NFL reporter thinks Bills would trade up in the first round to draft a player they've barely shown interest in
With 10 total picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills are prime trade-up candidates. It can apply to any round, as well, considering the team has two second-rounders and two fourth-rounders to use at its disposal.Regarding the first round, the two positions attracting the most speculation are cornerback and defensive line. If the […]
With 10 total picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills are prime trade-up candidates. It can apply to any round, as well, considering the team has two second-rounders and two fourth-rounders to use at its disposal.
Regarding the first round, the two positions attracting the most speculation are cornerback and defensive line. If the right guy is available before the 30th overall pick and a team is willing to make a deal, a lot of people see the Bills making the move to get their guy.
The Bills are a team that I've been told has some interest in moving up in the 2025 NFL Draft. If they were to do it, many around the league believe they would be targeting either a corner or a defensive tackle. If they stay put at pick 30 on top of those positions, I would add WR and safety as options they are likely to consider. – Destin Adams, A to Z Indianapolis
One potential target that's popped up as recently as Tuesday is Texas Longhorns defensive back Jahdae Barron, as Yahoo! Sports' Charles Robinson recently wrote in his draft notebook that he can see the Bills trading up for the 2024 Jim Thorpe Award winner if he's there as early as No. 21.
If Texas corner Jahdae Barron gets to the 21st pick in the draft, I could absolutely see the Bills calling and inquiring about moving to 21 from 30. It’s worth noting the Bills have two second-round picks to help them climb up the board if they see an opportunity present itself in the first round. – Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports
Barron would be a very good fit for the Bills defense. His best fit is at nickel, but he has the versatility to play across the secondary when needed and he comes from a zone-heavy scheme. He also has the instincts and ball skills to thrive in this kind of defense.
However, it'd be a somewhat-surprising pick, as the Bills have shown very little interest in Barron via the public eye. The only known meeting between the two parties was at the NFL Combine, where teams talk to just about every prospect in attendance. Meaning, there's not a ton of weight or stock to put into the singular event.
That doesn't mean the Bills will pass up on him. For instance, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn't meet with Calijah Kancey one single time before drafting him with the 19th overall pick in the 2023 draft. While that's unusual, the Bills wouldn't be setting a new precedent or anything like that.
What would it take for the Bills to move up to No. 21?
Honestly, moving up to No. 21 makes sense because the Pittsburgh Steelers don't have a second round pick and a guy like Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart could end up falling to the back of the first round/early second round. That would give the Steelers plenty of reason to move back to No. 30.
Either way it would definitely cost the Bills No. 30 overall and then it would likely cost one of their second-rounders, most likely No. 62, as well. The Bills could probably get No. 156 (fifth round) or maybe even No. 123 (fourth round) alongside the 21st overall pick in return.
There's a close historical comparison we can go off of and it's the Kansas City Chiefs-New England Patriots trade from 2022. The Chiefs traded up from No. 29 to No. 21 and sent the Patriots the following:
- Round 1, No. 29 overall
- Round 3, No. 94 overall
- Round 4, No. 121 overall
So, you can see why sending Nos. 30 and 62 to the Steelers and then getting No. 21 and a fourth or fifth-rounder back makes sense. The Bills would be paying more than the Chiefs in the form of No. 62, so getting another pick in return would help balance that out.
