The Bills have nine new players on their roster following the 2025 NFL Draft. Six of those players call defense their home, while the other three play on offense.
Every new pick spoke with the media after being drafted and had a lot to say about why Buffalo is the right home, which players they can't wait to lineup with and their excitement about becoming an NFL player.
Get to know Buffalo's 2025 draft class.
NO. 30 (1ST ROUND) – CB MAXWELL HAIRSTON, KENTUCKY
The Bills drafted Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston with their first pick in this year's draft. Hairston is known for his speed as he ran the fastest time (4.28) at the NFL Scouting Combine.
'Mad Max' is Hairston's nickname, and the cornerback finished with six career interceptions in 20 starts. He's excited to bring his versatility to Buffalo.
"I feel like I'm so versatile that I can come out, play man, or I can play zone, I can play off-man, I can play press-man, I can disguise," Hairston said. "So, I'm happy to just be able to go into an organization with a beautiful scheme that will allow me to get the ball back."
Hairston doesn't just have a knack for getting the ball back. He also has a knack for scoring. The CB turned six of his career interceptions into three touchdowns. Hairston grew up playing basketball and believes that helps him be a ballhawk in football. He's looking forward to meeting another ballhawk in Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White.
"I can't wait to learn," Hairston said. "I can't wait to pick his brain. Man, that's a vet, and I know he's gonna teach me so much."
Hairston has learned a lot from his family as well. On draft day, Hairston had his entire family with him in Green Bay to celebrate the big moment. His family also joined him on his first day as a Bill at One Bills Drive. The cornerback says he will continue to rely on them as he transitions to the NFL.
"Their support really is what keeps me going," Hairston shared. "They keep me level-headed, never let me get too high or too low. And I always got my family through thick and thin. If I have a bad game, if have a good game, I know I can always rely on my family."
NO. 41 (2ND ROUND) – DT T.J. SANDERS, SOUTH CAROLINA
In the second round, Buffalo drafted defensive tackle T.J. Sanders out of South Carolina. Sanders is known for his pass-rush ability on the interior and put together 9.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss during his four years with the Gamecocks.
The DT is excited to bring his high effort style of play to Buffalo.
"I think I bring a high motor," Sanders said. "A guy who gets after it every snap. Someone who doesn't quit on games, quit on plays…it's a non-stop mentality."
Like Hairston, Sanders has a basketball background first. He earned All-State honors his junior season in high school and averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds per game. Sanders transitioned to football full-time late, so he has only six true years of experience under his belt. Beane and the scouting staff believe Sanders has high upside.
What got Sanders hooked on the game of football was getting sacks.
"I just felt alive getting that first sack and after that I just wanted more and more sacks," Sanders said thinking back to high school. "And getting a scholarship to do that for college, now getting a chance to do that in the NFL, just going out there getting a sack, disrupting players, that's the joy you get from playing D-line."
Sanders is already feeling at home in Buffalo.
"I met about everybody, the D-line coach, the DC, head coach, owner, GM, just getting to know everybody," Sanders said of his first day in the building. "I'm feeling the family vibe already. I kind of feel like this is exactly what I was looking for."
NO. 72 (3RD ROUND) - DE LANDON JACKSON, ARKANSAS
Buffalo drafted a defensive player with off-the-chart traits in the third round of the draft. The Bills selected defensive end Landon Jackson out of Arkansas with the 72nd pick. The edge rusher turned heads at the NFL Scouting Combine when he clocked a 4.68 40-yard dash and a 40.5 inch vertical.
Jackson's traits turned into production at Arkansas as he recorded 16 sacks and 26.5 tackles for loss in three years. The DE models his game off a four-time Pro Bowler.
"One guy is Maxx Crosby," Jackson said. "He's a dog. He's a high motor player. He knows how to fly around in the pass game and get after the quarterback, and then in the run game he knows how to set an edge and be a dominant defensive end.
"That's the guy that I model my game after. I feel like we have a lot of similarities in body type and play style."
Jackson is elated to be a Buffalo Bill because he loves the scheme fit as he'll lineup as a true defensive end. The Arkansas product also enjoyed getting to know the staff throughout the pre-draft process.
"They came down for my pro day. They worked me out, we went to dinner. I had a formal meeting with the team at the Combine," Jackson said. "And just through every aspect of the process, I just kind of felt like they were really high on me. I felt like I fit their defense really well…I feel like this is the place for me."
NO. 109 (4TH ROUND) – DT DEONE WALKER, KENTUCKY
In the fourth round, Buffalo selected their third straight defensive lineman from the draft. At pick 109, they decided they couldn't let Kentucky defensive tackle Deone Walker go to another team as they traded up to get him.
Walker has great size at around 6'7 and 330 but also has a fluidity to the way he plays the position that you don't always see. That fluidity turned into 10 sacks and 22 tackles for loss in 35 starts at Kentucky.
The Bills aren't just getting size in their newest DT, they're also getting a two-time team captain.
"I feel like my leadership style is kind of different," Walker explained. "I'm more of a get to know the person, not the player. Just get good relationships with a lot of – or most of the guys on the team…if they do end up having a bad day…be able to have that relationship to be able to come and talk to them."
A few players already know Walker's leadership style as the DT played at Kentucky with Bills CB Maxwell Hairston and RB Ray Davis. The three overlapped during the 2023 season and are excited to be reunited once again.
"I know Max told me as soon as he got drafted, he was standing on the table for me," Walker said. "…Max and Ray are like my brothers. A band of brothers who stick together, can't nobody stop you. So, it's just great to be back to being teammates with those guys."
NO. 170 (5TH ROUND) – DB JORDAN HANCOCK, OHIO STATE
Buffalo started off their 2025 NFL Draft with five straight defensive picks, which is something they've never done in the Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott era. With their first pick in the fifth round, the Bills selected defensive back Jordan Hancock out of Ohio State.
Buffalo likes Hancock's versatility and sees him fitting in at nickel and safety.
"They're going to get a competitive player, someone that's going to be ready to learn," Hancock said. "And somebody that is going to be ready to develop, and whenever my number is called, I'll be ready."
Hancock registered three interceptions, 16 passes defensed, four fumbles, two and a half sacks and 98 tackles in his four seasons at Ohio State. The DB also won at the highest level as Ohio State was crowned the College Football Playoff Champions in January.
Hancock thought he grew a lot in his skillset at Ohio State by being around great coaches and expects to do the same in Buffalo.
"Just being at Ohio State, just being around great people, great coaches, you're not bigger than anybody," Hancock said. "There's always room for improvement. And I feel with me, I feel like improvement is a lot. I feel like I can improve and develop, and I'm ready to learn and ready to compete."
NO. 173 (5TH ROUND) – TE JACKSON HAWES, GEORGIA TECH
Buffalo selected their first offensive player in fifth round in Georgia Tech tight end Jackson Hawes. The TE spent his first three seasons at Yale before transferring to Georgia Tech for his last season.
Hawes believes he learned a lot from playing football at an Ivy League school.
"I think as a football player, it gave me the opportunity to see all the other gears and things that are necessary in the offseason to become a complete player, whether that's like nutrition, stretching, film study, getting in the weight room," Hawes. "All those other elements coming together that I didn't really prioritize as much in high school, that was something that Yale helped me do."
The TE is known for his talent as a blocker but also saw success as a pass-catcher, too. He totaled 51 catches, 566 receiving yards and six touchdowns during his time at Yale and Georgia Tech.
"I think the violent part of football really excites me, you know?" Hawes said. "It really should excite everyone that is playing, but for me especially, there is no better feeling than when you're moving someone. You see the little running back just run right past you and get yards, it's a great feeling."
NO. 177 (6TH ROUND) – CB DORIAN STRONG, VIRGINIA TECH
The Bills came away from the 2025 NFL Draft with three defensive linemen and three defensive backs. Virginia cornerback Dorian Strong marked the third DB taken by Buffalo. Strong was selected by the Bills' first pick in the sixth round of the draft.
Buffalo believes the physical corner's best fit in the defense is at outside corner.
"I feel like I fit their scheme and their system very, very well, just what they like to do with guys," Strong said. "And then throughout this whole process, the Bills have been very active with my pre-draft process. Me and Coach (Jahmile) Addae, we went out to dinner before my Pro Day…a lot of conversations with them. I was very strong with them drafting me. That was one of the main teams I felt like I would go to."
Strong racked up seven interceptions, 35 passes defensed and 112 tackles in 44 starts with Virginia Tech. The CB is excited to work hard and prove himself as he transitions to the NFL.
"I knew it was going to be a great spot to land in," Strong said. "…The Buffalo Bills, they've been going strong for years…it's just a great organization. Just meeting everybody, I see why they're there every year competing in the third, in the second round in the playoffs. I'm very excited to come be on this team and give it my all."
NO. 206 (6TH ROUND) – OT CHASE LUNDT, UCONN
Buffalo drafted just one offensive lineman in the 2025 NFL Draft. It was UConn offensive tackle Chase Lundt with the 206th pick in the draft.
Lundt overlapped with Bills offensive lineman Ryan Van Demark during the 2019 and 2021 season. The OT believes he brings an edge to the offensive line room.
"I bring a lot to the table when it comes to my explosiveness and my tenacity, being able to dominate players in my first step off the ball," Lundt said of his game. "I think I'm a really good run blocker, especially the scheme that I was in at UConn…I know Ryan Van Demark's with the Buffalo Bills as well. So, getting the opportunity to play with him, I can't wait for that."
Lundt was a four-year starter at UConn and made 49 starts throughout his career. As he moves to the NFL, Lundt can't wait to block for Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
"Josh, he's just one of those guys that you love to be around at the end of the day," Lundt shared. "So, to get the opportunity to meet him and to get to block for him at the end of the day is going to be so much fun…I'm a big team player, and I can't wait to get to know each and every single individual as much as I can."
NO. 240 (7TH ROUND) – WR KADEN PRATHER, MARYLAND
Buffalo finished up their draft class by selecting Maryland wide receiver Kaden Prather with their only seventh round pick. Prather played his first two seasons with West Virginia before transferring to Maryland.
During his four years in college, Prather totaled 162 catches, 1,966 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in 48 games. The WR also ran a 4.46 at the NFL Scouting Combine.
What caught Buffalo's coaching staff's eyes was Prather's work ethic.
"Enough is never enough for me," Prather said of his work ethic. "I'm never content in my work. I always find ways to get better. Even if I have a career high game or if I have the worst game in my life, I'm gonna wake up the next morning and figure out how I can get better for my teammates."
One of the many reasons why Prather is excited to call Buffalo home is getting to catch passes from an MVP quarterback.
"Oh, my goodness, man, did I get lucky?" Prather said of playing with Josh Allen. "That's truly a blessing, right there. Playing with Josh, I literally can't wait. I'm going to be a sponge."
