ESPN High Level 2025 Draft Analysis

[TheBeaneBandit]

13 hours ago, Virgil said:

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2025/story/_/id/43955223/2025-nfl-draft-class-better-expected-strengths-weaknesses-questions-prospects

 

Key Highlights:

-Running backs could have starters coming out of rounds 5, 6, and 7.  There's quite a few with 2nd round grades that could make big impacts.  

-Tight Ends are solid.  Not 2023 solid, but close.  (Doesn't really help us)

-Defensive Line has 31 of the top 100 overall player rankings.  Could see a big push and benefits teams like the Bills picking at the end of rounds.

 

To me, this works out really well for the Bills and this is what I would like to see:

-Draft one of those RB's as a potential Cook replacement.  I think Cook is great, but we aren't budgeting our roster to pay a RB 12+ mil a year.  If we can trade Cook for a 2nd or 3rd, and then flip that pick into his replacement, I'm good with it.  It's nothing personal and I would love to keep Cook, but I just don't see us having the money for him within our plans of this roster.  

-Our defensive line needs work, even if we do swing a trade for Garrett/Crosby.  Personally, I don't know what kind of money Groot is going to expect, but he disappears too much in big games for me to justify paying him 20+ mil per season.  I'm completely fine letting him play out his 5th year and making that decision next offseason.  With that being said, we need a game changer at DT alongside Oliver, and I could see AJ being a cap casualty along with Von.  With McD's rotation, I could see 2-3 picks on the defensive line in the early rounds.

 

As for other positions based upon draft round grades (super early as the combine isn't done)

-DBs - only 2 DB's have a first round grade, and only 3 have a 2nd round grade.  This is not great for us.  Safety equally has similar players with 1st/2nd round grades.  If we are looking for starters here, we need to hit on a mid round pick or trade up.  

-WR - I personally do not believe that WR is the need that others do.  Even with Cooper not doing much out there, we still had a very prolific offense.  For those interested, there are 11 WR's with 1st/2nd round grades

OG - For those that think Edwards' roster spot is in jeopardy, this is not the draft to replace him.  There's only 3 Gs with 1st/2nd round grades, and then a huge drop off to players with a 6th round grade.  

 

Based on all of this, I would argue that our FA priority should be (aside from resigning some of our own guys)

-Safety, Guard (expensive in FA and assuming Edwards is out), and DB.  

Nice work and this reaffirms my stance on fixing the secondary in free agency and either trade them picks for proven defensive lineman or draft defensive lineman. If the right wide receiver prospect is there somewhere who fits us nicely you still have to be open-minded to that as well. Agree with you 100% on the running back situation as well.

[KOKBILLS]

6 hours ago, OldTimer1960 said:

Savion Williams might do very well at the combine.  What little I have seen of him so far looks interesting, but I fear comes with considerable bust potential.  You can see the athletic ability, but all the different ways they got him the ball worry me that he isn’t really that good at actually being a WR.  For a guy that big, does he have the lateral agility and quickness to get open?  
 

What do you all think of Williams?

 

He's going to be a tough one...

 

He'll probably run low 4.4's and make it even tougher...

 

As a WR he's got all the raw tools, but to say he was not used as a boundary guy in College is an understatement for sure. I think he made big time strides as as WR though in 2024. Just his confidence in plucking the ball... And he does give you ALL the other stuff... I don't think he's going to be a 3-cone killer type. But he did play a lot of RB, so maybe he'll surprise there. He is very tall, but he's got kind of a weird build to him.

 

My philosophy in this Draft for the Bills is just give me the explosive athlete types that can play because we lack those kind of guys on both sides. And Williams fits that. But in reality we really only have one WR position only, and I see that as a field-stretcher-first kind of WR. I think he's fully capable of that. Especially if he's as fast as some people say he is at that size. But there's not much of that on his film besides him running past slower LB's for easy wide-open TD's... 

 

It's tough. I definitely see Williams as a 2nd Round prospect. Pre Combine I have him at #56 Overall because I think if he goes to the right team, like San Fran, he's going to be a serious weapon. It depends on who else is around and where. I will say that due to all of the above I'm a little higher on Jalen Royals. And definitely higher on Matthew Golden. Just my 2 cents for what it's worth. 

[OldTimer1960]

30 minutes ago, KOKBILLS said:

 

 

It's tough. I definitely see Williams as a 2nd Round prospect. Pre Combine I have him at #56 Overall because I think if he goes to the right team, like San Fran, he's going to be a serious weapon. It depends on who else is around and where. I will say that due to all of the above I'm a little higher on Jalen Royals. And definitely higher on Matthew Golden. Just my 2 cents for what it's worth. 

I’m not as sure about Royals as you are.  I like the thickness of his build and he shows some smoothness and cutting ability, but I’m not sure he is as fast as some think he is.  We will see how fast he is this week - if I were a betting man I might bet he will run closer to 4.5 than 4.3.  I admit it is hard to tell from game film, but I did not think he showed dominant speed against the lower level competition he faced.  If he runs low 4.4s, I’ll be happily proven wrong.

 

i do like Golden, but not sure I would pass on the defensive needs for him - maybe.

[KOKBILLS]

7 minutes ago, OldTimer1960 said:

I’m not as sure about Royals as you are.  I like the thickness of his build and he shows some smoothness and cutting ability, but I’m not sure he is as fast as some think he is.  We will see how fast he is this week - if I were a betting man I might bet he will run closer to 4.5 than 4.3.  I admit it is hard to tell from game film, but I did not think he showed dominant speed against the lower level competition he faced.  If he runs low 4.4s, I’ll be happily proven wrong.

 

i do like Golden, but not sure I would pass on the defensive needs for him - maybe.

 

If they don't run fast... I'll pass... 

[OldTimer1960]

1 hour ago, KOKBILLS said:

 

If they don't run fast... I'll pass... 

It isn’t that I think speed is the be-all end-all for WR, but if a guy is touted as blazing fast, but he really isn’t then that’s a concern.  

[KOKBILLS]

24 minutes ago, OldTimer1960 said:

It isn’t that I think speed is the be-all end-all for WR, but if a guy is touted as blazing fast, but he really isn’t then that’s a concern.  

 

I don't think it's a be-all-end-all either... But for the Bills specifically, I think we have enough guys with decent to average speed. I'm looking for some juice...

[OldTimer1960]

6 minutes ago, KOKBILLS said:

 

I don't think it's a be-all-end-all either... But for the Bills specifically, I think we have enough guys with decent to average speed. I'm looking for some juice...

Agree on that!

[KOKBILLS]

1 hour ago, OldTimer1960 said:

I’m not as sure about Royals as you are.  I like the thickness of his build and he shows some smoothness and cutting ability, but I’m not sure he is as fast as some think he is.  We will see how fast he is this week - if I were a betting man I might bet he will run closer to 4.5 than 4.3.  I admit it is hard to tell from game film, but I did not think he showed dominant speed against the lower level competition he faced.  If he runs low 4.4s, I’ll be happily proven wrong.

 

i do like Golden, but not sure I would pass on the defensive needs for him - maybe.

 

I should say too that when I watched Royals the first time he gave me Rashee Rice vibes... Royals is more compact, and I think he's faster...we'll see... But that's the 1st name that popped into my head... And College Rashee Rice not KC Rashee Rice... 

[somnus00]

I want attacking, hungry, d-linemen. So far, I'm liking James Pearce and Omar Norman-Lott in the first 2 rounds. Both seem to get lined up pretty wide, but they get to the QB fast. Lott has no business getting off the line that fast at his size.

 

Apparently there are some character issues with Pearce, so he may fall a bit.

[ngbills]

Bills have drafted a RB in the first 4 rounds four times since 2019. That is crazy. Especially given both the talent you can get in later rounds and how many good free agents are available for cheat at the position. So maybe we dont draft another RB early and trade that pick to move up or for a player that can help. Please dont draft a RB until 6/7th rounds. 

[OldTimer1960]

24 minutes ago, ngbills said:

Bills have drafted a RB in the first 4 rounds four times since 2019. That is crazy. Especially given both the talent you can get in later rounds and how many good free agents are available for cheat at the position. So maybe we dont draft another RB early and trade that pick to move up or for a player that can help. Please dont draft a RB until 6/7th rounds. 

I would call round 4 “later rounds”.  Even late 3rd doesn’t seem egregious to me for drafting a RB.  Lot depends on who you already have, who you expect to lose in FA and what other players are available at the time you pick a RB.  I think the idea that you can easily find a good RB very late in the draft and that RBs don’t matter is a bit overblown.  Just look how much value Cook added - I don’t regret taking him late 2nd.

[BigAl2526]

I agree the Bills are not going to break the bank for James Cook.  If the Bills can't extend Cook for something in the $10 million a year range, they may well move on.  I like the idea of trading him if they can find a partner.  They will want a replacement that has some juice like Cook has.   I don't think there's any way Buffalo ends up with Garrett.  I think the combination of the contract he'll want and the draft capital Cleveland will want will scare them away.  I'll just have to wait and see what the rest of the market looks like.  I do think the Bills are going rely on the draft for defensive tackle help.  We'll see what they can do in free agency and the trade market at edge rusher.  I'm not too worried by the lack of blue chip DBs.  I think there are a lot of DBs that can be picked up in later rounds that can help the Bills.  I do think Buffalo needs to find someone to replace Amari Cooper and hopefully get more production than he did.  I still think Buffalo needs to add some speed at the position.  

[pennstate10]

On 2/24/2025 at 9:11 PM, Virgil said:

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2025/story/_/id/43955223/2025-nfl-draft-class-better-expected-strengths-weaknesses-questions-prospects

 

Key Highlights:

-Running backs could have starters coming out of rounds 5, 6, and 7.  There's quite a few with 2nd round grades that could make big impacts.  

-Tight Ends are solid.  Not 2023 solid, but close.  (Doesn't really help us)

-Defensive Line has 31 of the top 100 overall player rankings.  Could see a big push and benefits teams like the Bills picking at the end of rounds.

 

To me, this works out really well for the Bills and this is what I would like to see:

-Draft one of those RB's as a potential Cook replacement.  I think Cook is great, but we aren't budgeting our roster to pay a RB 12+ mil a year.  If we can trade Cook for a 2nd or 3rd, and then flip that pick into his replacement, I'm good with it.  It's nothing personal and I would love to keep Cook, but I just don't see us having the money for him within our plans of this roster.  

-Our defensive line needs work, even if we do swing a trade for Garrett/Crosby.  Personally, I don't know what kind of money Groot is going to expect, but he disappears too much in big games for me to justify paying him 20+ mil per season.  I'm completely fine letting him play out his 5th year and making that decision next offseason.  With that being said, we need a game changer at DT alongside Oliver, and I could see AJ being a cap casualty along with Von.  With McD's rotation, I could see 2-3 picks on the defensive line in the early rounds.

 

As for other positions based upon draft round grades (super early as the combine isn't done)

-DBs - only 2 DB's have a first round grade, and only 3 have a 2nd round grade.  This is not great for us.  Safety equally has similar players with 1st/2nd round grades.  If we are looking for starters here, we need to hit on a mid round pick or trade up.  

-WR - I personally do not believe that WR is the need that others do.  Even with Cooper not doing much out there, we still had a very prolific offense.  For those interested, there are 11 WR's with 1st/2nd round grades

OG - For those that think Edwards' roster spot is in jeopardy, this is not the draft to replace him.  There's only 3 Gs with 1st/2nd round grades, and then a huge drop off to players with a 6th round grade.  

 

Based on all of this, I would argue that our FA priority should be (aside from resigning some of our own guys)

-Safety, Guard (expensive in FA and assuming Edwards is out), and DB.  

Why would you assume Edwards is out?

 

12 hours ago, Allen2Moulds said:

I agree with all of this.  I believe what has hurt us the most, and the primary reason we lack difference makers, is Beane's draft approach, particularly in the 1st round.  As much as he says it's BPA, it sure doesn't seem that way.  Every year he uses the 1st round pick, on our biggest need for that year.  As a result, we are missing out on superior talent at other positions.  Last year was a very good DB class, and it fell favorably for teams that went that route.  I believe Quinyon Mitchell, was the first defensive player taken, all the way at pick 22.  As a rookie, already looks like a top 5 corner.  Beane always says that if a guy sticks out on their board, they will move up to try and grab him.  I only bring that up, because now, not only do we still have a hole at WR, because Coleman seems like he was a big miss, but we also have a hole at DB.  Furthermore, because we missed, we had to spend a 3rd round mid-season for Cooper, due to our poor drafting.   I'm extremely disappointed and have lost a lot of confidence in Beane's drafting ability, at least with our early picks. He really needs to stop forcing the need picks and truly go BPA.  It now has unfortunately reached the point, where we have more holes than we should, or a team full of average guys. 

How is Coleman a big miss?  He had 600 yds, a 19 ypc avg, and missed 4 games.

 

???

[Allen2Moulds]

13 hours ago, pennstate10 said:

Why would you assume Edwards is out?

 

How is Coleman a big miss?  He had 600 yds, a 19 ypc avg, and missed 4 games.

 

???

Maybe I'm being a little harsh, but I was expecting his size to be more of a factor in the playoffs. He had 3 catches on 8 targets for 22yds, in 3 playoff games. He also did very little to shake the narrative, that he struggles to separate. I do think he has the potential to be a solid number 2, but that is not what we were looking for. From what I saw, it seems like we overdrafted him. Played more like a 3rd rounder in my opinion. I don't see him as a difference maker. Listen to both Beane and McDermotts presser from yesterday. They were also disappointed in Keon.

[MiracleAtRich1393]

On 2/24/2025 at 8:27 PM, SoonerBillsFan said:

Looking at this, I package Cook and #30 to move up for a DL. Take a RB in round 4.

Or Cook & #30 for Crosby and take an RB on day 3 😉

[Chandler#81]

13 hours ago, pennstate10 said:

Why would you assume Edwards is out?

 

How is Coleman a big miss?  He had 600 yds, a 19 ypc avg, and missed 4 games.

 

???

He also missed practice (discipline) and a boatload of makeable catches (discipline )while showing very little in route discipline.

[ColoradoBills]

20 hours ago, ngbills said:

Bills have drafted a RB in the first 4 rounds four times since 2019. That is crazy. Especially given both the talent you can get in later rounds and how many good free agents are available for cheat at the position. So maybe we dont draft another RB early and trade that pick to move up or for a player that can help. Please dont draft a RB until 6/7th rounds. 

 

I used to buy into this frame of thought until I looked at the facts.

With the exception of Pacheco and Kyren Willaims (5th round), you show me these RBs (from 2020 on) who can even come close to what Cook has done.

I just don't see it.  

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2020/draft.htm

 

I'm not saying to re-sign Cook at $15M (or even at all), but this 5th, 6th and 7th round stuff is not real.

I even added the 5th round in your scenario.

It's an urban legend.

 

 

[Thurman#1]

On 2/25/2025 at 2:10 PM, GASabresIUFan said:

Oh good, another trade Cook thread.

 

Maybe just maybe we should invest in a player other than Allen who is central to all parts of the offense.  I'm not saying sign him to a ten year extension, but is $15 mill so out of whack for a player who racks up 1400+ yards from scrimmage and is critical to both the running and passing game.  

 

Let's put that contract into perspective.  There were 27 WRs costing over 15 mill last year.  How many of those 27 contributed 1400 yards of offense? One! Only Justin Jefferson.  How many of these overpaid WRs had over 1250 yards? 3 - Jeudy, St Brown and Jefferson.   The best WRs touch the ball about 100-120 times a season.  Cook, even in a rotation, is touching the ball 250 times.  I'd rather pay Cook 15 mill per season for years 5-7, then waste 15 mill+ on a "No. 1" WR.

 

https://overthecap.com/position/wide-receiver

 

https://www.nfl.com/stats/player-stats/category/receiving/2024/REG/all/receivingyards/DESC

 

Maybe, just maybe, we should keep a star offensive player that we drafted and developed.  Given McD's comments on Cook, I suspect management feels like I do.

 

As to the draft, draft a WR early and another late and lets see if some cheap spaghetti sticks.  With the other premium picks get a DL and a CB.  If Johnson walks, grab a RB mid to late to add talent to the depth.  I like GA's Etienne as a replacement for Johnson.  

 

 

 

Yeah, I think it's fair to say that $15M is out of whack.

 

Yeah, if you compare him to WRs, he looks cheap, but that's only because it's a fault comparison when you put an RB against a WR. WRs are worth more. Compare a WR's yards per target to any RB's yards per touch. It's not close. Cook put up 1267 yards, but it took him 258 runs and 38 targets to do that.

 

Any of the WRs who got more yards need 258 plus 38 targets to do it?

 

Compare RBs to RBs. 

 

He can't pass block all that well, which means they want to replace him in most third down situations. That hurts this offense.

 

I'd like to keep him. But not if it requires them to put him in the top two RBs in AAV.

 

 

On 2/27/2025 at 1:46 AM, Allen2Moulds said:

Maybe I'm being a little harsh, but I was expecting his size to be more of a factor in the playoffs. He had 3 catches on 8 targets for 22yds, in 3 playoff games. He also did very little to shake the narrative, that he struggles to separate. I do think he has the potential to be a solid number 2, but that is not what we were looking for. From what I saw, it seems like we overdrafted him. Played more like a 3rd rounder in my opinion. I don't see him as a difference maker. Listen to both Beane and McDermotts presser from yesterday. They were also disappointed in Keon.

 

 

They also made it clear that Keon was playing the last half of the season with wrist problems, which may well have been a broken wrist, though it hasn't been confirmed. 

 

There was absolutely a major fall-off after that injury. He lost contested catches at a much higher rate. And contested catches is one of the main things they wanted him for, particularly as a rookie.

Edited February 28 by Thurman#1

[Thurman#1]

On 2/26/2025 at 12:01 PM, BigAl2526 said:

I agree the Bills are not going to break the bank for James Cook.  If the Bills can't extend Cook for something in the $10 million a year range, they may well move on.  I like the idea of trading him if they can find a partner.  They will want a replacement that has some juice like Cook has.   I don't think there's any way Buffalo ends up with Garrett.  I think the combination of the contract he'll want and the draft capital Cleveland will want will scare them away.  I'll just have to wait and see what the rest of the market looks like.  I do think the Bills are going rely on the draft for defensive tackle help.  We'll see what they can do in free agency and the trade market at edge rusher.  I'm not too worried by the lack of blue chip DBs.  I think there are a lot of DBs that can be picked up in later rounds that can help the Bills.  I do think Buffalo needs to find someone to replace Amari Cooper and hopefully get more production than he did.  I still think Buffalo needs to add some speed at the position.  

 

 

On what you're saying there about Garrett, I think it's a lot more likely than you're assuming. Not that it'll happen, it could clearly go either way.

 

But what Cleveland wants for him is kinda beside the point unless they're willing to keep him on the roster when he's made it clear he'll be willing to make himself annoying.

 

Garrett has a no-trade clause, meaning he'll be able to say no to any trade the Browns make if he doesn't like it. He'll probably only be willing to accept - what??? - six to maybe 10 teams, and many of those might not be in a great position to be in the running. 

 

The Browns will have to take the best offer they can get from a team Garrett likes, and he can be as choosy as he likes. The Browns won't be in a position to get what they ask for. 

 

But yeah, he'll want an adjustment to his contract. Might be willing to wait a year, though, in the right circumstances.

 

I don't know whether the Bills will want to do this, or whether they'll find the prices acceptable. But I think it's not wildly unlikely if they're genuinely interested in taking a shot on him at his age.