2025 NFL Draft thread - Round 1

[folz]

1 hour ago, K D said:

The pick is whatever, nobody would have expected that, he wasn't highly ranked and was a round 2 guy. I just have to laugh at all of the guys that are like YES I LOVE THAT PICK. You guys would love anything they do. They don't have a great round 1 record. Beane is better at the mid rounds. Not sure what the deal is with that. Not expecting this kid to play at all this year 

 

48 minutes ago, K D said:

Not a single person had him over Johnson or Amos. I prefer the Eagles way of drafting round 1 talent. Take the best guy available. Bills try and be too cute with their picks. "Bills DNA." The DNA should be get the best player on the board period.

 

Corner was a position of need. We got probably one of the top 3-5 CBs (picking 30th). We got the fastest CB in the draft. A lot of draftniks may have had other corners higher, but the Bills are drafting for their team, their scheme, etc. So, I can only assume that they felt that Hairston fit them best of the corners who were left. So why wouldn't I be on board with that. Yes, Beane has made mistakes (Elam)...but do I think that means he will screw up every 1st round or cb pick? No. He picked Benford too. And McD picked Tre White. Look, I don't scout the college players. I'm not sure if Johnson, Amos, or anyone else would be better or not (so laugh at us all you want). But Hairston is the guy they chose. He's the guy we will be rooting for over the next few years, so, yeah, I'm getting on board.

 

Doesn't mean you can't have a dissenting opinion. That's fine. Lots of people felt we should have traded down (probably couldn't find a partner), or would have preferred a different player...but it is what it is now. 

 

Also, one of the guys on ESPN pointed out that he had a shoulder injury last season that kept him out of 5 games, and when he came back from the injury, his run support was lacking a bit due to the lingering injury (he's good now, heath-wise). He said if he came out the year before, after his junior year, he wouldn't have lasted to this point in the draft---meaning he would have been a much higher 1st round draft pick. Sometimes when you are picking late, you have to go with the highest ceiling. Doesn't always work out, but I'm on board with that philosophy.

 

And as far as no one having Hairston over Amos (or Johnson), just on a quick Google search:

-CBS Sports had Johnson at 17 overall (1st cb), Hairston at 26 overall (3rd cb), and Amos at 33 overall (6th cb).

-Walter Football had Johnson the 2nd-ranked corner, Hairston as the 3rd-ranked corner, and Amos the 5th-ranked corner

-NBCSports had Johnson as the 2nd-ranked corner, Hairston as the 5th-ranked corner, and Amos as the 6th-ranked corner.

-Daniel Jeremiah had Johnson at 13 overall, Hairston at 32nd overall, and Amos at 41 overall

-NFL Mock Draft Database had Johnson at #13 overall, Hairston at #34 overall and Amos at #38 overall

-Pete Prisco had Hairston at 19 overall, Johnson at 31 overall, and Amos not in the first round

-Mel Kiper had Johnson as the #1 CB and Hairston as the #3 CB. Amos did not make his top 10 CBs.

Todd McShay had Johnson at 17, Hairston at 24, and Amos at 48.

 

So, there are 8 people at least (I stopped looking) that all had Hairston over Amos, and at least one that had Hairston above both Johnson and Amos.

 

I'm curious. Johnson was pretty high up on a lot of draft boards (generally a first-rounder, many had him in the 13-19 range). Why do you (anyone) think he slipped?

[Thrivefourfive]

7 minutes ago, gonzo1105 said:

The Eagles also just got done double dipping with two DBs just last year to bulk up their secondary in the first and 2nd round 

They did. Safe to say the Bills needs are what the Eagles have/had. It’s fine if they get there different ways But man, their advantages at all the other positions.. Devonta Smith would be a revelation on our roster. Here’s to hoping that super team implodes someway and the Bills can do enough over the next two days to build a lightning strike season. 

[Thrivefourfive]

5 minutes ago, folz said:

 

 

Corner was a position of need. We got probably one of the top 3-5 CBs (picking 30th). We got the fastest CB in the draft. A lot of draftniks may have had other corners higher, but the Bills are drafting for their team, their scheme, etc. So, I can only assume that they felt that Hairston fit them best of the corners who were left. So why wouldn't I be on board with that. Yes, Beane has made mistakes (Elam)...but do I think that means he will screw up every 1st round or cb pick? No. He picked Benford too. And McD picked Tre White. Look, I don't scout the college players. I'm not sure if Johnson, Amos, or anyone else would be better or not (so laugh at us all you want). But Hairston is the guy they chose. He's the guy we will be rooting for over the next few years, so, yeah, I'm getting on board.

 

Doesn't mean you can't have a dissenting opinion. That's fine. Lots of people felt we should have traded down (probably couldn't find a partner), or would have preferred a different player...but it is what it is now. 

 

Also, one of the guys on ESPN pointed out that he had a shoulder injury last season that kept him out of 5 games, and when he came back from the injury, his run support was lacking a bit due to the lingering injury (he's good now, heath-wise). He said if he came out the year before, after his junior year, he wouldn't have lasted to this point in the draft---meaning he would have been a much higher 1st round draft pick. Sometimes when you are picking late, you have to go with the highest ceiling. Doesn't always work out, but I'm on board with that philosophy.

 

And as far as no one having Hairston over Amos (or Johnson), just on a quick Google search:

-CBS Sports had Johnson at 17 overall (1st cb), Hairston at 26 overall (3rd cb), and Amos at 33 overall (6th cb).

-Walter Football had Johnson the 2nd-ranked corner, Hairston as the 3rd-ranked corner, and Amos the 5th-ranked corner

-NBCSports had Johnson as the 2nd-ranked corner, Hairston as the 5th-ranked corner, and Amos as the 6th-ranked corner.

-Daniel Jeremiah had Johnson at 13 overall, Hairston at 32nd overall, and Amos at 41 overall

-NFL Mock Draft Database had Johnson at #13 overall, Hairston at #34 overall and Amos at #38 overall

-Pete Prisco had Hairston at 19 overall, Johnson at 31 overall, and Amos not in the first round

-Mel Kiper had Johnson as the #1 CB and Hairston as the #3 CB. Amos did not make his top 10 CBs.

Todd McShay had Johnson at 17, Hairston at 24, and Amos at 48.

 

So, there are 8 people at least (I stopped looking) that all had Hairston over Amos, and at least one that had Hairston above both Johnson and Amos.

 

I'm curious. Johnson was pretty high up on a lot of draft boards (generally a first-rounder, many had him in the 13-19 range). Why do you (anyone) think he slipped?

He said that if Hairston duplicated his previous season last year he’d be top ten.

[Virgil]

14 minutes ago, folz said:

 

 

Corner was a position of need. We got probably one of the top 3-5 CBs (picking 30th). We got the fastest CB in the draft. A lot of draftniks may have had other corners higher, but the Bills are drafting for their team, their scheme, etc. So, I can only assume that they felt that Hairston fit them best of the corners who were left. So why wouldn't I be on board with that. Yes, Beane has made mistakes (Elam)...but do I think that means he will screw up every 1st round or cb pick? No. He picked Benford too. And McD picked Tre White. Look, I don't scout the college players. I'm not sure if Johnson, Amos, or anyone else would be better or not (so laugh at us all you want). But Hairston is the guy they chose. He's the guy we will be rooting for over the next few years, so, yeah, I'm getting on board.

 

Doesn't mean you can't have a dissenting opinion. That's fine. Lots of people felt we should have traded down (probably couldn't find a partner), or would have preferred a different player...but it is what it is now. 

 

Also, one of the guys on ESPN pointed out that he had a shoulder injury last season that kept him out of 5 games, and when he came back from the injury, his run support was lacking a bit due to the lingering injury (he's good now, heath-wise). He said if he came out the year before, after his junior year, he wouldn't have lasted to this point in the draft---meaning he would have been a much higher 1st round draft pick. Sometimes when you are picking late, you have to go with the highest ceiling. Doesn't always work out, but I'm on board with that philosophy.

 

And as far as no one having Hairston over Amos (or Johnson), just on a quick Google search:

-CBS Sports had Johnson at 17 overall (1st cb), Hairston at 26 overall (3rd cb), and Amos at 33 overall (6th cb).

-Walter Football had Johnson the 2nd-ranked corner, Hairston as the 3rd-ranked corner, and Amos the 5th-ranked corner

-NBCSports had Johnson as the 2nd-ranked corner, Hairston as the 5th-ranked corner, and Amos as the 6th-ranked corner.

-Daniel Jeremiah had Johnson at 13 overall, Hairston at 32nd overall, and Amos at 41 overall

-NFL Mock Draft Database had Johnson at #13 overall, Hairston at #34 overall and Amos at #38 overall

-Pete Prisco had Hairston at 19 overall, Johnson at 31 overall, and Amos not in the first round

-Mel Kiper had Johnson as the #1 CB and Hairston as the #3 CB. Amos did not make his top 10 CBs.

Todd McShay had Johnson at 17, Hairston at 24, and Amos at 48.

 

So, there are 8 people at least (I stopped looking) that all had Hairston over Amos, and at least one that had Hairston above both Johnson and Amos.

 

I'm curious. Johnson was pretty high up on a lot of draft boards (generally a first-rounder, many had him in the 13-19 range). Why do you (anyone) think he slipped?

You came with receipts!

[Doc Brown]

1 hour ago, jahnyc said:

Interesting how the Bills keep a tight ship about who they like and draft plans.  Maybe they would have drafted one of the top DTs if available, but very few mocks had them taking Hairston.

 

Bills have a big need at DT, particularly with Ogunjobi out for the first six games and Carter disappointing last season.  Not sure any of the DTs left will be plug and play, but whoever they draft will need to be able to be at least a rotational player this season given our lack of depth.  I am not optimistic.

I don't think it was a coincidence they signed Tre White a few days before the draft instead of a few days after.  Didn't want that McDuffie leap to happen to them again.

[Warriorspikes51]

Eagles win again.

 

I’m not saying I wanted an LB tonight

 

but Jihaad is a beast

[Jerboski]

2 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

Based on what I was told - which was don't expect DL in the first unless there is a big run on DBs - and what Beane said at his presser before the draft, I don't think DT/DL was ever going to be the pick.  I shared this with some people here in private, but I had some people I trust tell me the other day that Bills have secondary weighted higher than DL heading into the draft.  Beane echoed this himself almost verbatim talking about the value of a guy playing near 100% of the snaps vs a DL in how we like to rotate them being a 2 down player and seeing 40-50% snaps and the overall impact said player has based on snap counts.  

 

And @GunnerBilloriginally pointed out to me too that if you look at our predraft visits, none of the expected first DT's were players we had in.  We only met with guys like Harmon and Grant at the combine, but no documented visits or further meetings with them since.  The DT's we had in were all guys expected to be more 2nd round targets or later, and the DB's we were meeting with had more guys we would likely need to target at 30 to land.  

 

So...I think its pretty clear that secondary help was their primary target heading into the draft with our first pick.  As with any draft, how it falls could have impacted that, but everything points to they got a guy who was a primary target.  

And this is why they haven’t sniffed the Super Bowl.. imagine valuing cornerback more than the DL, absolutely ***** stupid 

[mannc]

4 hours ago, folz said:

 

 

Corner was a position of need. We got probably one of the top 3-5 CBs (picking 30th). 

Why are you making it so complicated? Going into the draft with a major need at corner—and picking 30th—we got the first  true outside corner off the board in what was considered a pretty good CB class.

[K D]

5 hours ago, folz said:

 

 

Corner was a position of need. We got probably one of the top 3-5 CBs (picking 30th). We got the fastest CB in the draft. A lot of draftniks may have had other corners higher, but the Bills are drafting for their team, their scheme, etc. So, I can only assume that they felt that Hairston fit them best of the corners who were left. So why wouldn't I be on board with that. Yes, Beane has made mistakes (Elam)...but do I think that means he will screw up every 1st round or cb pick? No. He picked Benford too. And McD picked Tre White. Look, I don't scout the college players. I'm not sure if Johnson, Amos, or anyone else would be better or not (so laugh at us all you want). But Hairston is the guy they chose. He's the guy we will be rooting for over the next few years, so, yeah, I'm getting on board.

 

Doesn't mean you can't have a dissenting opinion. That's fine. Lots of people felt we should have traded down (probably couldn't find a partner), or would have preferred a different player...but it is what it is now. 

 

Also, one of the guys on ESPN pointed out that he had a shoulder injury last season that kept him out of 5 games, and when he came back from the injury, his run support was lacking a bit due to the lingering injury (he's good now, heath-wise). He said if he came out the year before, after his junior year, he wouldn't have lasted to this point in the draft---meaning he would have been a much higher 1st round draft pick. Sometimes when you are picking late, you have to go with the highest ceiling. Doesn't always work out, but I'm on board with that philosophy.

 

And as far as no one having Hairston over Amos (or Johnson), just on a quick Google search:

-CBS Sports had Johnson at 17 overall (1st cb), Hairston at 26 overall (3rd cb), and Amos at 33 overall (6th cb).

-Walter Football had Johnson the 2nd-ranked corner, Hairston as the 3rd-ranked corner, and Amos the 5th-ranked corner

-NBCSports had Johnson as the 2nd-ranked corner, Hairston as the 5th-ranked corner, and Amos as the 6th-ranked corner.

-Daniel Jeremiah had Johnson at 13 overall, Hairston at 32nd overall, and Amos at 41 overall

-NFL Mock Draft Database had Johnson at #13 overall, Hairston at #34 overall and Amos at #38 overall

-Pete Prisco had Hairston at 19 overall, Johnson at 31 overall, and Amos not in the first round

-Mel Kiper had Johnson as the #1 CB and Hairston as the #3 CB. Amos did not make his top 10 CBs.

Todd McShay had Johnson at 17, Hairston at 24, and Amos at 48.

 

So, there are 8 people at least (I stopped looking) that all had Hairston over Amos, and at least one that had Hairston above both Johnson and Amos.

 

I'm curious. Johnson was pretty high up on a lot of draft boards (generally a first-rounder, many had him in the 13-19 range). Why do you (anyone) think he slipped?

That's why I said I prefer the Eagles way of drafting. You take the best guy available. You don't take the 4-5th best corner just because he's the fastest and you decided your team needs someone fast. That's dumb. You get the best player and then eventually you have a team full of great players. That's how the Eagles do it and that's why they are waaaay better than us at drafting.

Beane is not good at the top of the draft. He's been good later on which is when you draft for specific traits. At the top you just get the best player. Simple and effective

[JGMcD2]

9 minutes ago, K D said:

That's why I said I prefer the Eagles way of drafting. You take the best guy available. You don't take the 4-5th best corner just because he's the fastest and you decided your team needs someone fast. That's dumb. You get the best player and then eventually you have a team full of great players. That's how the Eagles do it and that's why they are waaaay better than us at drafting.

Can you explain how determining the best player works? I could, but would love to better understand how you think it happens. 

[YoloinOhio]

No notebook or yellow parka but he will fit right in 

 

 

15 minutes ago, K D said:

That's why I said I prefer the Eagles way of drafting. You take the best guy available. You don't take the 4-5th best corner just because he's the fastest and you decided your team needs someone fast. That's dumb. You get the best player and then eventually you have a team full of great players. That's how the Eagles do it and that's why they are waaaay better than us at drafting.

Beane is not good at the top of the draft. He's been good later on which is when you draft for specific traits. At the top you just get the best player. Simple and effective

You sure he wasn’t the bpa?

 

 

[K D]

2 minutes ago, JGMcD2 said:

Can you explain how determining the best player works? I could, but would love to better understand how you think it happens. 

Beane has already said they rank players based on need and traits, not necessarily best player. He said their board will look different than other team boards because they have different needs. I prefer the Eagles way of doing it by just taking the best players. I think the proof is in the pudding. Simple as that.

[JGMcD2]

2 minutes ago, K D said:

Beane has already said they rank players based on need and traits, not necessarily best player. He said their board will look different than other team boards because they have different needs. I prefer the Eagles way of doing it by just taking the best players. I think the proof is in the pudding. Simple as that.

Where did Beane say this?

[No_Matter_What]

Anybody knows who was in green room and didn't get drafted? Only Jalen Milroe?

 

EDIT: I googled final list. Milroe only if I see correctly.

Edited 1 hour ago by No_Matter_What

[K D]

21 minutes ago, JGMcD2 said:

Where did Beane say this?

In his pre draft press conference he said "trust your board, build it for your team. We don't grade for the league we grade for the Buffalo Bills, how we value players, how we use players and that's how you get some differences on where players are graded." Beane puts an emphasis on "Bills DNA" and specific traits at positions of need. About the pick he said he wanted to add speed to the room at a position of need.

 

Personally that wouldn't be anything I consider at all when taking your first pick. You take the best football player on the board which is what the Eagles do which is why every year everyone is like omg how did they get that guy? Because guys fall for whatever reason, GM's being cute drafting for need over talent, and then the Eagles just take the best guy on the board. There's no trick to it. I think GM's are outsmarting themselves when sometimes the simplest solution is the best one.

 

Later on in the draft it's a real concern that the guy can even make the team. That's when then it's ok to draft for specific needs and traits. You want the guy to have a chance to make the team. That's not a problem at the top of the draft. I think the Bills have had lackluster results in rounds 1-2 and they need to do something different (I prefer the Philly model). Later rounds I fully trust they will do what's best for the team.

[Don Otreply]

11 hours ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

Don't you mean "To the pain"?

It may not mean what he thinks it means…

[JGMcD2]

3 minutes ago, K D said:

In his pre draft press conference he said "trust your board, build it for your team. We don't grade for the league we grade for the Buffalo Bills, how we value players, how we use players and that's how you get some differences on where players are graded." Beane puts an emphasis on "Bills DNA" and specific traits at positions of need. About the pick he said he wanted to add speed to the room at a position of need.

 

Personally that wouldn't be anything I consider at all when taking your first pick. You take the best football player on the board which is what the Eagles do which is why every year everyone is like omg how did they get that guy? Because guys fall for whatever reason, GM's being cute drafting for need over talent, and then the Eagles just take the best guy on the board. There's no trick to it. I think GM's are outsmarting themselves when sometimes the simplest solution is the best one.

 

Later on in the draft it's a real concern that the guy can even make the team. That's when then it's ok to draft for specific needs and traits. You want the guy to have a chance to make the team. That's not a problem at the top of the draft. I think the Bills have had lackluster results in rounds 1-2 and they need to do something different (I prefer the Philly model). Later rounds I fully trust they will do what's best for the team.

You’re misinterpreting the quote 

[GunnerBill]

Just now, K D said:

In his pre draft press conference he said "trust your board, build it for your team. We don't grade for the league we grade for the Buffalo Bills, how we value players, how we use players and that's how you get some differences on where players are graded." Beane puts an emphasis on "Bills DNA" and specific traits at positions of need. About the pick he said he wanted to add speed to the room at a position of need.

 

Personally that wouldn't be anything I consider at all when taking your first pick. You take the best football player on the board which is what the Eagles do which is why every year everyone is like omg how did they get that guy? Because guys fall for whatever reason, GM's being cute drafting for need over talent, and then the Eagles just take the best guy on the board. There's no trick to it. I think GM's are outsmarting themselves when sometimes the simplest solution is the best one.

 

Later on in the draft it's a real concern that the guy can even make the team. That's when then it's ok to draft for specific needs and traits. You want the guy to have a chance to make the team. That's not a problem at the top of the draft. I think the Bills have had lackluster results in rounds 1-2 and they need to do something different (I prefer the Philly model). Later rounds I fully trust they will do what's best for the team.

 

He did not say they they factor positions of need into how they grade. Now I am not saying they don't. I actually think they are a bit guilty of that personally. But that isn't what Beane said. It's you projecting. I don't happen to disagree with you expcept potentially on the extent to which that makes a difference. I suspect Hariston was one of those guys that was a late first on some boards and a high second on others. He was a top 32 type player. But top 32 doesn't always mean first round grade. The Bills are one of the teams on the higher end of the evaluation for Hariston because of how he fits their scheme. 

[gonzo1105]

7 hours ago, K D said:

Not a single person had him over Johnson or Amos. I prefer the Eagles way of drafting round 1 talent. Take the best guy available. Bills try and be too cute with their picks. "Bills DNA." The DNA should be get the best player on the board period.

Oh good sir I refer you to my final mock where I had Hairston being the first CB off the board 

[SoTier]

7 hours ago, jahnyc said:

Interesting how the Bills keep a tight ship about who they like and draft plans.  Maybe they would have drafted one of the top DTs if available, but very few mocks had them taking Hairston.

 

Bills have a big need at DT, particularly with Ogunjobi out for the first six games and Carter disappointing last season.  Not sure any of the DTs left will be plug and play, but whoever they draft will need to be able to be at least a rotational player this season given our lack of depth.  I am not optimistic.

 

Most draft experts expected a run on DBs, especially CBs, in the first run because there were fewer really good DB prospects than really good DT prospects.   Instead,  there was a run on DTs that eliminated all of the top-rated DTs well before the Bills' turn. The expected run on DBs never materialized.  Hairston was the third CB off the board behind Hunter and Barron (who went  later than expected).  Most mocks didn't have the Bills taking Hairston because they likely expected him to be long gone.  

 

There are still some decent DT prospects left.

 

50 minutes ago, K D said:

Beane has already said they rank players based on need and traits, not necessarily best player. He said their board will look different than other team boards because they have different needs. I prefer the Eagles way of doing it by just taking the best players. I think the proof is in the pudding. Simple as that.

 

Every team factors need into their evaluations to get their lists of "best players available", especially at the top of the draft.   They also consider how a player fits into their offense or defense.   If you think that the Eagles traded up to take Jihad Campbell just because some draftniks think he was their "highest rated player"  without regard to how he fit into their plans going forward, you are not being realistic.