2025 NFL draft: Top prospect on defense falls to Bills in mock from ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.

[ASFN Admin]

Mel Kiper Jr. sees the Buffalo Bills addressing their defensive front in his latest 2025 NFL draft mock following the first wave of free agency this offseason.

When the free agent market opened, the Bills did convince a few interesting names to head to Buffalo. At the top of the list is pass rusher Joey Bosa.

Despite Bosa signing and Greg Rousseau landing an extension from the Bills, the defensive front in Buffalo does still have one spot that could be addressed. That's the direction Kiper goes in.

Defensive tackle Kenneth Grant from Michigan is the selection at the No. 30 overall spot that is currently held by the Bills at this year's draft.

While Ed Oliver is slated to have DaQuan Jones starting next to him again in the middle of Buffalo's defensive line, the Bills could stand to find a long-term space-eating tackle next to Oliver. Grant profiles as exactly that and most mock drafts this spring have Grant off the board well before Buffalo's pick.

In 12 games in 2024, Grant had three sacks, five passes defended, 32 tackles including seven for loss. Pro Football Focus graded Grant a positive 83.7 mark for his efforts last season.

Kiper's breakdown on Grant to the Bills can be found below:

Buffalo should be eyeing the cornerbacks in this class, assuming it doesn't bring back free agent Rasul Douglas, who is still unsigned. But with Jahdae Barron, Azareye'h Thomas and Maxwell Hairston coming off the board in the previous six picks of this mock draft, the Bills probably would have to pivot. Perhaps they look at Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III to give quarterback Josh Allen another run-after-catch ace. But I'm going with Grant.

This 6-foot-4, 331-pound run stopper fits well in the middle of Buffalo's defensive line with Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones. Grant can push the pocket from inside too. He had three sacks and 17 pressures in 2024.

This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: NFL draft: Top defense prospect to Bills in ESPN Mel Kiper Jr. mock

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