Today is the day. The Buffalo Bills have the 30th pick in the first round of this year's draft. Follow here for live updates throughout the draft.
Here's our coverage leading up to the draft, along with our live coverage of the big show in Green Bay, Wis.
It's Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston adds dynamic speed to the Bills' defense. His 4.28-second 40-yard dash was the fastest at the NFL scouting combine. He had five interceptions in 2023. That total dropped to one in 2024, but he missed five games because of a shoulder injury. Durability is a bit of a concern, but Hairston is a willing tackler – a must in Sean McDermott’s defense – who has good production. He had six interceptions in 20 college starts and 16 passes defensed. The Bills signed Tre’Davious White and Dane Jackson this offseason, but both of them are on a one-year contract. Hairston would ideally become a long-term answer opposite Christian Benford, but the Bills wouldn’t have to force him into the lineup in Week 1 if the coaching staff determined he wasn’t ready. Hairston doesn’t turn 22 until August and holds his degree in community leadership and development. He played basketball and ran track in high school. All of those are factors that will make him attractive to the Bills’ front office.
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Two more defensive stars off the board
The Ravens have a partner for Kyle Hamilton.
Georgia safety Malaki Starks, an All-American and 2022 national champion, went to Baltimore with the No. 27 pick, where he'll partner with Hamilton for what should be a potent safety tandem.
The Ravens finished 10th in the NFL in overall defense but second-to-last against the pass, allowing 244.1 yards per game.
One pick later, another defensive tackle — Ohio State's Tyleik Williams — came off the board and headed to the Detroit Lions at No. 28.
The Bills are two picks away.
Bills are 4 picks away. CB Trey Amos. DE Ezeiruaku, CB Hairston, CB Revel . . . CB Will Johnson, DE Mike Green. . . . Will someone want to trade up to 30?
— Mark Gaughan (@gggaughan)
Giants trade up for QB Jaxson Dart
The second quarterback is off the board, and it's not Shedeur Sanders.
The New York Giants, in search of a top-flight QB since Eli Manning retired, traded up with the Houston Texans for the No. 25, and the Giants have taken Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart.
I like this move for the Giants. Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen knew they needed to get a quarterback. A couple third-round picks is a small price to pay. The Giants come away with Abdul Carter and Jaxson Dart tonight.
— Jay Skurski (@JaySkurski)
Dart played three seasons in Oxford for Lane Kiffin, increasing his completion percentage and yardage totals each year.Â
Dart will enter a quarterback room that now includes Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston.Â
Defensive linemen flying off board in first round
Through 21 picks, we've seen quite the run on defensive linemen — SEVEN in all, counting edge rushers: Abdul Carter (edge, No. 3, Giants), Mason Graham (DT, No. 5, Browns), Mykel Williams (edge, No. 11, 49ers), Kenneth Grant (DT, No. 13, Dolphins), Walter Nolen (DT, No. 18, Cardinals), Shemar Stewart (edge, No. 18, Bengals) and Derrick Harmon (DT, No. 21, Steelers).
The latter, Harmon, was our we ran Thursday morning. As it stands, the Bills are watching some of the best players at one of their top "need" positions come off the board.
Kenneth Grant is headed to the Dolphins
Kenneth Grant is off the board ... waaaaaay before the Buffalo Bills had a chance to select him.
Grant, the interior defensive lineman from Michigan, is in the AFC East, having gone to the Miami Dolphins at No. 13 overall. For quite a while in March and early April, he was a trendy pick to go to the Bills at No. 30.
Kenneth Grant to the Dolphins at 13. I love it . . . for Miami. . . . Woulda loved it for the Bills, but it wasn't even close.
— Mark Gaughan (@gggaughan)
Bears take TE Colston Loveland, 49ers add Mykel Williams
The Bears took a tight end at No. 10 overall, but perhaps not the tight end everyone expected. Colston Loveland, who made 56 catches for Michigan last season, is headed to Chicago — ahead of Penn State All-American Tyler Warren, projected by many to be the top prospect at the position.
The 49ers followed at No. 11 with the first Georgia Bulldog off the board. Mykel Williams, who had 14 sacks in three college seasons, will go to San Francisco, which struggled to get pressure on the quarterback during an injury-marred 6-11 season.Â
A wide receiver, another OL off the board
The Carolina Panthers are trying to give Bryce Young some help with a receiver, and the New Orleans Saints are trying to add some protection for ... whomever plays quarterback for them this season.
Tetairoa McMillan, who had back-to-back seasons of 1,300-plus receiving yards, is headed to Carolina. Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. will head to New Orleans, where quarterback Derek Carr's status for 2025 is unclear because of a shoulder injury.
The Jets make it two new linemen in the AFC East
The New York Jets, picking at No. 7 overall, have selected Missouri tackle Armand Membou — the second offensive lineman taken by an AFC East team here in theÂ
The Jets are led now by coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey, who will try to undo a 14-year playoff drought.
Left tackle Will Campbell went to the Patriots at No. 4.
On Armand Membou:
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt)
- He's an ELITE athlete at the position. He can MOVE.
- He didn't allow a single sack or QB hit last year.
- Steps in right away as a starter at RT, the only position of need on their O-Line. This is a legitimate, fun, athletic group with LT Olu Fashanu, LG…
Ashton Jeanty is Vegas-bound
Ashton Jeanty, the Heisman runner-up who's believed to be the only running back with a first-round grade, will run to Las Vegas. Jeanty rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns last year at Boise State. Pete Carroll has his lead back.
At No. 5, the Cleveland Browns took defensive tackle Brandon Graham of Michigan. The Browns got the best defensive lineman and added some extra draft picks along the way.
Patriots pick Will Campbell to protect Drake Maye
Will Campbell, a Monroe, La., native who started at left tackle as a true freshman, has gone fourth overall to the New England Patriots. The talk of Campbell sliding of late must have been some classic pre-draft cloak-and-dagger work.
Maye showed quite a bit of promise as a rookie QB. Now he has some protection.Â
Giants add another pass rusher
Abdul Carter, the star edge rusher from Penn State, will join a New York Giants team that already has edge players Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns. Still not much of a surprise, asÂ
Cam Ward goes No. 1, Travis Hunter headed to Duval
We're off and running in Titletown, and to no one's surprise, Cam Ward is the Tennessee Titans' new No. 1 quarterback. All eyes are now on Jacksonville and Travis Hunter. The Jaguars traded with Cleveland for the No. 2 pick and took Travis Hunter, the two-way Heisman Trophy winner.Â
Our own Mark Gaughan isn't a fan of how much the Jaguars had to give up:
I don't like it for Jacksonville. Giving up 36th pick and next year's No. 1 . . . to move up 3 spots.
— Mark Gaughan (@gggaughan)
How to watch the draft
Round 1: Begins at 8 p.m. Thursday.
Rounds 2-3: 7 p.m. Friday.
Rounds 4-7: Noon Saturday.
Watch on ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes and NFL Network. Streaming options include ESPN+ and NFL+ as well as YouTube TV, Fubo, Sling TV, and Hulu + Live TV.