The Buffalo Bills' rookies have taken different paths through their first NFL season. But cornerback Maxwell Hairston, safety Jordan Hancock, tight end Jackson Hawes and defensive tackles Deone Walker and T.J. Sanders all share one thing: they know they aren't doing it alone.
With December and January football underway, many players feel that's when the "real" football starts. In college, the five would've already been done with the regular season for a couple weeks by the time the NFL hits Week 16. Making those adjustments can cause first-year players to hit a "rookie wall" both mentally and physically.
"Listen to your body and be willing to help your body," left tackle Dion Dawkins has told the Bills' rookies. "That's the process to get through the rookie wall."
Each player's individual journey helped prepare them for these moments.
"Now it's really time for the rookie wall. Now it's time to grow," said Hancock, the 2025 fifth rounder. "I heard December, January – that's when the season starts. It just keeps me on my toes."
Hancock, Hairston and Sanders dealt with injuries early in the 2025 season. Hancock didn't play his first game until Week 4 against New Orleans but has registered 14 tackles in 10 appearances since his debut.
Hairston faced adversity out of the gate, overcoming a knee in training camp and making his NFL debut in Week 8. He provided an immediate boost to the Bills defense with a crucial interception in the fourth quarter against the Chiefs in his second game.
Sanders was an early-season contributor but was absent the whole month of October due to a knee injury. That period of rehabbing is when Sanders felt his rookie wall hit the hardest, going through the same routine day after day and not being out on the field. The key to pushing past was maintaining a positive outlook.
"I feel like the rookie wall if you just keep a positive mindset, stay present, you won't ever really hit it," he said. "I haven't over stressed things that I can't control."
For Hairston, he doesn't take his playing time for granted, recalling the emotions of watching the game from afar.
"I know what it felt like to not be able to play and that's something I didn't like," the cornerback said. "I'm playing now, my body might hurt, mentally might be going through stuff, but I'm blessed and grateful to be able to go out there and play."
Staying present in the moment is a huge mental element to their preparation. Sanders emphasized remaining focused on where the Bills are at in the moment, not looking too far ahead and not dwelling on the past.
"I've grown a lot mentally, not thinking about the end picture, just thinking about what gets me there," Sanders said. "That's the biggest thing that's helped me so far."
Sanders was a second-round draft pick, 41st overall. In his nine appearances so far in 2025, he registered 11 tackles and one pass defended.
That mental development and maturity is where the rookies find themselves growing the most through the season. Discipline with their new routines, instilling positive habits on and off the field and building relationships with coaches and teammates is where they credited their growth.
Hancock and Hairston, especially, hold each other accountable. It's not just about their physical work or preparation for the game, like watching film. For the roommates, it's about harping on the little things in addition to, even something as simple as treating everyone around them with respect. Since arriving in Buffalo, the two promised to over-communicate.
"We got close at the combine because I was around [Hancock]," Hairston said. "Over-communicating is something that we said we were going to do, and just taking it play by play."
Hairston was the 30th overall selection of the draft with the Bills picking him up in the first round. Despite missing part of the season, he's logged 12 tackles, five passes defensed and two interceptions since being out on the field.
Each of them learned to fall in love with the process of becoming a pro – and an adult.
"Just growing up, being an adult. In college, you have a lot of college people around you and everything like that, but as an adult, you have to handle your priorities and knowing what I have to do and not just doing my hobbies all the time," Hancock said. "It's just a priority. I have to watch film, I have to eat, I have to communicate. At safety, you are the quarterback of the defense, technically, so you really have to study and prepare. I feel like that's what really, from day one into now, is what I've changed."
For TE Jackson Hawes, it's finding ways to keep things interesting even if some days feel the same or aren't as exciting as the others.
"Falling in love with the whole routine, process of it," Hawes said helps him combat the rookie wall. "There are some days that are certainly more mundane than others."
Hawes was a fifth-round selection, 173rd overall in the draft. Over his 14 games in 2025 so far, he had 13 receptions for 161 yards and three touchdowns.
Walker and Hairston said their maturity came on the football field, especially understanding the playbook and learning newer techniques than what they were used to.
"I feel like there was a great jump with me playing more comfortable, playing with my feet under me, learning the technique, taking what we do in practice and taking it out to the field during games," Walker said.
The Bills drafted Walker in the fourth round, 109th overall. He has 33 tackles, two passes defensed, one sack and one forced fumble in counting.
"I've seen myself grow in a manner of ways, whether that's technically in the playbook going to play calls, executing the play calls, whether it's learning how to have a short memory and really applying it and knowing that my teammates really got my back like that," Hairston said. "That's probably the biggest thing I felt as I got back to playing."
The rookies – not just Hairston exclusively – know that the veterans have their backs. They allow the younger guys to play free, not overthinking their game on the field or their habits off the field. Hairston said having just a split second to make a decision during a game is easier knowing his teammates have his back. Even if he makes a mistake, he's grown mentally knowing that one play doesn't determine the whole game.
"Honestly, how I kind of combat the rookie wall is relying on older guys," Hairston said. "But something that helps me is allowing myself to be human, just try not to make the same mistakes."
Hairston said everyone on the Bills is a leader to him and he tries to absorb as much as possible from those around him to make him better and overcome adversity. Specifically, nine-year veteran and All-Pro cornerback Tre'Davious White has mentored and guided Hairston throughout the season.
White said it's difficult for a player like Hairston to hit a rookie wall, not just because of the time away due to injury, but because of the kind of person he is. Hairston's high energy is something everyone wants to be around, and White said if the rookie's smiling – which he is almost always – then it's a great day.
"He's a student of the game and he's a guy that's willing to listen," White said of Hairston. "So anytime I can give him any little nuggets, I can see him putting those things to fruition and using them. He's a great kid, man, and I just hope that he continues to excel and continues to have a promising career."
Sanders leans on fifth-year defensive end Greg Rousseau. Rousseau also battled through injury, but especially since Sanders moved around positions, Rousseau has been a great mentor for him as he adjusted to edge. Sanders said he instills confidence in the rookie while also keeping him even keeled, not getting too high or too low.
"I feel like we do a good job of hitting the reset button every week," Rousseau said. "[Sanders and Walker are] both hungry, not really complacent or tired."
Outside of Rousseau, Walker said sixth-year defensive end A.J. Epenesa and 12-year veteran defensive tackle DaQuan Jones are two of many vets he connected with in his first season. He emphasized the importance of building and maintaining relationships to jump over the rookie wall hurdle.
"[Walker] is playing really good ball. I think he can be special in this league, the way he goes about everything, the way he practices, always going full speed no matter what. That translates over to the game days," Jones said of Walker. "His future is very bright."
Epenesa commended both Walker and Sanders on how they approached the transition from college to the NFL, saying they both handled it with grace and was impressed by it as well.
"It's definitely a different world in college, so it's a little different for their transition to come into the league," Epenesa said. "They're all good people, good souls, which is the biggest concern."
Helping them battle the rookie wall, Epenesa said he tries to keep things energetic and positive while helping them respond to challenges without losing confidence in themselves.
Good energy is something 13-year veteran and All-Pro safety Jordan Poyer also emphasizes for Hancock. Staying in the present moment is key for Poyer, whether it's physically on the field and watching film or keeping his mentality grounded in the moment.
"Stay in the moment, keeping learning the game," Poyer said of what advice he gives Hancock. "Don't ever think you ever have it all figured out because you don't – even me 13 years in. Anybody that tells you they do, they're lying. Keep learning the game, keeping challenging yourself, keep going."
As for Hawes, seven-year veteran tight end Dawson Knox said it wasn't a huge mental jump for the rookie.
"My favorite thing to see is him finding his routine, like in the training room and weight room, figure out what stretches and activation circuits he needs to do," Knox said. "As a rookie, you come in and you're just doing what you used to do in college, where you just throw on your stuff, get out there and go practice. But these seasons are long, you got to prepare your body the right way."
Hawes said Knox is especially important for him in terms of blocking and learning technique. The veteran has no doubt that Hawes' consistency and ability to learn will take him far in his career.
"He's already, arguably, the best blocking tight end in the National Football League, so that in itself, he's going to be playing a long, long time," Knox said. "The way he's dominated since day one, I've learned stuff from him in the run game. So, he's just an awesome dude, all-around impressive. He's going to be really good for a really long time."
Having that veteran support is essential, but the rookies know they also have each other.
It doesn't matter if Hawes is the only one of the five on the opposite side of the ball. Since coming to Buffalo, all of them developed a bond from the moment they "were lumped together in a little rookie hotel," Hawes said. That connection hasn't escaped them, regardless of how little time they have on their hands.
"We know we're not in this thing by ourselves," Hancock said. "We're all going through this together, and it's really good to have those people."
The rookies are still navigating their first seasons together, not taking anything for granted.
"It feels like we were just at Thanksgiving. Now, the end of the season is here and our biggest games are coming up, and we see our whole goal in front of us. It's flying by right now," Hancock said. "Some people on the team won't be on the same team next year, so try to soak everything up as an individual and try to grow with them because you never know where they could be at. Every little piece of time is valuable."
Appreciating where they are in the moment, the rookies know Buffalo is a special place to be.
It's not just about their production on the field. The Bills, coaches, staff, teammates alike, care about one another as people. High energy, connection and community are what Hawes noted about the team and why it's a place he can thrive long-term.
Walker agrees with Hawes. Buffalo is a place where they feel seen in their rookie season.
"They treat you more than just a number. They treat you more than just a player. They treat you like the person that you are. They want to build relationships with you: coaching staff, training staff, everybody. And everybody hears you trying to talk to them," Walker said. "They're going to have a smile on their face and welcome you home."
