Niagara Gazette

‘For the first time since 2018, the Bills used three consecutive draft picks on one side of the ball and took three defensive players in a row to start the draft for the first time since 2016. After taking Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston in the first round, the Bills added a pair of defensive linemen, with all picks coming from the Southeastern Conference.’

‘Hairston’s biggest concern coming out of Kentucky was his tackling ability. Whether it was a willingness or technique, the physical part of the game wasn’t considered Hairston’s strong suit.’

‘Five months before the Bills selected Hairston with the 30th pick in the NFL draft, Hairston was sitting in the stands of Detroit’s Ford Field. Hairston grew up 30 minutes from Detroit and Kentucky teammate and Bills running back Ray Davis gave him tickets when the Bills visited in December.’

‘The Bills enter the second day of the draft with the 56th and 62nd picks in the second round. They also have two fourth-round picks and three fifth-rounders to maneuver around if they choose.’

‘The NFL draft is the most unpredictable event in sports. But there are always a few clues and guarantees when draft day arrives. Not this year.’

‘“If you can’t get Buffalo on the line, just don’t call me.”’

‘It happens. A defensive coordinator bests every quarterback at some point.’

‘The current order of the first round remains intact for the first time in the common draft era (1970), with no trades made. It’s also not seen as a top-heavy draft, which means the Buffalo Bills have plenty of options with the 30th pick.’

‘The Bills have made 57 first-round picks since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger and 15 have become Pro Bowlers. They also had 17 top-10 picks, five of whom made a Pro Bowl in Buffalo.’

‘Cornerback Tre’Davious White agreed to a one-year, $6.8 million contract with the Bills Thursday. Buffalo released the 2017 first-round pick last offseason as part of a roster purge after White suffered a torn Achilles tendon of Week 4 in 2023.’

‘For prospects like Dolac, NFL scouts can think two ways. They can question why a player didn’t end up at a bigger school or they can praise their loyalty for sticking around. Either way, underdog draft stories are diminishing. “I don’t think (staying at Buffalo) was a big issue for teams,” Dolac said at his pro day last month. “If you can play football, no matter what level you’re at, they’ll find you. And they found me.”’

‘There were no offseason roster purges and they didn’t have to watch any of their prized free agents walk away with a contract out of their price range. Yes, the Bills could use an upgrade at certain positions, but cornerback is the only starting spot left unfilled going into the draft.’

‘The quarterback was throwing in front of a slew of NFL scouts and every CFL team at the University at Buffalo’s pro day on March 13, having just a quick session the previous day to meet his receivers for the day.’

’30. Buffalo Bills: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon.’

‘While the Bills ensured cornerback Christian Benford is sticking around past 2025, they still need someone to play opposite him. Rasul Douglas remains a free agent and the Bills added depth in bringing back Dane Jackson, but they still lack a starting-caliber cornerback.’