Friday afternoon at the NFL Scouting Combine is when the bulk of the on-field excitement takes place inside Lucas Oil Stadium because that’s the day when the quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs will be put through various drills by NFL coaches.
But for the Buffalo Bills, the more interesting workout day will be Wednesday because while general manager Brandon Beane certainly needs to be looking at adding a wide receiver, and maybe even a running back, he has more pressing needs on defense.
Wednesday is when defensive linemen (as well as linebackers and kickers) will be on the field, and when you look at Buffalo’s roster, the defensive line must be addressed in this draft.
After yet another underwhelming performance by the line in a playoff elimination game – this time the 32-29 AFC Championship Game loss to the Chiefs – Beane came away knowing that while he has poured investment into the line through the years, the results need to be better.
“We’ll look at everything,” Beane said. “I believe we have some good players and pieces and it’s how do we add around those guys to complement who they are and what they do already as we look into the free agency period and the draft as well.”
Specifically at tackle, it is plainly obvious to see that the Bills must add size. Ed Oliver led all linemen in snaps during the regular season (603 for a 55% share) and that’s fine, but at 287 pounds he needs a big man next to him in order to be at his best.
DaQuan Jones weighs 320 pounds, but at 33 years of age he is in decline, and while it probably won’t happen, it’s possible that he becomes a cap casualty so he may not even be on the 2025 team. DeWayne Carter, a 2024 third-round pick, will return but he weighs just 302, while Jordan Phillips, Austin Johnson and Quinton Jefferson are free agents and most likely won’t be re-signed.
The case is easy to make that defensive tackle should be where the Bills go in the first round at No. 30 overall, or even higher in a trade up scenario.
Beane was asked Tuesday at the combine what he looks for in an interior line player.
“You kind of evaluate what they are,” he said. “You start with what are their measurables? Arm length, size, what does he do best, is he best as a rusher? Like, is this a guy you want to line up in a three-tech role and get a one-on-one against a guard? Is he just a power, straight-up ass-kicker who’s going to walk his guy back into the pocket?
“We started this process (Monday) night and we definitely talked to some huge guys, and some guys are a little more undersized, but they’re excellent rushers. So you want different pieces for different guys. We want to be versatile with our skill sets and be able to attack in as many different ways as we can.”
NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said last week that he graded 24 defensive tackles as NFL starters, up from 12 in the 2024 class. “This is the deepest
Who the Bills should be watching at the NFL combine
The player who projects to fit best for Buffalo is Michigan’s 340-pound Kenneth Grant, but it’s unlikely that he’ll be available at No. 30. A perusal of big boards has Grant going somewhere in the top 20, maybe even the top 15.
“He’s a people mover,” Jeremiah said. “Talking to the folks where he has been doing a lot of his training, at 340 pounds he should not be able to move around like that.
You’re hoping and dreaming on this Dexter Lawrence type ascension for him once he gets to the NFL. Hasn’t put it all together, but it’s all in there.”
Three other possibilities are Walter Nolen of Ole Miss, Derrick Harmon of Oregon and Darius Alexander of Toledo, but they might all be slight reaches in the first round, and all three weigh 310 or less.
“I love Derrick Harmon from Oregon, that’s a fit there,” Jeremiah said when asked specifically about the Bills. “Someone who can disrupt run and pass, play on the other side of the line of scrimmage. I think there’s a chance he’s there (at No. 30). That would be a fun one to add to their mix.”
As for Alexander, he was a Senior Bowl standout so if his combine, pro day and private workouts go well, maybe he’s an option, but NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein isn’t so sure.
“Interior lineman with the size, length and physicality for consideration in odd or even fronts,” Zierlein wrote. “Alexander is capable of destroying blocks but he needs to do a better job of balancing his force to control the action at the point of attack. He can hold his ground when he’s staying low, but the pad level is inconsistent and causes his gap constriction to be hit-or-miss. His best football could be ahead of him, but for now, he projects as an average rotational player or backup.”
Other defensive tackles who may be available for Bills in NFL draft
Two other interesting candidates who could last into the second round are Ohio State’s 327-pound Tyleik Williams, and Texas’ 320-pound Alfred Collins. Whether they get to No. 56 and No. 62 where the Bills have two second-round slots is unknown, but again, Beane loves to make draft day trades and if either of those are on his board, maybe he starts working the phones.
One other player to watch is Kentucky’s 345-pound Deone Walker. He was actually mocked to the Bills at No. 30 by The Ringer, though that seems like a miscalculation because generally, he’s projected as a late second round/early third round choice. The Ringer compared him to 348-pound T’Vondre Sweat who went No. 38 overall to the Titans in the 2024 draft and had an excellent rookie season. If Walker is available at No. 62, his size would be hard to pass up.
