More than 300 prospects were in Indianapolis last week to interview with teams, go through medical exams and workouts in hopes to impress the league at the NFL Scouting Combine. The prospects also had a chance to talk to national and beat reporters about their journeys to the NFL and what it would be like to play at the next level.
Here's what several prospects said about why they would want to play for Buffalo.
Wide receivers
WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
LSU's Brian Thomas Jr. led Division I with a whopping 17 receiving touchdowns. Alongside Malik Nabers, Thomas Jr. helped quarterback Jayden Daniels on his way to winning the Heisman Trophy.
The 6-foot-3, 209-pound receiver out of Walker, LA showed significant growth throughout his time in college, exploding for over 1,100 receiving yards in his junior season.
Thomas Jr. got a chance to sit down with Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who was on LSU's staff for their 2019 national championship win.
"We were just talking a lot of football, talking about his time at LSU," Thomas Jr. said during media availability during the combine. "I think I would fit very well in the Bills offense. Joe Brady, just him being at LSU during that time, I liked his offense so I feel like I would fit pretty good in that offense."
WR Xavier Worthy, Texas
Worthy made headlines Saturday when he broke the NFL Combine 40-yard dash record, running it in a blistering 4.21 seconds. The Texas receiver averaged 8.8 yards per catch and recorded over 1,000 yards and five touchdowns in his final season in Austin.
Worthy, who grew up in Fresno, CA - just minutes from Josh Allen's hometown of Firebaugh, had high praise for the Bills quarterback and their offense.
"Josh Allen is really good quarterback. Tough, runs hard and has a good deep ball. He throws the ball well," Worthy said. "I feel like I would fit into the Bills offense well. They kind of have that pro-style offense as well as [Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian], run first, pass second, so I feel like I would fit in well with that offense."
WR Xavier Legette, South Carolina
Xavier Legette, who racked up over 1,250 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in his sixth and final college season, said that he talked to the Bills on the first day of the combine.
"I had a great conversation. I feel like the interview went well. I just want those guys to make it happen if they can make it happen," Legette said.
The 6-foot-1, 221-pound receiver said that he could play on either the inside or the outside and was confident that he could contribute to his eventual team in Year 1.
"What I feel like I can bring to any team is just a hard working guy and someone who can be consistent every day and bring something to the table," Legette said.
WR Keon Coleman, FSU
Keon Coleman, who stands at 6-foot-3, 213 pounds, expressed his excitement at the potential to work alongside two-time All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
"That would be great for me. I get to learn from a guy with that stature who's been in the league for a while doing it consistently," Coleman said. "So I'm just coming in as a sponge and I'm not mad about not having to take the wheel right away. That's a learning experience for me and when I do get the wheel, it's going to be something crazy."
Coleman was a touchdown machine last season in Tallahassee, racking up 11 receiving touchdowns and over 650 receiving yards. The product of Opelousas, LA was explosive in college, averaging 13.3 yards per catch during his junior season.
WR Troy Franklin, Oregon
Oregon's Troy Franklin had the fourth-most receiving yards in Division I with 1,383, adding 14 touchdowns. The 6-foot-3, 187-pound deep threat expressed his admiration of Josh Allen.
"Josh Allen is a great quarterback," Franklin said. "Strong arm, can get the ball downfield, leader, I think he's a good guy for sure."
Franklin shared that he had met with the Bills and enjoyed getting the chance to reconnect with Joe Brady, who recruited Franklin in high school.
"He was actually recruiting me in high school when he was at LSU. It was pretty cool to talk to him again and see how he felt about me," Franklin said.
Check out the 14 NFL Draft prospects who have been picked for the Bills in this year's mock drafts through the month of February.
WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU ... Thomas is a big, explosive wideout with incredible production, including an FBS-best 17 touchdown catches this past season. He lines up outside and in the slot. He easily defeats press coverage with his quickness. ... Overall, Thomas is a big-play machine and has the upside to develop into a No. 1 receiver for his drafting team. -- Daniel Jeremiah | NFL.com ... LSU Tigers wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (11) at UCLA. (Ric Tapia via AP)
DE Chop Robinson, Penn State ... Robinson is an extremely twitched-up edge rusher with limited production. He has average size but is incredibly explosive. As a pass rusher, he has excellent get-off quickness, but it looks odd because of his short/choppy steps. He will cause more stress for OTs when he learns how to lengthen his stride and gain ground. ... Overall, Robinson isn't a smooth/bendy type of player, but his mix of speed and power provides a lot of disruption.-- Daniel Jeremiah | NFL.com ... Photo via Craig Houtz PSU athletics
WR Troy Franklin, Oregon ... Franklin is a tall, lanky wideout with big-time speed. He lines up outside and in the slot. A very smooth runner, he almost floats over the turf. He can destroy coverage cushions very quickly. Franklin understands how to set up defenders at the top of the route, and he is very efficient at the break point. ... Overall, he needs to be more consistent with his hands, but he's shown the ability to provide plenty of explosive plays for his offense. -- Daniel Jeremiah | NFL.com ... Oregon Ducks wide receiver Troy Franklin (11) at UCLA. (Ryan Kang via AP)
WR Keon Coleman, Florida State ... A big, physical wideout with average play speed, Coleman has the versatility to play inside and outside. He is a smooth and fluid route runner with some nuance to his game. He understands how to use his body to keep defenders on his back and attack the ball in front of his frame. ... Overall, Coleman lacks ideal speed to separate, but he makes a lot of big plays in crowded environments and should be a red-zone menace at the next level. -- Daniel Jeremiah | NFL.com
DE Laiatu Latu, UCLA ... Latu has ideal size, quickness and instincts for the position. As a pass rusher, he can win with his quick get-off or a variety of hand moves. He has an excellent feel for when offensive tackles overset or underset and adjusts accordingly. He doesn't have elite speed or power, but he wins with technique, bend and savvy. ... Overall, Latu is the most skilled pass rusher in this class and should have an immediate impact at the next level. -- Daniel Jeremiah | NFL.com ... UCLA defensive lineman Laiatu Latu (15) against USC. (Ryan Kang via AP)
DT Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois ... Newton is a slightly undersized defensive tackle with quick and powerful hands. As a pass rusher, he has shock in his mitts to jolt blockers. He mixes up his moves to generate sacks/pressures, routinely employing a violent club/swim and a quick-swipe maneuver. ... Overall, Newton lacks ideal lower-body flexibility, but he's a very skilled rusher and holds up versus the run. -- Daniel Jeremiah | NFL.com
WR Ja'Lynn Polk, Washington ... With decent size and more explosion than true burst, Polk could be a valuable third option in an NFL passing game, just as he was in the Huskies' high-octane offense. I don't think he'll ever be a star, but Polk is ascending. --- Eric Edholm | NFL.com
CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa ... DeJean is a playmaking cornerback with size and speed. In off coverage, he plays with his butt to the sideline and displays excellent vision. He does have a brief pause in his plant/drive before exploding and attacking the football. ... Overall, I believe DeJean could stick at cornerback, but I wouldn't rule out a move to safety, where his strengths as a player would be featured. He reminds me of a bigger Eric Weddle coming out of college. -- Daniel Jeremiah
OL Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon ... Powers-Johnson has experience at all three interior offensive line spots and has spent time at defensive tackle, as well. He was outstanding at the center position in 2023, and that's where I expect him to play at the next level. ... Overall, there aren't many holes in his game. I love his bulldog playing style. -- Daniel Jeremiah
WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas ... Mitchell has outstanding size, toughness and polish for the position. He is fast and has a long stride. He has surprisingly good route polish for a bigger receiver. ... Overall, though, Mitchell is an ideal X receiver. He can make plays when covered, and he's a real weapon in the red zone. -- Daniel Jeremiah
CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo ... Mitchell has excellent size, speed and toughness for the position. He is at his best in off-man coverage, where he plays out of a side turn and eyes the quarterback through the wide receiver. ... Overall, Mitchell is a feisty competitor with outstanding speed and a history of ball production. -- Daniel Jeremiah
OL Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma ... Guyton is a tall, long and rangy right tackle. He doesn't have a ton of starting experience (15 total starts over four years at Oklahoma and TCU), but he is very gifted. In pass pro, he explodes out of his stance and has the range to cover up speed rushers. ... Overall, Guyton is still a work in progress, but he has elite traits and tools. -- Daniel Jeremiah
S Kamren Kinchens, Miami ... Safety prospect with the toughness, instincts and ball skills to handle NFL work, although his lack of speed could give teams pause. Kinchens is a willing run supporter near the box, hits with message-sending purpose over the middle and plays with outstanding range as a high safety. -- Lance Zierlein
WR Xavier Worthy, Texas ...Worthy has average height and a very lean frame. The 40-yard dash king is extremely twitchy and can take the top off the defense. He plays inside and outside. ... Overall, Worthy seems like a taller version of Hollywood Brown -- you can feel his speed in every game. -- Daniel Jeremiah
Defensive line and linebackers
ILB Tatum Bethune, Florida State
Linebacker Tatum Bethune, 5-11 and 229 pounds, played collegiately in Florida and has ties to Buffalo's roster. Bethune started out with UCF before transferring to Florida State to finish out his college career. The LB totaled 12.5 tackles for loss, seven passes defensed, one sack, one interception and 142 total tackles with the Seminoles.
Bethune has a connection with running back James Cook as the two attended Miami Central high school together. The FSU product said watching the Cook brothers make it to the NFL inspires him.
"It's a great feeling seeing guys coming from the same city, same neighborhood with the same dream," Bethune said. "Growing up watching Dalvin Cook was also great. Just to see guys do what we said we were going to do."
If Bethune were to be in blue and red next season, he said Cook would be someone he looks up to.
"I feel like that would be the guy I could lean on to for whenever I need advice," Bethune said of Cook.
He's also not surprised at the season Cook had – racking up 1,567 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns.
"He can run routes and run the ball," his former teammate said. "I just feel like he also has the whole package too, just being able to be very elusive and making plays when he's off balance and stuff like that."
Edge Chris Braswell, Alabama
Edge rusher Chris Braswell, 6-3 and 251 pounds, is coming off a very productive season with one of the most competitive college football programs. Braswell had eight sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two passes defensed, one interception and 42 total tackles at Alabama in 2023.
The pass rusher said he's taken things from Von Miller's game and would love to learn from him in the NFL.
"He's one of the greatest, if not the greatest pass rusher to ever play the game," Braswell said. "He has a really good ghost move that I used to use a lot in high school and even in college."
Braswell played in 40 games and totaled 11 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, one interception, two passes defensed and 76 total tackles during his time at Alabama.
DT Zion Logue, Georgia
Defensive tackle Zion Logue, 6-6 and 314 pounds, is a prospect who played in plenty of games during his time at Georgia. In 50 games, the DT had 52 total tackles, four and a half tackles for loss, one and a half sacks, three passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Logue played with running back James Cook from 2019-2021 and is elated to see him being used in such a prominent role with the Bills.
"I was so happy for Cook," Logue said thinking of his 2023 season. "At Georgia he never had the big career like a running back would want, but he just kept his head down, kept his nose clean, and I'm so proud of him."
Logue said he wants to join his former teammate in Buffalo because of how the defense line plays.
"You know you're going to get their best every day," Logue said of the Bills defensive line. "And I know what I have inside of me, and I know what I can bring to that defense as well. Playing for a great franchise like the Bills, they're competing for a world a championship every year no matter what the circumstances are."
DT Johnny Newton, Illinois
Defensive tackle Johnny Newton finished his college football career with a bang as he was named the Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. During Newton's time with Illinois, the DT racked up 18 sacks, 28.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, five passes defensed and 188 total tackles in 45 games.
The hard hitter who has impressive pass rush moves said it would be an honor to play with someone he's been watching for years.
"I used to watch Ed Oliver all the time when he was at Houston," Newton shared. "So, that would be sack city right there for sure (if we played together). That's an elite d-line right there, so I'd love it."
DT Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson
Defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro's, 6-4 and 294 pounds, path to the NFL is unlike many. The DT was born in Lagos, Nigeria and moved to the states with his family when he was nine years old. Orhorhoro picked up basketball first but found an immediate love for football once he began playing during his junior year in high school.
Bills defensive end Kingsley Jonathan has a similar path to Orhorhoro's because they're both from the same hometown.
"I've definitely heard of him," Orhorhoro said of Jonathan. "That's my cousin."
The DT said it's awesome to see other players like Jonathan come from Africa and make it in the NFL.
"It's great," Orhorhoro said. "Mostly we were known for soccer guys and now I feel like we're starting to take over the football game, and I'm just happy to be a part of it."
At Clemson, Orhorhoro played in 53 games and totaled 12 sacks, 25.5 tackles for loss, nine passes defensed and 88 total tackles. The DT said Buffalo would be a fun place to play.
"I just know that they're tenacious," Orhorhoro said. "They get after it. They've got Ed Oliver and also Shaq Lawson who's a former Clemson guy. They have guys that get after it over there, and that's a good spot to be."
Another Clemson guy who's on the Bills is linebacker Baylon Spector. Spector and Orhorhoro played together from 2019-2021.
"That's my guy," Orhorhoro said of his former teammate. "He commanded the defense for us. He's tenacious and a guy that gets after it. So just watching him live out his dream is really exciting to me.
"I'm living it through him, that's my teammate, that's my brother. I look at him as my brother. So with his success, I'm very happy for him."
Edge Chop Robinson, Penn State
Former Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson, 6-3 and 254 pounds, is a prospect who has impressive first-step explosiveness. Robinson racked up 11.5 sacks, 20 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries during his three seasons between Penn State and Maryland.
The super athletic and twitchy defensive end said he would love a chance at playing for the Bills.
"It would be great," Robinson said if he were to be drafted by Buffalo. "I've been watching Von Miller since he was back at Denver. So, I'd able to learn from him, watch him every day, all the drills, his routine, just pick up on the little things so I could be somewhat like him or even better."
DE Darius Robinson, Mizzou
Defensive end Darius Robinson, 6-5 and 285 pounds, is a prospect who decided to spend one extra season playing for Mizzou by taking a graduate year to make sure he was ready for the NFL. Robinson has position versatility as he started out his career on the interior before learning how to play the edge position. He was named First-Team All-SEC in 2023 and had a season to remember as he totaled 8.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
The powerful lineman said Buffalo's defensive line has a lot of talent and he would enjoy getting to play next to guys like Ed Oliver and Von Miller.
"Those are goats," Robinson said of Oliver and Miller. "I just want an opportunity. I mean these are guys that I've watched my whole life, so I just want an opportunity to lineup and put my feet in the ground."
Robinson played in 47 games and had 13 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, 111 total tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery over his collegiate career.
Defensive backs
S Cole Bishop, Utah
Cole Bishop, a former teammate of Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid, is a versatile safety out of Utah who tallied three interceptions, 7.5 sacks and 11 passes defensed in his three-year collegiate career.
The 6-foot-2, 207-pound safety said that going against Kincaid in practice helped him gain confidence in defending NFL-caliber players.
"I can give a lot of credit to [Kincaid] for making me good at covering tight ends because I had the opportunity to go against him every single day at practice," Bishop said.
CB Kamari Lassiter, Georgia
Kamari Lassiter played one season with Bills running back James Cook and was a part of the back-to-back national championship-winning teams at Georgia in 2021 and 2022.
Lassiter said he would be excited to reunite with Bills cornerbacks coach Jahmile Addae, who coached Lassiter during his freshman season at Georgia.
"He's a great coach," Lassiter said. "In my freshman year, when I was a young kid and didn't really know much, he just really helped me mature."
The 6-foot, 180-pound receiver had 21 solo tackles and eight passes defensed in his final year at Georgia.
S Kamren Kinchens, Miami
Miami safety Kamren Kinchens was a ballhawk in college, tallying 11 interceptions between his sophomore and junior seasons — two of which he returned for touchdowns.
The 6-foot, 205-pound Miami native had high praise for Bills safety Micah Hyde and expressed his admiration for Hyde's instincts.
"Micah Hyde is great," Kinchens said. "He has a great instinct ... kind of jumping those intermediate routes and I want to add that to my game."
Addae also coached Kinchens at Miami and said it was great to reconnect with his former coach during his meeting with the Bills.
"He's not going to let you slack one bit, he's always going to keep you grounded and I think that's the big thing," Kinchens said.
