a big Higgins fan, he is the guy I'd have taken if they hadn't traded for Diggs in 2020 (thought in hindsight clearly Jefferson was the pick) but he still isn't the exact skillset we need. He is better than what we have, for sure, and he can separate but I am not sure he is the pure separation guy we need. I'd like him, sure. He is instantly the #1 on this team. But if he wants $30m AAV for 4 or 5 years.... man that's tough. 

[HappyDays]

3 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

I am a big Higgins fan, he is the guy I'd have taken if they hadn't traded for Diggs in 2020 (thought in hindsight clearly Jefferson was the pick) but he still isn't the exact skillset we need. He is better than what we have, for sure, and he can separate but I am not sure he is the pure separation guy we need. I'd like him, sure. He is instantly the #1 on this team. But if he wants $30m AAV for 4 or 5 years.... man that's tough. 

 

What I like about Higgins is he makes big plays in big moments. And that's where we've faltered in recent years. We can keep up with any team over the course of a whole game, but when we need one player to step up at the end it is Allen and no one else.

 

I'm not as gung-ho on separation as most other fans. I'm a proponent of pairing an above the rim contested catch WR with Allen's big arm. It's one of the reasons I wanted Coleman although obviously he needs to develop quite a bit to become the player I envisioned. By signing Higgins we can sidestep the entire evaluation process and just fill the hole with a known player who I believe would thrive in this offense. They can draft a WR with a separation skill set.

 

And in general I almost don't even care about the skill set. Give me the very best outside WR available no matter his skill set and we can figure out the rest. In this case that player is obviously Higgins. If that means Rousseau walks for example, I really can't bring myself to mourn the loss.

[BADOLBILZ]

8 hours ago, Bill from NYC said:

GB, how much of an impact do you think this game had on Jalen Milroe's draft status? I for one think that even in a weak QB class, his stock went drastically lower. I am not, nor was I ever a fan of his as a quarterback. I have seen him projected as an early first round pick and I just don't get it. I wouldn't take him in the third or even fourth round.

 

Milroe's hands coming in so small will probably be a disaster for his draft stock.   8.75"?  Geez.  That's smaller than Joe Burrow and he was considered the outlier of all outliers to make it with small hands at QB.   He should have taken one of those $3M NIL deals this offseason and proved he could play the position better with those small mitts because it would be a shot in the dark to take him before day 3 knowing that he is such a work in progress as a processor but also might be a natural turnover factory as a passer.   Will be interesting to see what happens if he blows up at the combine and runs like a 4.39 at 6'2" 225.

[GunnerBill]

17 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

What I like about Higgins is he makes big plays in big moments. And that's where we've faltered in recent years. We can keep up with any team over the course of a whole game, but when we need one player to step up at the end it is Allen and no one else.

 

I'm not as gung-ho on separation as most other fans. I'm a proponent of pairing an above the rim contested catch WR with Allen's big arm. It's one of the reasons I wanted Coleman although obviously he needs to develop quite a bit to become the player I envisioned. By signing Higgins we can sidestep the entire evaluation process and just fill the hole with a known player who I believe would thrive in this offense. They can draft a WR with a separation skill set.

 

And in general I almost don't even care about the skill set. Give me the very best outside WR available no matter his skill set and we can figure out the rest. In this case that player is obviously Higgins. If that means Rousseau walks for example, I really can't bring myself to mourn the loss.

 

I get that and I understand your perspective, I do think Higgins might the best upgrade available at boundary receiver this offseason. But I also think long term in this league it is separation that wins. 

[NoSaint]

2 hours ago, Pete said:

That’s my #1 draft crush.  Jack is shooting up draft boards after 3 impressive days at senior bowl. Hes a great blocker, route runner, and deep .   I’ve seen Jack now projected in the 2nd round, and I’d like to see Buffalo use a 2nd on him.  Jack oozes Bills DNA

we will see what he runs - I worry he’s another guy that just isn’t truly fast enough to change what’s missing in our offense 

 

but lord does he scream “buffalo bills wide receiver” 

[muppy]

hey GunnerBill. I know your draft board is subject to revision. So if at all possible is there any way you could squeeze in a Domer to the Bills 🙂 fr

 

lol gracias. muppy

 

that would make me so happy just sayin' . I hope every year and so far in recent times I got squat.. all things being equal a Domer on the Bills would be awesome

Edited Sunday at 09:44 PM by muppy

[MikePJ76]

3 hours ago, HappyDays said:

 

Then perhaps we should do the opposite of what we did in 2020. Everyone wants us to trade for Maxx Crosby. Wouldn't the wiser move be to stay put and draft from the strength of the class? Maybe if we had done that in 2020 we'd have Justin Jefferson right now. If WR is the weakness of this draft then that's where we should make our splash FA or trade move.

Cooper Kupp may get cut.  He is not perfect but he would probably produce a lot more than amari cooper did.  he gets hurt a lot though.

 

i agree with you though.  Go plug in a vet wr and resign hollins.  Then build a better defense through the draft.

[GASabresIUFan]

Which of the mock draft simulator sites has the best player rankings?

[BillsFanForever19]

2 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

I wouldn't say there is necessarily "no buzz" around Metcalf being dealt.   It's being discussed in the Seahawks fan base/sites.  Because JSN has become a 100 catch receiver and is their WR1 now.  And that transition basically happened when Metcalf missed some time to injury at midseason and when he came back they just didn't try to push the ball to him because JSN was flourishing.   They might decide to become an increasingly defense-first team that tries to move the ball the way the Bills did this season.   They have top-end talent in their RB room but couldn't run the ball......you have to think that they will want to find a way to get those guys the ball a lot more.   I could see a big shift for them.   Metcalf is a real trade possibility there, IMO. 

 

I think what he's saying is it's something that's been discussed by NFL rumor mill clickbaiters and fan sites going on like 4 years now. And when push comes to shove, Seattle never moves him. It was at a fever pitch on Draft Day with Pittsburgh even making an offer. Ultimately, as usual, they decided not to move him. 

 

There's logic that with the things you're talking about that this could finally be the year. But people felt that way last year too. And from what it sounds like right now, the Seahawks, with a new Head Coach entering Season 2, don't seem to be looking to rebuild or take a step back this year. They think they can win. And moving Metcalf would be a big step back.

 

Here's hoping they do move him and we are in on it. But when it comes to him, regardless of what clickbaiters put out there, i'll believe it when I see it.

 

 

I saw a post @Process made asking "what kind of splash moves can be made at WR?". Can't seem to find it beyond quotes (maybe it was deleted). But beyond the discussion of Tee Higgins and DK Metcalf - there's a couple splash WR's that will be available that aren't talked of often.

 

The first being Chris Godwin. He'll be 29 years old and a Free Agent. He is coming off a Broken Ankle sustained in Week 7 which is a concern, but he's expected to be back by Week 1. But he was on an absolute tear before it happened. Putting up 576 yards and 5 TD's in the 6 games before the injury and going over a 1000 yards in 5 of his 6 years before that. Godwin is a stud.

 

The other person is Deebo Samuel. When Brandon Aiyuk signed his massive long term extension, coming off of Christian McCaffrey's massive long term extension, and then Drafting Ricky Pearsall in Round 1 - every San Fran and NFL analyst said it means that this year was Deebo Samuel's last year in San Francisco. It's almost a forgone conclusion he'll be traded this offseason. And I could see his blend of size of versatility as a bruising rusher being something that Beane and McDermott find appealing.

 

https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/deebo-samuel-may-have-played-in-his-final-game-with-the-49ers-01jgqj04d3p7

 

[Process]

3 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

I think what he's saying is it's something that's been discussed by NFL rumor mill clickbaiters and fan sites going on like 4 years now. And when push comes to shove, Seattle never moves him. It was at a fever pitch on Draft Day with Pittsburgh even making an offer. Ultimately, as usual, they decided not to move him. 

 

There's logic that with the things you're talking about that this could finally be the year. But people felt that way last year too. And from what it sounds like right now, the Seahawks, with a new Head Coach entering Season 2, don't seem to be looking to rebuild or take a step back this year. They think they can win. And moving Metcalf would be a big step back.

 

Here's hoping they do move him and we are in on it. But when it comes to him, regardless of what clickbaiters put out there, i'll believe it when I see it.

 

 

I saw a post @Process made asking "what kind of splash moves can be made at WR?". Can't seem to find it beyond quotes (maybe it was deleted). But beyond the discussion of Tee Higgins and DK Metcalf - there's a couple splash WR's that will be available that aren't talked of often.

 

The first being Chris Godwin. He'll be 29 years old and a Free Agent. He is coming off a Broken Ankle sustained in Week 7 which is a concern, but he's expected to be back by Week 1. But he was on an absolute tear before it happened. Putting up 576 yards and 5 TD's in the 6 games before the injury and going over a 1000 yards in 5 of his 6 years before that. Godwin is a stud.

 

The other person is Deebo Samuel. When Brandon Aiyuk signed his massive long term extension, coming off of Christian McCaffrey's massive long term extension, and then Drafting Ricky Pearsall in Round 1 - every San Fran and NFL analyst said it means that this year was Deebo Samuel's last year in San Francisco. It's almost a forgone conclusion he'll be traded this offseason. And I could see his blend of size of versatility as a bruising rusher being something that Beane and McDermott find appealing.

 

https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/deebo-samuel-may-have-played-in-his-final-game-with-the-49ers-01jgqj04d3p7

 

Godwin is a stud I agree. Doesn't he play more in the slot though? I could be wrong. 

 

Zero interest in Deebo. Curtis Samuel is deebo-lite and they didn't show any ability to use him. Strictly as a WR Deebo is nothing special. 

 

Another name I'll bring up is Chris Olave. I doubt the Saints trade him but maybe they go full rebuild and look for draft picks. 

[BADOLBILZ]

39 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

I think what he's saying is it's something that's been discussed by NFL rumor mill clickbaiters and fan sites going on like 4 years now.

 

 

 

No, he said there was "no buzz".   Metcalf isn't a superstar, he's not controversial and he's been out of sight and out of mind playing on middling Seattle teams for most of his 6 seasons.   There wasn't a lot of buzz last year and most of what you hear now is just coming from Seattle fans/media so unless you are following it, you aren't hearing it.   Yeah it was noted that KC called about him last spring.....but with 2 years left on his deal and NSJ having not yet emerged as a star, there wasn't a great deal of impetus for Seattle to consider it.   Entering his walk year I expect more discussion of an extension.....or a trade.

 

Godwin is a slot receiver coming off a major injury.   Deebo is worn and torn and grossly overpaid.   The Bills need a boundary WR.

[stinky finger]

5 hours ago, Pete said:

That’s my #1 draft crush.  Jack is shooting up draft boards after 3 impressive days at senior bowl. Hes a great blocker, route runner, and deep .   I’ve seen Jack now projected in the 2nd round, and I’d like to see Buffalo use a 2nd on him.  Jack oozes Bills DNA

 

Are you sure this is what you want? 

[BillsFanForever19]

1 hour ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

No, he said there was "no buzz".   Metcalf isn't a superstar, he's not controversial and he's been out of sight and out of mind playing on middling Seattle teams for most of his 6 seasons.   There wasn't a lot of buzz last year and most of what you hear now is just coming from Seattle fans/media so unless you are following it, you aren't hearing it.   Yeah it was noted that KC called about him last spring.....but with 2 years left on his deal and NSJ having not yet emerged as a star, there wasn't a great deal of impetus for Seattle to consider it.   Entering his walk year I expect more discussion of an extension.....or a trade.

 

Godwin is a slot receiver coming off a major injury.   Deebo is worn and torn and grossly overpaid.   The Bills need a boundary WR.

 

That's fair. I assumed he meant legitimate buzz. Like reports from legitimate sources that the Seahawks are actually exploring the option or are putting him on the Trade block. As opposed to people talking about it and them saying "thanks but no thanks".

 

You are right. And It's been more than just from Seattle. Like I said, every rumor person in the media and on Twitter have been talking about a potential Metcalf trade for years. It's been a talking point from posters on this board for years. You mentioned the Draft calls that were rebuffed, but even Schefter's addressed Metcalf trade discussion as well going back years:

 

We absolutely should call on him. And if we can get him, we should do everything we can to make it happen. But they always seem to rebuff calls and have never shown an active interest in trading him. So i'll believe it when I see it.

Edited yesterday at 01:39 AM by BillsFanForever19

[LABILLBACKER]

6 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I don't disagree with you at all on receiver. The last two drafts there have been makeable tradeups there - for Addison in 2023 who I know they loved and went 4 spots before their original pick and for Thomas in 2024 who went 5 spots before their original pick. They have underinvested in receivers. I think only Tampa have invested less in day 1 and 2 capital during Beane's era and they had Evans and Godwin. 

 

I am a big Higgins fan, he is the guy I'd have taken if they hadn't traded for Diggs in 2020 (thought in hindsight clearly Jefferson was the pick) but he still isn't the exact skillset we need. He is better than what we have, for sure, and he can separate but I am not sure he is the pure separation guy we need. I'd like him, sure. He is instantly the #1 on this team. But if he wants $30m AAV for 4 or 5 years.... man that's tough. 

I will never forgive this front office for not making a more concerted effort to land BTJ.  It would've cost us Cole Bishop....that's it....whoop de doo....

Edited yesterday at 02:29 AM by LABILLBACKER

[Pete]

8 hours ago, stinky finger said:

 

Are you sure this is what you want? 

I want him and a burner.