As the Buffalo Bills shift their focus toward the 2026 NFL Draft, it’s a good time to take stock of what last year’s rookie class brought to the table-and where the team still needs more. The early returns on the 2025 draft class have been a mixed bag, and while there are a few bright spots, the Bills are still waiting on that breakout performance from one of their early-round picks.
Graded a respectable “B” and ranked 14th among all 32 teams, the Bills’ 2025 draft class has shown flashes, but not enough to quiet the questions. The biggest issue?
The most impactful rookies so far came from Day 3, not the top of the board. That’s not a great sign when you’re hoping to build cornerstone pieces through the draft.
Let’s start with the hits. Defensive tackle Deone Walker and tight end Jackson Hawes were the standouts, and both were taken well after the first two days.
Walker, despite playing just under half of the defensive snaps, made his presence felt. He racked up 39 tackles, eight of them behind the line of scrimmage, added a sack, four quarterback hits, and seven pressures.
He even got his hands up to deflect a couple of passes. That kind of production, in limited action, is what you want to see from a developmental rookie.
With a new defensive scheme coming in 2026, the Bills are hoping Walker can take that next step and carve out a bigger role.
Then there’s Hawes, who might not have been a household name coming out of Georgia Tech, but quietly put together a strong rookie campaign. Known more for his blocking than his hands, Hawes was Pro Football Focus’s highest-graded rookie tight end-largely due to his work in the trenches.
Even with Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox ahead of him on the depth chart, Hawes found ways to contribute, hauling in 16 catches for 187 yards and three touchdowns. That’s more production than he had during his entire college career.
The Bills won’t ask him to be a featured weapon, but he’s already proven he can be a valuable depth piece.
But the concern lies with the top of the draft. First-round pick Maxwell Hairston didn’t make the immediate splash fans were hoping for. That doesn’t mean he’s on the wrong trajectory-plenty of rookies take time to adjust-but when your most impactful players are coming from the fourth round and beyond, it naturally raises some eyebrows.
Second and third-round picks T.J. Sanders and Landon Jackson both had their rookie years derailed by injuries.
Sanders saw limited action, playing around 160 fewer snaps than Walker, while Jackson was barely a factor, appearing in just three games and failing to register any stats. The Bills still believe in their upside, but Year 2 will be pivotal for both if they’re going to justify their draft positions.
General manager Brandon Beane has had more fruitful drafts-2018 and 2022 come to mind as benchmarks. That 2022 class, which brought in guys like James Cook, Terrel Bernard, and Christian Benford, didn’t light it up right away either.
But over time, they developed into key contributors. The Bills are hoping for a similar trajectory with this group.
Looking ahead to 2026, the team still has clear needs-wide receiver and edge rusher remain high on the list. Fortunately, this upcoming draft class is loaded at both positions. If the Bills can strike gold early, and if the 2025 class takes the expected leap, this roster could be in a much better place come September.
For now, though, the jury’s still out. There’s potential here-but it’s time for the Bills’ young talent to turn that potential into production.