Bills' Rival Scout Anticipates Trade Up for 'Impact Defensive Player' in NFL Draft

The Buffalo Bills have been tabbed as a candidate to trade up in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft in order to land a defensive prospect.

According to ESPN's Matt Miller, a rival scout expressed their belief that the Bills could get aggressive, saying: "Don't be surprised if they're a team trying to move up in Round 1 for an impact defensive player."

The Bills, who are fresh off an AFC Championship Game appearance, own 10 picks in the 2025 NFL draft, including two in the second round, giving them plenty of ammo to trade up.

Buffalo was primarily powered by its offense last season, led by the NFL MVP in quarterback Josh Allen.

The Bills ranked second in the league in scoring offense with 30.9 points per game, whereas the defense paled in comparison.

Defensively Buffalo was closer to the middle of the pack, ranking 17th in total defense and 11th in scoring defense.

A strong argument can be made that the defense is what has primarily prevented the Bills from reaching the Super Bowl during their five-year run as AFC East champions as well.

Over their past five playoff losses, four of which were against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Bills have allowed an average of 33.2 points per contest.

That suggests defense should and will be a point of emphasis for Buffalo early in the draft, particularly the secondary and defensive line.

Cornerback and defensive tackle are likely the Bills' biggest needs, and there are plenty of intriguing options who could be available to them either at pick No. 30 or earlier should they trade up.

In the BR NFL Scouting Department's latest mock draft, the Bills were projected to select Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison at No. 30.

Corner is a definite possibility since Buffalo doesn't have a clear CB2 across from No. 1 cornerback Christian Benford. Assuming a trade into the top 10 isn't likely, some of the Bills' realistic trade up candidates at corner could be Texas' Jahdae Barron, Ole Miss' Trey Amos and Florida State's Azareye'h Thomas, who were all taken between picks 12 and 26 in the BR NFL Scouting Department mock.

Defensive tackles taken before the Bills include Oregon's Derrick Harmon at No. 21, Michigan's Kenneth Grant at No. 23 and Ole Miss' Walter Nolen at No. 25.

The Bills have a quality starting DT in Ed Oliver, who is two seasons removed from recording 9.5 sacks, but they could use a run stopper with a bit of pass-rushing juice next to him after DaQuan Jones failed to make a sizable impact last season.

Buffalo continues to come agonizingly close to a Super Bowl berth. A great draft may be the thing that puts the Bills over the top, so if general manager Brandon Beane identifies a player who could make a difference, it won't be a surprise if he moves up to get him.