BREAKING: Bills Trade Up for ‘Perfect’ Edge Rushing Fit in Recent Mock Draft
The Buffalo Bills’ most significant free-agent signing was bringing in former Los Angeles Chargers pass rusher Joey Bosa on a one-year deal to strengthen their defensive line alongside Gregory Rousseau.
However, a recent mock draft predicts the Bills making an aggressive trade-up to secure a highly productive edge rusher who would be an ideal fit for their scheme in the 2025 NFL season.
Bills Trade Up to Select Donovan Ezeiruaku in Recent Mock Draft
The Bills have made several bold moves to strengthen their roster in hopes of finally breaking through the AFC and reaching their first Super Bowl in over 30 years. One of those moves was signing former Super Bowl MVP Von Miller to a six-year, $120 million contract in 2022.
With Miller no longer on the roster, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic believes Buffalo still seeks additional pass-rushing help. He projects the team trading up in the first round to select Boston College EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku at No. 26 overall.
Buscaglia explained, “The Lions at No. 28 were likely taking a hard look at an edge rusher, so the Bills sent out one of their many Day 3 selections to the Rams to move ahead and secure Ezeiruaku, a defensive end who suits them perfectly…”
He further noted, “Drafting him takes advantage of an excellent edge rusher class by getting a good value in the late first…”
While some may question Buffalo trading up for an edge rusher after signing Joey Bosa, the veteran’s injury history and one-year contract indicate he’s not a long-term solution opposite Gregory Rousseau.
Ezeiruaku saw a breakout season in 2024, recording 16.5 sacks—one of the highest totals in college football—after managing just 13.5 over his first three years at Boston College. His draft stock rose following a strong NFL Combine, where he showcased his athleticism with a 35.5-inch vertical jump, a 9’11” broad jump, and 22 bench press reps. His agility was also evident with a 6.94-second 3-cone drill and a 4.19-second 20-yard shuttle.
Though slightly undersized and occasionally struggling against powerful offensive linemen in the run game, Ezeiruaku’s refined pass-rushing skills could make him an impactful rotational player in 2025 with long-term starting potential.
Other Options for the Bills in the 2025 NFL Draft
Throughout the early stages of this NFL Draft cycle, the Bills have frequently been linked to Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, a potential addition to strengthen the interior of their defensive line alongside Ed Oliver and newly acquired Larry Ogunjobi.
In addition, the Bills’ decision not to re-sign Amari Cooper could pave the way for them to double down on the receiver position for the second consecutive year, potentially adding another weapon alongside Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir. Top wide receiver prospects that could be available late in the first round include Emeka Egbuka, Luther Burden III, and Matthew Golden.