A collection of Draft Day stories and experiences from the Buffalo Bills and their advice to incoming players

Late into the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Maxwell Hairston's agent asked if he would come back to Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisc., the site of the draft, for day two. Hairston wasn't worried about that even being necessary.

Sitting in the greenroom right by the door where draft picks entered the stage, he congratulated and dapped up each player that walked by him. In his right hand was the phone he bought specifically for the draft. He used his left hand to high-five picks as they strutted by. When pick 30 rolled around, Hairston heard a buzz and the Buffalo Bills lit up his phone.

"I was just on cloud nine," Hairston said. "When I got that phone call, I tried not to cry, I was trying so hard to fight it, but it just came out. I couldn't even control it. Everything I played for to hear my name being called on draft night … That's probably my number one life experience so far."

Hairston checked in the mirror, making sure his hat was on right and brushed off his shoulders before making his way out onto the stage. Going according to what he planned with Roger Goodell before the night, he dapped up the NFL commissioner and took a look at his brand-new, Buffalo Bills jersey.

"When I grabbed the jersey, it was just a surreal moment. Like real life right now, I just got drafted in the first round," Hairston said. "I see my name on the back. It was cool."

Though his rookie season is now behind him, the 2025 NFL Draft still feels like yesterday to the cornerback. Hairston pinches himself to this day and looks back on photos and videos from the night.

PREDICT THE BILLS DRAFT PICKS

Offensive guard O'Cyrus Torrence didn't want the nerves getting to him. For him, he treated it like just a regular day. As the 2023 NFL Draft continued through the second round, he took his eyes off the TV when he started feeling anxiety creeping up, wanting to remain levelheaded and calm.

In that split second, the 59th overall pick was underway and Torrence got the call.

"The call of my lifetime," Torrence said. "A regular, everyday call for the Bills. But to me, it's life changing."

It was quiet around the young lineman out of Florida while he spoke with the team. Half of his family was with him, whispering to each other wondering if Torrence was talking with an NFL club. The other half of his family was in another room, watching the draft on TV, which was delayed by a few minutes. By the time Torrence got to the other room to announce the news, a craze already erupted around him in celebration.

"Complete," Torrence remembered feeling after his call with Buffalo. "I got accepted. I didn't choose to go there; they chose me to come."

In Pensacola, Fla. for the 2022 NFL Draft, wide receiver Khalil Shakir's family, friends and coaches were gathered around at a beach house wearing hats from the NFL team that they thought would draft Shakir. Just as Buffalo chose him, his loved ones chose Buffalo.

"I had all the people who had a foot in my success. It was more of my appreciation towards everyone," Shakir said. "The called and it was insane. I just remember everybody was like, 'No way, everybody predicted it.'"

Shakir remembered back to when he first started playing football at seven years old, thinking about all the work from that young age that got him to that point — the No. 148 overall selection in the fifth round. The tears were inevitable once he picked up the phone.

"The work wasn't done yet, but just to get my foot in the door is the best thing that I could ever ask for," Shakir said.

Through combine testing, team interviews, agent intel and other draft assessments, many players often have an idea on which day of the draft they'll be selected. For safety Cole Bishop, most projections had him as a second round pick, allowing him and his family to relax during Round 1 at a lake house they rented specifically for the event to celebrate.

"Day two was obviously a little more stressful, but exciting," Bishop said.

Bishop had a good hunch that he was going to be drafted. Experiencing it in the moment, though, brought up all the emotions.

"Just an unreal feeling. You worked for [it] your whole life," the Bills' No. 60 overall pick said. "I was fortunate to be in a position where there was a really good chance I was going to be drafted."

For others, the picture is murky. Every team's draft board is different, opinions vary on the grade of each prospect. In turn, draft experiences for these prospects can be a topsy-turvy experience, guessing where they might land.

Right tackle Spencer Brown was someone who fit that profile in 2021. Labeled a 'rare blend of size and athletic ability' but 'extremely raw and inconsistent,' the opinions on Brown's fit in the NFL were diverse.

Brown watched as he slid from the second round, into the third. Confusion from Brown and his family mounted as other names were called on the TV.

As it got deeper into Round 3, Brown's family gave him some space, moving to the garage while he sat alone in the corner.

He passed the time playing blackjack on his phone, taking his mind off the draft. That's when the Bills hit with pick No. 93.

Brown instantly answered the phone once he saw "Buffalo, N.Y." pop up. His college teammates who joined him for the day all stood, his family returned from the garage and they formed a path for Brown as he spoke with general manager Brandon Beane, owner Terry Pegula and former head coach Sean McDermott.

"There's a video out there and I was just fumbling my words. I couldn't even format a good sentence. Just trying to seem too cool, like 'I guess, oh yeah, I got drafted. That's great.' When the reality is I was freaking out on the inside," Brown said.

That call is something every player practices repeatedly before their phone rings the day of.

No matter how many times they imitate the phone call, though, it's not uncommon to come up blank in the moment. Running back Ray Davis remembered practicing for these different scenarios before the 2024 NFL Draft. When it actually happened, all that practice went straight out the window. He even thought for a moment that it was a prank call when he saw '716' appear on his phone.

"I tried not to keep saying, 'Yes, sir.' I think that's all I kept saying was, 'Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes, coach.' I just had no words," Davis said. "When you get the call, you just lose words because you're just thinking, 'This is real.'"

For defensive end Greg Rousseau, he had another thing on his mind when his name was called: don't trip.

"'Don't slip or trip or do something clumsy.' That's what I was thinking, 'Don't do nothing stupid,'" Rousseau said, recalling the moment he walked across the stage at the 2021 NFL Draft in Cleveland, Ohio. "I was counting my steps, step-by-step, across the stage. I did not want to be that guy to fall. I was nervous."

Rousseau was the No. 30 overall pick that year. He assessed all the different places he could end up beforehand, feeling the anticipation for the next phase of his career.

"I was happy it was Buffalo, a good team with a vision. So, I was ecstatic. It was something I worked for my whole life. It was a dream come true," Rousseau said. "I always watched the draft as a kid, so seeing it actually happen to me – me being the person walking across the stage – it was a surreal moment."

Touchdown in Buffalo | First introductions to the city, fans and team

The moment of getting drafted coincides with a celebration — a moment to rejoice in a lifelong goal finally realized. But the celebrations don't last long. A new team awaits.

Soon after getting drafted, Bishop had a flight booked to get to Buffalo the very next day. Early in the morning, the safety hopped on the plane.

He remembered seeing the city decorated in Bills paraphernalia and was pleasantly surprised at how many fans already knew who he was just hours into being a Buffalo Bill.

"It just showed you how interested in the Bills that people are around here," Bishop said.

Hairston's first order of business was tapping into Buffalo's culture, getting a taste of his new home.

"My first impression of Buffalo? I was like, 'I want to try some wings, man.' I've actually tried every wing company out there," Hairston said. "My favorite's America's Best Wings because they have this hot lemon flavor — I get all flats."

The cold weather wasn't a bother for the Michigan native. Everything about Buffalo felt right. Hairston described it as the "perfect spot" for him to lock in, focus and not get distracted.

Shakir also learned about the wing culture very quickly, specifically the standards for dipping sauces. Once he adjusted to blue cheese, he embraced the community of Buffalo and Bills Mafia.

"[It's] a community that cares so much about the team. Here, football is everything and it's the best thing ever when you got a community that's just so into the guys, into the players, into everything that we do. The support is unreal," Shakir said. "I couldn't have asked to end up in a better spot."

After accepting the cold weather, Davis was excited to be a Bill for two reasons: reconnecting with running back James Cook III at the professional level and joining a team that embodied his journey as a player.

"I think my dad said, 'That's the perfect spot with [Cook] being there.' I obviously played against [Cook] in college, so we just knew it was a good opportunity to go in and just showcase that another SEC back belonged to the NFL," Davis said.

"My first impression [of Buffalo] really was just, 'Man, this team is full of a bunch of guys who got something to prove.' I feel like that was me my whole life, my whole journey. I just always had something to prove. So, that's when I knew I could belong here."

When Brown first got to Buffalo, he settled in with a team he wanted to play for ever since watching a friend of his, former guard Ike Boettger, have success as a Bill.

"Once I got here, it was like imposter syndrome, like, 'I shouldn't be here, what the hell is going on?'" Brown recalled. "Just trying to fall into place, and obviously the winning culture … trying to help the Bills win any way I can."

Hairston couldn't wait to meet players like cornerback Tre'Davious White and linebacker Matt Milano, who he watched and was a fan of for years. He soon realized how inviting and welcoming everyone on the team was, not feeling like he had to stick to one group.

"I came in and was just myself. I'm not going to try to do too much. Just let it flow naturally," Hairston said. "I feel like I'm tight with everybody on the team. It's all about building a brotherhood, and that's the culture that the Bills bring."

Bishop reunited with tight end Dalton Kincaid in Buffalo. They spent two seasons playing together at Utah, getting drafted a year apart from one another. Kincaid wasn't the only player that made the Bills feel like home, though.

Bishop described Buffalo as a family environment, recalling how welcoming everyone was of him when he first arrived. It reminded him of how the Utes were over his three years in college.

"It seems like this is one of the few places like that [in the NFL]," Bishop said of the Bills.

The college-like chemistry also stood out to Shakir. Each player in the locker room has a shared work ethic, grinding every day to get better. In the offseason when nearly every Bill shows up for voluntary workouts, it speaks volumes to younger players getting their first taste of the NFL.

"We want to be around each other because we know that team chemistry off the field is what's going to lead to success on the field," Shakir said. "Every year that has went on, the team is always super close and the bond is unreal."

'It's only going to happen once' | Bills share advice with the 2026 NFL Draft class

While Davis waited for his name to be called in Round 4 after expecting to be a day two pick, he soon realized that it didn't matter where he fell in the draft.

"I had to sit back and just feel blessed that I even have an opportunity to get drafted. There are guys who don't get that opportunity, guys who have to fight twice as hard. There was excitement, there was a sense of relief when I was drafted." Davis recalled. "At the same time, it was really just more excited for my family because everything that they had done, it was for that moment – not just for me, but for everybody. It was like we were all getting drafted and we all knew what it took to get there and what it was going to take to stay."

Whatever "enjoy it" means to them, Torrence said that's what the focus should be on. The draft should be a moment of excitement and joy, not worry and nerves.

"It's out of your control," Shakir shared. "Just whatever area code pops up on that phone, trust it, believe it and keep your head down and grind."

Like the others, Brown said it's important to put the numbers aside on draft night. It's a message that a mentor of his instilled in his mind.

"'It's not about when you go, it's where you go,'" the offensive tackle recalled. "Just enjoy the moments with your family and friends and take it all in. It's only going to happen once."

Hairston agreed, reminding the 2026 draft class that "you're only going to get drafted to the NFL once."

The cornerback said while it's important to keep their younger selves in mind when the phone rings, the future NFL rookies should do their best to stay in the moment and trust that whatever team drafts them, that is what's meant to be.

Being the 128th overall pick in 2024 wasn't on Davis' mind when he got to Buffalo. He wasn't letting his NFL opportunity slip by him just because of a number. Davis was given the chance to live out his dream – just like every other player that touched an NFL field, drafted or undrafted.

"I tell all the guys, 'Man, don't worry about what round you're going. That doesn't really mean anything.' Everybody walked through those doors. We're all the same round; we're all the same pick. We are in the same position. That's what we get caught up so much on in the football world, is the first-round pick. That's just a number … the next day, you're just another guy," Davis said.

"Prove to yourself that no matter what, you belong where you belong. Once you step on that field, don't let any number dictate the type of player that you know you will become."

The grind doesn't stop once a player makes it to the NFL. The hard work is just beginning, whether it's studying the playbook or adapting to a new routine the body needs.

"Just be where your feet are, take it one day at a time, one step at a time, wherever you get drafted. Just because you get drafted doesn't mean you're stopping now. There's still a lot more work to do," Rousseau said.

For future Buffalo Bills in particular, a new family, their NFL team, awaits the 2026 rookie class.

Position and age don't matter. A mismatch of ages, draft grades and positions make up a true NFL roster. While many players, like Torrence, don't expect every team or situation to feel like the perfect fit, Buffalo is a special place and team. If they have a shared, common goal in mind, the future rookies will fit in just fine.

"Get ready to win that Super Bowl in the new stadium," Hairston said.

Off the field, it's about appreciating the little things. It's not a bustling city like New York City. It's a calm, easy environment.

Shakir said it's important to lean into the community as much as possible, giving back to Bills Mafia who supports the team through its highs and lows year after year. Showing up for them is just as important as showing up on the field.

"And never ask for ranch at a brewery," Shakir added.

Buffalo, N.Y. is made special by the people. A blue-collar town that works for everything they've earned and appreciates a simpler life revolving around sports.

"Nothing flashy is going on over here. Leave your Lamborghini at home, wear sweatpants and lay low," Brown said. "It's a simple life; it's a simple place."