Bills Shift Draft Strategy Toward Defense with Josh Allen Leading the Offense
With Josh Allen proving capable of leading the offense effectively despite the departure of star receiver Stefon Diggs, the Buffalo Bills shifted their focus to defense in the 2025 NFL Draft. Allen’s ability to distribute the ball among various receivers allowed General Manager Brandon Beane to address the team’s persistent playoff shortcomings on the defensive side. Buffalo used six of their nine draft picks, including their top five, to strengthen the secondary and defensive line.
Beane’s strategy follows a significant overhaul of the roster. The team parted ways with several veterans, including edge rusher Von Miller and cornerback Rasul Douglas, and traded former first-round pick Kaiir Elam to Dallas. Beane emphasized the importance of rejuvenating the defense, pointing out the need to adjust for aging players and prior picks that didn’t pan out. The Bills began their draft by selecting Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston at No. 30 overall, then traded up to pick South Carolina defensive tackle T.J. Sanders at No. 41, Kentucky’s Deone Walker at No. 109, and Arkansas edge rusher Landon Jackson at No. 72.
Complementing their draft haul, the Bills also bolstered their defense in free agency by adding edge rushers Joey Bosa and Michael Hoecht, along with defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi. These changes aim to address the weaknesses that saw the defense allow 30 or more points in multiple games last season, including a crucial AFC Championship loss to Kansas City. Currently, only seven players remain from the 2020 squad that suffered a similar postseason defeat, showing how extensive the team’s transformation has been.
Buffalo’s defense now includes 13 linemen — seven tackles and six ends — as the team plans to maintain a deep rotation to keep players fresh. However, depth will be tested early in the season as both Ogunjobi and Hoecht are suspended for six games for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Still, Beane’s emphasis on acquiring Southeastern Conference talent, including multiple picks from Kentucky and South Carolina, reflects a belief in the SEC’s strong track record of producing NFL-ready talent.
This draft marks just the third time in Beane’s eight-year tenure that the Bills retained their first-round selection. Despite that, Beane was active in trading other picks to strategically move up the board. He traded with Chicago to draft Sanders and later re-acquired pick No. 109, used on Walker, by giving up two later picks. Beane underscored the importance of balancing immediate competitiveness with long-term planning, emphasizing adaptability in response to injuries, player development, and roster transitions.
