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Why Bills GM Brandon Beane feels good ahead of Thursday's draft and shares which position group is the strongest

Brandon Beane speaks at Buffalo Bills Phase One of voluntary off-season workouts, April 22, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Brandon Beane speaks at Buffalo Bills Phase One of voluntary off-season workouts, April 22, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.

We are just two days away from the 2025 NFL Draft. As of now, Buffalo holds 10 total picks, and three of those are in the top 65. Bills general manager Brandon Beane and his scouting department have done their homework and are ready for Thursday.

Ahead of the big weekend, Beane met with the media to discuss where they're at in the pre-draft process and addressed a couple players as it relates to phase one of offseason workouts.

The Bills are in a good spot ahead of Thursday night

Beane believes he and his team are in a good spot ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft which kicks off on Thursday night at 8:00 p.m. EST. Buffalo's GM said they've done some mock drafts of their own and now it's about making sure he and his staff see things the same way.

"(We're) making sure we're on the same page," Beane said about the lead-up to Thursday. "Maybe we graded the player and we're thinking this guy maybe doesn't start year two, does this year one. You're just trying to get on the same page of some of those things because that kind of helps you assign the value of where you would take the player. Are you taking them as a role player this year and a future starter? Are you taking them hopefully to start year one?"

Beane added that on some occasions the group will never fully agree with each other, but it's important to find common ground.

"We all want to be right, but we're not always right," Beane shared. "This is a projection business. We're weighing risk in whatever round it is, especially when you're talking about in one or two, things like that. I just want to get it right for the team and for Terry Pegula."

The Bills spend a lot of time crafting and refining their draft board, which they will follow closely throughout all seven rounds of the NFL Draft. The board helps them see where value lives in each round based on how prospects are graded.

If the Bills decide to stick and pick in the first round, they'll be drafting at 30th overall. Although, Beane shared he doesn't have 30 players with a first-round grade in this year's class.

"Not 30," Beane said. "It's probably in the ballpark (compared to the last few years)."

That doesn't mean that Buffalo won't stay at 30. There's always a chance that a first-round graded player drops to the Bills because all teams grade players differently.

One thing Beane and his staff are excited about are their two second-round picks at No. 56 and No. 62.

"I love that," Beane said about their second-round picks. "That's value. That's an asset for us. I think it's a good year to have a couple of those. I think there's value where we're picking."

Buffalo also has two picks in the fourth round (109, 132), three picks in the fifth round (169, 170, 173) and two picks in the sixth round (177, 206). That's 10 total as of now. Beane shared it's unlikely all 10 will make the roster if they make 10 selections.

"Odds would say that's probably hard to have a class of 10," Beane explained. "We are only generally given seven, and there's probably years (where) seven can be hard to make it. But we'll see. I think that's where we have to be smart with how the board's falling.

"I wouldn't want to go in and say, 'Hey, let's cash these picks in right away and move up three spots. And let's cash this fifth round in and move up two spots in the second round.' Or whatever that gets you when we really don't need to. And then we're sitting there later going, 'Man, I can't believe this guy's still there.'"

When it comes to trading up versus moving down, here's Beane's philosophy.

"(If) we think there is a player we really love, fits a need as well, those are what I'm trying to trade up for -- player we love, fits a need and the value that makes sense. If not, and the board is getting wiped, now we're looking 'what are our options to go back? How far do you want to go?'"

Beane said they will be in constant communication with the teams ahead of and behind them in the first round.

"I think it's truly setting your board, reading your board, and having options both ways," Beane explained. "We constantly are talking to people ahead of us and the people behind us and waiting to see how it falls."

Assessing the strongest position groups in the 2025 NFL Draft

Beane was asked about which position group is the strongest in this year's draft and he answered defense is where it's at. Defensive line to be exact.

"I would say it's a pretty good D-line draft," Beane said.

Buffalo's GM shared you can find a variety of flavors at the defensive line position in this year's draft.

"There is a lot of different players. I was talking about the 3-4 guys. I don't know 15 years ago or maybe even 10 years ago if we would have drafted a Javon Solomon, more of a 3-4 stand-up guy, but we found value in those guys. It's a passing league. You've got to be able to get him down, so you're trying to make sure you can find enough value for those," he said.

As the NFL has shifted over the years to become a pass-heavy league filled with mobile quarterbacks, so to have the defensive linemen that are getting big second and third contracts.

"The guys that are getting paid big, big money, are the ones that can win when they get their one-on-one rush opportunities, and the second part of that is get the quarterback down," Beane explained. "More and more quarterbacks like ours are mobile. There's not as many statues. So, it's made it harder for some of these d-linemen that maybe are good rushers, but then they get to the top of the rush, and they don't change direction well…you always have two parts to that rusher. Can he beat the, let's just say it's d-tackle, can he beat the guard or the center? And then secondly, once he wins, can he get that quarterback down, especially the mobile guys."

In tracking more than 120 mock drafts, defensive line has been the favorite position heading to Buffalo with the 30th overall pick. Defensive tackle is the favorite with Kenneth Grant out of Michigan getting mocked to Buffalo 22 times out of the 124 tracked. Behind defensive line is cornerback as the second favorite.

In discussing value of players when looking at how Buffalo rotates their defensive line but not their secondary, Beane said there's benefits to having talent at both positions.

"If you've got a guy who can play man, can play zone, has speed, tackle, and turns the ball over, that could be more valuable than a lot of defensive tackles, especially a two-down player who is more of a run player than a pass rusher," Beane explained. "So, I think you would truly have to discuss, player vs. player, where is the most value? We had Josh Norman in Carolina, even Tre'Davious (White) here when he was rolling, and we paid him as a No. 1 guy. We could match up Tre'Davious on a team, you know what I'm saying? He would be more valuable than a number of defensive tackles. Probably not more valuable than Aaron Donald. No disrespect to him. Just using those comparisons."

An update on James Cook contract discussions

While most of Beane's press conference was about the NFL Draft, he did comment on a few current players as phase one of offseason workouts started on Monday.

Beane said there are no updates as it relates to contract discussions with running back James Cook.

"The same with James. Really, since the owner's meeting, since we spoke," Beane said. "Love James. Look forward to James putting on our helmet again this year and doing well for us."

Beane shared that Cook has not yet been in the building this week but understands it's voluntary.

"Guys have things going on. Try not to look too far into it," Beane explained. "We could all assume he's not here because he's unhappy with his contract or whatever, but that's not fair. He hasn't told me that. No one's told me that he said that, but I think that's kind of unfair to say he's not here because of that.

"It doesn't mean he's not here next week or the week after. He'll be ready to go, though."

Cook finished his third NFL season tying for the most rushing touchdowns with 16. The RB also had more than 1,000 rushing yards for a second straight season.

The plan for CB Tre'Davious White

Cornerback Tre'Davious White put pen to paper on a one-year deal with the Bills on Monday afternoon. White spent his first seven seasons with Buffalo where he had 18 interceptions in 93 games. The CB also earned First-team All-Pro honors in 2019 and Pro Bowl honors in 2019 and 2020.

Beane said it's great to have White back in the building after spending the 2024 season with the Rams and Ravens.

"It's great to have Tre back," Beane shared. "You know how we all feel about him, and the business part of this stinks…I made it clear just because we're parting ways today doesn't mean forever. And not that I envisioned one year later it would work out, but no, we're excited to have him back. Hard to find a guy who's been here since we started this thing."

The CB suffered a couple serious injuries with the Bills (ACL in 2021 and Achilles in 2023) but looks to be in a good place as he approaches his ninth NFL season.

"He brings great experience to our team," Beane said. "Felt like, if you watch his film, really improved from the start of the year with the Rams to how he played down the stretch. He's another year off the injury. So, we have a lot of confidence in Tre, but no promises were made…we're pulling for him and would love nothing more if he wins the starting job. That means we feel good with him."

White won't be the only corner competing for the CB2 spot as the Bills signed another familiar face in Dane Jackson. Jackson spent his first four years with Buffalo before playing with the Panthers in 2024. The corner played in 52 games for Buffalo and registered three interceptions and 28 passes defensed.

"I could go here for another hour on Tre' White and Dane Jackson," Beane said. "Those guys are Bills' blue DNA. It's guys like that that help you win…it's great to have those guys back in the mix. And I'm sure Dane's going to be competing for that starting role as well. He started a lot in this league. He got banged up in Carolina last year. New place didn't go as well, but I'm he's looking for a clean reset."

Scroll to see the best photos of the Buffalo Bills as they begin phase one of their voluntary offseason training activities in the weight room and on the field.

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