Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - We've made it! The 2025 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday night in Green Bay.
In a draft that hasn't seen one first-round pick traded and every team owning their original selection, the Bills are scheduled to select 30th overall.
Obviously, that all could change once commissioner Roger Goodell steps to the podium to get things going at 8 p.m.
But, as always, I don't include any trades in my annual first-round mock draft. Here it is, along with an explanation of the Bills pick:
Bills selection: Tyleik Williams - DT - Ohio State
I have said for the entire offseason and still believe this, the Bills will concentrate on the defensive side of ball with their first pick, and most likely their first three. I've also believed they'll focus more on the defensive line and cornerback with those first three selections.
The additions of Dane Jackson and Tre'Davious White won't prevent the Bills from still drafting a cornerback, but it does give them a little more depth and veterans who can bridge the gap to the next young starter (who may still come in this year's draft). That allows general manager Brandon Beane to not have to reach for that spot earlier than he wants.
The current biggest need on the team may very well be defensive tackle, and specifically a bigger-body player. At 6-foot-3 and 334 pounds, that's exactly what Williams is.
He could step in right away to be a part of an interior rotation, along with and next to Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, DeWayne Carter, and eventually Larry Ogunjobi.
But Ogunjobi is suspended for the first six games of 2025, leaving a massive void at a spot the team loves to have several different players.
Additionally, Ogunjobi signed just a one-year deal, and Jones also has just a year left on his contract, giving the Bills a young player who could play both 3-technique and 1-technique (closer to the center and typical nose-guard area).
Here is what Lance Zierlein wrote about Williams for his profile at NFL.com:
Drain-clogging run defender with violent first contact and nimble feet for impressive tackle production. Williams flashes an ability to play through or around the block. He physically dominates man-on-man matchups, but inconsistent pad level and shorter arms hinder his double-team take-ons. He needs to focus on developing his hands to keep longer NFL guards from getting into him and neutralizing his power. Williams should pressure the pocket from time-to-time, but might not win on his own enough to see many third-down reps. The knock-back pop and ability to eat up runners in his general vicinity could help him become an impactful, run-stuffing three-technique.
