The first two days of the 2025 NFL Draft have concluded, and the Bills held true to their promise by using all three of their early picks on defense. The trio of cornerback Maxwell Hairston, defensive tackle T.J. Sanders and edge rusher Landon Jackson all have the potential to turn into starting players for the Bills over time.
But with the first two days done, it’s time to shift into the depth of the draft and the third day. Saturday will hold the final four rounds, with the Bills holding seven picks at Nos. 132, 169, 170, 173, 177, 206 and 240.
And if there’s one thing the Bills have been able to do well over the years in the NFL draft, it’s finding some Day Three gems who turn into down-the-line starters. Since general manager Brandon Beane’s first Bills draft in 2018, the Bills have found multi-year starters in nickel Taron Johnson (2018), wide receiver Gabe Davis (2020), cornerback Christian Benford (2022) and wide receiver Khalil Shakir (2022). Those names are on top of all the countless depth and special teams players they’ve identified.
For one last time in 2025, here’s a Bills-only mock draft covering the final four rounds and the remainder of their selections. And let’s kick off Day Three the way Beane did on Day Two, by not being able to wait it out until the end of the round for his earliest selection.
Trade!
Bills trade Nos. 132 and 169 to Cardinals for No. 115
The pick at No. 115: Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State
Royals is one of the players that I’m surprised to still see on the board. This was a difficult decision between Royals and Bowman, but the talent of Royals was too good to pass here in the mid-fourth, if he lasts that long. He possesses the separation skills, the speed and ability to win over the top, along with natural yard-after-catch skills. Of the traits the Bills are likely looking for, those are the more difficult to cultivate at the NFL level. Although the route-running piece isn’t there just yet, that’s where the Bills’ established top three could come in handy to have Royals develop in the background as the WR5 with a handful of snaps each game. He could even develop into a down-the-line starter
The pick at No. 170: Brashard Smith, RB, SMU
With three picks over an eight-pick span, welcome to the special teams portion of the program. It begins with the Bills taking advantage of what will be a talent-rich group of running backs available on the final day. Only six running backs total went through the first three rounds, and the run on them is coming. Smith stands out because of his background as a receiver, which will allow him to be a potential long-term committee back in the Bills system with a higher ceiling for more. Maintaining that offensive function while offering outstanding kickoff return abilities (24.4 yards per return) with his vision and explosive speed. He is also a potential long-term answer at punt returner.
The pick at No. 173: Maxen Hook, S, Toledo
The Bills held off at safety through the first four rounds, but could still use a long-term depth piece with Damar Hamlin slated to be a free agent in 2026. Rather than going for a prospect with a low percentage to start someday and lesser special teams ability, the Bills get a special teams standout in Hook. If the Bills are looking for their next Siran Neal — a player who doesn’t quite have an exact home on defense but becomes one of their top core-four assets for years to come, Hook is an intriguing option. Hook played 681 special teams snaps throughout college and was a special teams MVP three years in a row in high school.
The pick at No. 177: Teddye Buchanan, LB, Cal
Buchanan has been a staple of my Bills projections this week, and there’s an easy case for him to be one of their picks. Backup middle linebacker Baylon Spector is in the final year of his rookie deal, but the amount of injuries he’s had throughout the last three seasons makes him potentially vulnerable to getting cut this summer. Spector’s struggles when needed to fill in for starter Terrel Bernard don’t help, either. Buchanan projects as a potential long-term backup middle linebacker who can become a core-four special teams player and raise the ceiling of the depth of the linebacker room.
The pick at No. 206: Gavin Bartholomew, TE, Pittsburgh
The Bills have yet to re-sign Quintin Morris and have a vacancy for a third tight end behind Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox. Bartholomew doesn’t offer as much special teams experience as some other late-round tight ends, but Pittsburgh did use him on the punt coverage team. He’s at his best as an in-line tight end more in the mold of Knox, which is something they can turn to if Knox has to play a bigger role on offense. That, and the potential to add more special teams units could be enough to make Bartholomew a late-round pick to develop as their third tight end.
The pick at No. 240: Alex Mastromanno, P, Florida State
Every time I’ve projected the Bills to take a punter with their final pick — which has been every mock draft I’ve done, mind you — it’s always felt as if it was a tad early at No. 206. Now with No. 240 in hand from the Bears deal on Day Two, the Bills have their potential #Puntapalooza participant pick home. While Mastromanno would need to defeat Jake Camarda in training camp, getting the punter of their choice late on a four-year cost-controlled deal has been Beane’s roster-building strategy in the past. The Bills have had some pre-draft contact with Mastromanno, too.
(Photo of Brashard Smith: Vasha Hunt / Imagn Images)
