Defensive lineman T.J. Sanders of South Carolina runs through a drill during Senior Bowl practice Jan. 29 in Mobile, Ala.
T.J. SANDERS
DT 鈥 South Carolina 鈥 6-4, 297 鈥 No. 41 overall
It was no secret the Buffalo Bills needed to address their defensive interior at some point in the NFL draft. They did so early in the second round Friday night, swinging a trade to move up and choose Sanders. He finished with 50 tackles (seven for loss) and four sacks last season. General manager Brandon Beane said he wanted to add 鈥渁nother guy to pair with Ed (Oliver) on clear passing downs. But we could still play him at one (technique) if we wanted to.鈥 Beane said Sanders鈥 more natural position, however, is the three-technique, between the guard and tackle.
Arkansas defensive end Landon Jackson celebrates after making a sack against Louisiana Tech on Nov. 23, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark.
LANDON JACKSON
Edge 鈥 Arkansas 鈥 6-6, 264 鈥 No. 72 overall
Landon Jackson got some very important advice from his wife, Grace, on Friday. The defensive end out of Arkansas saw his phone ring and thought it was spam. Grace told him to pick up. It was the Bills, who had entered the draft without a third-round pick. Jackson began his collegiate career at LSU before transferring to Arkansas. In 42 games, he logged 116 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 16 sacks and two forced fumbles. He was also a two-time team captain 鈥 a leadership trait that surely caught the Bills' eyes. Jackson is a powerful pass rusher but still raw.
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Kentucky defensive tackle Deone Walker looks on during a game against Georgia, on Sept. 14, 2024, in Lexington, Ky.
DEONE WALKER
DT 鈥 Kentucky 鈥 6-7, 331 鈥 No. 109 overall
The Bills beefed up again Saturday, adding to the defensive line with Walker in the third round. Walker is the beefy defensive tackle the team needed, presumably to back up DaQuan Jones. Walker started 36 of 37 career games for the Wildcats, and across that span, he tallied 132 career tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and 13 quarterback hurries. Walker was a team captain in 2023 and 鈥24, something the Bills value. 鈥淚鈥檓 just gonna try and pour as much as I can, learn as much as I can from the vets and do whatever I can for the team, no matter what,鈥 Walker said.
Ohio State cornerback Jordan Hancock celebrates during the College Football Playoff national championship game against Notre Dame on Jan. 20 in Atlanta.
JORDAN HANCOCK
CB 鈥 Ohio State 鈥 6-0, 195 鈥 No. 170 overall
If you noticed a trend with the Bills' first five picks, you weren't hallucinating. They stuck with defense. Hancock, 21, played 42 games during his four-year career at Ohio State and was a key role player in the Buckeyes' national championship run. Hancock finished his career with 98 tackles, four tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, three interceptions and four passes defensed. He ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash at Ohio State's pro day and proved to be a versatile defender, having played outside cornerback, slot and some safety. Hancock missed the first half of the 2022 season with a torn hamstring.
Georgia Tech tight end Jackson Hawes fights for yardage against Georgia defensive back Daylen Everette during a game Nov. 29, 2024, in Athens, Ga.
JACKSON HAWES
TE 鈥 Georgia Tech 鈥 6-4, 253 鈥 No. 173 overall
The Bills filled a need for a backup blocking tight end with Hawes in the fifth round. Hawes spent five seasons at Yale University before transferring for his final year to Georgia Tech. Hawes didn鈥檛 have a lot of receiving production in college. He caught 16 passes for 195 yards in 2024 and did see many targets. But the Bills did not re-sign last year鈥檚 No. 3 tight end, Quintin Morris, so there is an opening behind Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox on the roster. Hawes said at the NFL combine he is "definitely looking to punish" someone on the field. "It comes from being coachable," he said.
Virginia Tech cornerback Dorian Strong was drafted No. 177 overall by the Bills on Saturday.
DORIAN STRONG
CB聽鈥 Virginia Tech聽鈥 6-1, 186聽鈥 No. 177 overall
Two dinners 鈥 one in Blacksburg, Va., and one in Orchard Park 鈥 during the pre-draft process gave Strong the impression the Bills were interested in selecting him. His instincts were confirmed Saturday when the Bills led off the sixth round by taking him to join Hairston and Hancock in the secondary. Strong, 23, said he had dinner with Bills cornerbacks coach Jahmile Addae on March 26; the next day, at Virginia Tech鈥檚 pro day, Strong stood on his scouting combine 40-yard dash time of 4.50 seconds. Strong played 53 games for the Hokies and had 112 tackles and seven interceptions.
Connecticut offensive lineman Chase Lundt prepares to engage at the line of scrimmage against Wyoming in 2021 in East Hartford, Conn.
CHASE LUNDT
T聽鈥⒙燙onnecticut聽鈥⒙6-7, 304聽鈥⒙燦o. 206 overall
After an extended run on defense, the Buffalo Bills tended to their offense in the later rounds. Lundt, who turns 25 in June, is experienced, having made 49 starts in college. He played right tackle at UConn but said Saturday he鈥檚 comfortable on the left side if he's asked to play there as well. Lundt overlapped with Bills lineman Ryan Van Demark at UConn and said he's excited to meet some new teammates, particularly MVP quarterback Josh Allen. Lundt will attempt to make the team as a dependable backup, as Buffalo is set with starting tackles Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown.
Maryland wide receiver Kaden Prather celebrates his touchdown against Illinois on Oct. 14, 2023, in College Park, Md.
KADEN PRATHER
WR聽鈥 Maryland聽鈥 6-3, 204 鈥 No. 240 overall
Beane said Prather, the Bills' final pick, made a strong impression on quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry, particularly with his work ethic. Prather said the call from the Bills' draft room was 鈥渁 big weight off my shoulders,鈥 and that he sprinted around the house after he heard he was going to Buffalo. Beane anticipates that Prather could carve out a role on special teams. As a receiver, Prather finished his college career with 162 catches for 1,966 yards and 12 touchdowns across 48 games. 鈥淚鈥檓 glad I鈥檓 with a team that鈥檚 in the Super Bowl conversation,鈥 Prather said.
