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As he does every year, Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane will try his best to avoid reaching for a player in the first round of the NFL Draft just to fill a particular need.
In fact, he’s far more likely to trade down and out of the first round if there’s not a player available at No. 30 who carries a true first-round grade. That’s what happened last year when Beane traded down twice and ultimately settled in at No. 33 - the first pick of the second round - where he chose wide receiver Keon Coleman.
“I promise you we are just trying to position the board the best we can, and let’s get as many good football players,” Beane said earlier this week at the NFL owners’ meetings in Florida. “We know we need to be strong up front and we’re trying to have as many weapons.”
So while it feels imperative that the Bills get a big, run-stuffing defensive tackle in the first round, the board may dictate that cornerback - another area of concern - presents a better option. Or maybe even a wide receiver or edge rusher, though those two positions aren’t as big of a need.
Playing in Buffalo’s favor is that the draft community consensus is that this is a deep defensive tackle class, and first-year starters or key contributors can be found on Day 2 in the second and third rounds. Here are five players who could be good fits as the Bills try to find the eventual replacement for one-technique DT DaQuan Jones.
Earlier this week, I wrote about Oregon’s Derrick Harmon who said he likes to pattern his game after Chiefs’ superstar DT Chris Jones. Same for Collins, a massive 6-foot-6, 332-pounder who, with some hard work and coaching, could become a premier run-stuffer in the NFL.
“For sure Chris Jones,” Collins said. “I really like him, the way he goes about his business, the way he plays. I want to get my game up there with him.”
Collins is projected by several analysts as a mid-second round talent and he could be in play for one of the Bills’ two picks which currently stand at No. 56 and No. 62.
He showed impressive agility in drills at the combine and Daniel Jeremiah said on the NFL Network telecast that he believes Collins is a “top two round” player. Collins spent five years at Texas and played in a whopping 64 games, but he was a late bloomer and only became a full-time starter in 2024 when he started all 16 games and made 55 tackles, five for lost yardage with one sack, seven pass breakups, one forced fumble.
➤ Pro Football Focus said, “Collins is a long, strong interior defensive lineman with the versatility to play anywhere from 0-technique to 5-technique. His pass-rush profile and inability to disengage quickly limit his ceiling, but his versatility and strength give him a high floor. He projects as a rotational player with starting potential.”
Another big-bodied player who the Bills could be interested in as he measured 6-foot-3 and 334 pounds at the combine. Like Collins, this is the size the Bills need to add in the middle next to 287-pound Ed Oliver.
Williams was a third-team All-Big-Ten selection the last two years, and in 2024 he helped lead the Buckeyes to the national championship as he played in 13 games and made 46 tackles, eight for losses with 2.5 sacks in the middle of a defense that ranked third in the country among 134 FBS teams allowing just 87.3 yards per game.
➤ Dane Brugler of The Athletic said, “Although his production won’t jump off the page, Williams’ impact as a dominant run defender is much clearer on tape. He needs further development as a pass rusher, but he is one of this class’ best run-defending linemen, because of his recognition skills and disciplined execution deconstructing blocks.”
Another big man who measured 6-foot-7 and 331 pounds at the combine with 34 ¼-inch arms and 10 ⅝- inch hands. He is a potentially good run stuffer who has enough athleticism to learn how to become a better pass rusher. He might be a reach in the second round, unless the Bills’ defensive staff thinks it can improve his technique right away.
He’s the tallest DT in the draft class and that’s great for getting his arms up and affecting throwing lanes, though he only had six pass breakups in his three seasons at Kentucky. And one of the knocks on him is that his height sometimes worked against him because he lost leverage, particularly against the run. His level of play also dipped in 2024 after a very good 2023 when he made 7.5 of his 10 career sacks.
➤ The Ringer’s draft guide said, “Walker has a hulking, square build and plays with exceptional quickness for his size. A three-year starter for the Wildcats, he has strong, active hands and employs clubs, rips, and swim moves to free himself from blocks. He absolutely engulfs opponents and overtakes them with pure power. He’s a savvy defender, looking to get his hands up and into passing lanes. It’s tough to move him off his spot in the run game and he can take on and stonewall double teams. He has the versatility to line up at multiple spots on the defensive line, including some snaps over the tackle and a handful on the edge. Walker needs to be more consistent with his pad level, and he often stands up too quickly and loses his leverage. He comes in a little bit hot at times and opens himself up to rip-pull moves. He’s not regularly going to chase down plays outside the tackle box.”
Alexander dropped some weight before the combine and he came in at 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds so he doesn’t have the bulk and probably profiles more as a three-technique backup to Oliver should he wind up in Buffalo. He played in a lesser conference in the MAC, so he felt the need to perform all the drills at the combine, this after an excellent week at the Senior Bowl, and it helped his profile.
He ran a 4.95 in the 40, fifth-fastest among the DTs who ran, and his three-cone time of 7.60 was fourth-best; his 28 bench press reps tied for second-most; he vertical leaped 31.5 inches which was 11th; and his broad jump of 9.3 feet was 10th.
Again, the level of competition isn’t the same that Collins (SEC), Williams (Big 10) or Walker (SEC) faced, and another potential red flag is that he’ll soon be 25 years old. But one thing he did across 58 career games was dominate for Toledo, doing so despite being the best player on the defense and thus drawing plenty of attention. Last year, his pass rush win rate was a superb 14% according to Pro Football Focus.
➤ Lance Zierlein of NFL.com said, “Interior lineman with the size, length and physicality for consideration in odd or even fronts. Alexander is capable of destroying blocks, but he needs to do a better job of balancing his force to control the action at the point of attack. He can hold his ground when he’s staying low, but the pad level is inconsistent and causes his gap constriction to be hit-or-miss. Alexander has above-average rush acumen. He does a nice job of utilizing his traits and crafting a plan of attack. His best football could be ahead of him, but for now, he projects as an average rotational player or backup.”
Of these five players, the only ones who had a confirmed combine visit with Buffalo were Collins and Farmer. It is not known if either player has been or will be invited to the facility for a more extensive top 30 visit.
Farmer measured 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds at the combine where he ran a decent 5.11 in the 40 and did 26 bench press reps. He’s a prospect with quite a back story as he is the youngest of seven children who lost his parents to medical issues by the time he was 11.
At Florida State he played 42 games and 21 of his 80 career tackles were for losses including 11 sacks. He played the bulk of his 2024 snaps at three-technique so again, he’s probably not the one-tech the Bills sorely need, but the upside of his talent is certainly there to be tapped.
➤ Kyle Crabbs of 33rd Team said, “Farmer projects as a developmental starter. His length would be well suited for a gap-control scheme if his leveraging at the point of attack can be more consistent. His tools with length, hand power, and linear force through half-man relationships make him a potential real estate mogul on the interior, but he will need more consistent anchoring along the line of scrimmage to play to this optimized style based on his skill set.”
Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for four decades including 35 years as the full-time beat writer for the D&C, he has written numerous books about the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast/YouTube show. He can be reached at [email protected], and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social. Sign up for his Bills Blast newsletter here: https://profile.democratandchronicle.com/newsletters/bills-blast
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills need to draft DT: 5 who may make it to second round
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In fact, he’s far more likely to trade down and out of the first round if there’s not a player available at No. 30 who carries a true first-round grade. That’s what happened last year when Beane traded down twice and ultimately settled in at No. 33 - the first pick of the second round - where he chose wide receiver Keon Coleman.
“I promise you we are just trying to position the board the best we can, and let’s get as many good football players,” Beane said earlier this week at the NFL owners’ meetings in Florida. “We know we need to be strong up front and we’re trying to have as many weapons.”
So while it feels imperative that the Bills get a big, run-stuffing defensive tackle in the first round, the board may dictate that cornerback - another area of concern - presents a better option. Or maybe even a wide receiver or edge rusher, though those two positions aren’t as big of a need.
Playing in Buffalo’s favor is that the draft community consensus is that this is a deep defensive tackle class, and first-year starters or key contributors can be found on Day 2 in the second and third rounds. Here are five players who could be good fits as the Bills try to find the eventual replacement for one-technique DT DaQuan Jones.
Defensive tackle who may be available in second round of NFL draft
1. Alfred Collins, Texas
Earlier this week, I wrote about Oregon’s Derrick Harmon who said he likes to pattern his game after Chiefs’ superstar DT Chris Jones. Same for Collins, a massive 6-foot-6, 332-pounder who, with some hard work and coaching, could become a premier run-stuffer in the NFL.
“For sure Chris Jones,” Collins said. “I really like him, the way he goes about his business, the way he plays. I want to get my game up there with him.”
Collins is projected by several analysts as a mid-second round talent and he could be in play for one of the Bills’ two picks which currently stand at No. 56 and No. 62.
He showed impressive agility in drills at the combine and Daniel Jeremiah said on the NFL Network telecast that he believes Collins is a “top two round” player. Collins spent five years at Texas and played in a whopping 64 games, but he was a late bloomer and only became a full-time starter in 2024 when he started all 16 games and made 55 tackles, five for lost yardage with one sack, seven pass breakups, one forced fumble.
➤ Pro Football Focus said, “Collins is a long, strong interior defensive lineman with the versatility to play anywhere from 0-technique to 5-technique. His pass-rush profile and inability to disengage quickly limit his ceiling, but his versatility and strength give him a high floor. He projects as a rotational player with starting potential.”
2. Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
Another big-bodied player who the Bills could be interested in as he measured 6-foot-3 and 334 pounds at the combine. Like Collins, this is the size the Bills need to add in the middle next to 287-pound Ed Oliver.
Williams was a third-team All-Big-Ten selection the last two years, and in 2024 he helped lead the Buckeyes to the national championship as he played in 13 games and made 46 tackles, eight for losses with 2.5 sacks in the middle of a defense that ranked third in the country among 134 FBS teams allowing just 87.3 yards per game.
➤ Dane Brugler of The Athletic said, “Although his production won’t jump off the page, Williams’ impact as a dominant run defender is much clearer on tape. He needs further development as a pass rusher, but he is one of this class’ best run-defending linemen, because of his recognition skills and disciplined execution deconstructing blocks.”
3. Deone Walker, Kentucky
Another big man who measured 6-foot-7 and 331 pounds at the combine with 34 ¼-inch arms and 10 ⅝- inch hands. He is a potentially good run stuffer who has enough athleticism to learn how to become a better pass rusher. He might be a reach in the second round, unless the Bills’ defensive staff thinks it can improve his technique right away.
He’s the tallest DT in the draft class and that’s great for getting his arms up and affecting throwing lanes, though he only had six pass breakups in his three seasons at Kentucky. And one of the knocks on him is that his height sometimes worked against him because he lost leverage, particularly against the run. His level of play also dipped in 2024 after a very good 2023 when he made 7.5 of his 10 career sacks.
➤ The Ringer’s draft guide said, “Walker has a hulking, square build and plays with exceptional quickness for his size. A three-year starter for the Wildcats, he has strong, active hands and employs clubs, rips, and swim moves to free himself from blocks. He absolutely engulfs opponents and overtakes them with pure power. He’s a savvy defender, looking to get his hands up and into passing lanes. It’s tough to move him off his spot in the run game and he can take on and stonewall double teams. He has the versatility to line up at multiple spots on the defensive line, including some snaps over the tackle and a handful on the edge. Walker needs to be more consistent with his pad level, and he often stands up too quickly and loses his leverage. He comes in a little bit hot at times and opens himself up to rip-pull moves. He’s not regularly going to chase down plays outside the tackle box.”
4. Darius Alexander, Toledo
Alexander dropped some weight before the combine and he came in at 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds so he doesn’t have the bulk and probably profiles more as a three-technique backup to Oliver should he wind up in Buffalo. He played in a lesser conference in the MAC, so he felt the need to perform all the drills at the combine, this after an excellent week at the Senior Bowl, and it helped his profile.
He ran a 4.95 in the 40, fifth-fastest among the DTs who ran, and his three-cone time of 7.60 was fourth-best; his 28 bench press reps tied for second-most; he vertical leaped 31.5 inches which was 11th; and his broad jump of 9.3 feet was 10th.
Again, the level of competition isn’t the same that Collins (SEC), Williams (Big 10) or Walker (SEC) faced, and another potential red flag is that he’ll soon be 25 years old. But one thing he did across 58 career games was dominate for Toledo, doing so despite being the best player on the defense and thus drawing plenty of attention. Last year, his pass rush win rate was a superb 14% according to Pro Football Focus.
➤ Lance Zierlein of NFL.com said, “Interior lineman with the size, length and physicality for consideration in odd or even fronts. Alexander is capable of destroying blocks, but he needs to do a better job of balancing his force to control the action at the point of attack. He can hold his ground when he’s staying low, but the pad level is inconsistent and causes his gap constriction to be hit-or-miss. Alexander has above-average rush acumen. He does a nice job of utilizing his traits and crafting a plan of attack. His best football could be ahead of him, but for now, he projects as an average rotational player or backup.”
5. Joshua Farmer, Florida State
Of these five players, the only ones who had a confirmed combine visit with Buffalo were Collins and Farmer. It is not known if either player has been or will be invited to the facility for a more extensive top 30 visit.
Farmer measured 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds at the combine where he ran a decent 5.11 in the 40 and did 26 bench press reps. He’s a prospect with quite a back story as he is the youngest of seven children who lost his parents to medical issues by the time he was 11.
At Florida State he played 42 games and 21 of his 80 career tackles were for losses including 11 sacks. He played the bulk of his 2024 snaps at three-technique so again, he’s probably not the one-tech the Bills sorely need, but the upside of his talent is certainly there to be tapped.
➤ Kyle Crabbs of 33rd Team said, “Farmer projects as a developmental starter. His length would be well suited for a gap-control scheme if his leveraging at the point of attack can be more consistent. His tools with length, hand power, and linear force through half-man relationships make him a potential real estate mogul on the interior, but he will need more consistent anchoring along the line of scrimmage to play to this optimized style based on his skill set.”
Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for four decades including 35 years as the full-time beat writer for the D&C, he has written numerous books about the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast/YouTube show. He can be reached at [email protected], and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social. Sign up for his Bills Blast newsletter here: https://profile.democratandchronicle.com/newsletters/bills-blast
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills need to draft DT: 5 who may make it to second round
Continue reading...
