NFL draft final answers: Our Bills writers make their selections at No. 30 in this simulator
We asked members of our coverage team to play general manager and make their selections for the Bills at No. 30.
The Bills still need a cornerback. They still need a defensive tackle. They could (maybe) use another speedy receiver, (maybe) another safety. What will they do with the No. 30 overall pick in the NFL draft Thursday night? We've got some ideas.
Using a draft simulator via Pro Football Focus (plenty of simulators are out there in the digital world, so if you like, you can play along at home) we came up with a pool of players who could be available when the Bills make their first-round selection – assuming, of course, that general manager Brandon Beane stays put rather than trading up or down.
We then asked members of our coverage team to play general manager and make their selections for the Bills at No. 30. As you can see, there's not exactly a consensus.
Here's how the top 29 picks shaped up in the simulation:
1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward • QB • Miami.
2. Cleveland Browns: Travis Hunter • CB/WR • Colorado.
3. New York Giants: Abdul Carter • edge • Penn State.
4. New England Patriots: Armand Membou • T • Missouri.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mason Graham • DL • Michigan.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty • RB • Boise State.
7. New York Jets: Shedeur Sanders • QB • Colorado.
8. Carolina Panthers: Tetairoa McMillan • WR • Arizona.
9. New Orleans Saints: Will Campbell • T • LSU.
10. Chicago Bears: Jahdae Barron • CB • Texas.
11. San Francisco 49ers: Tyler Warren • TE • Penn State.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Mykel Williams • edge • Georgia.
13. Miami Dolphins: Will Johnson • CB • Michigan.
14. Indianapolis Colts: Shemar Stewart • edge • Texas A&M.
15. Atlanta Falcons: Jihaad Campbell • LB • Alabama.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Mike Green • edge • Marshall.
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Kenneth Grant • DT • Michigan.
18. Seattle Seahawks: Jalon Walker • LB • Georgia.
19. Tampa Bay Bucs: Donovan Ezeiruaku • edge • Boston College.
20. Denver Broncos: Matthew Golden • WR • Texas.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Josh Simmons • T • Ohio State.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Walter Nolen • DT • Ole Miss.
23. Green Bay Packers: Tyler Booker • G • Alabama.
24. Minnesota Vikings: Emeka Egbuka • WR • Ohio State.
25. Houston Texans: Malaki Starks • S • Georgia.
26. Los Angeles Rams: James Pearce Jr. • edge • Tennessee.
27. Baltimore Ravens: Colston Loveland • TE • Michigan.
28. Detroit Lions: Grey Zabel • T • North Dakota State.
29. Washington Commanders: Omarion Hampton • RB • North Carolina.
Oregon defensive lineman Derrick Harmon surveys the field during the Ducks' pro day March 18 in Eugene, Ore. Amanda Loman, Associated Press
Mark Gaughan's pick
Derrick Harmon
The Bills catch a break on this simulation, because Harmon would be a steal. There have been social media rumors that he has some kind of medical condition and could fall. I don’t know anything about that. He’s just what the Bills love in a combo defensive tackle. He’s big enough to be a force at DaQuan Jones’ 1-technique position, and he’s very disruptive as a pass rusher. He’s a better three-down player than Michigan’s Kenneth Grant. I like Grant but I worry about him playing a little too upright. Harman showed his athleticism at the combine by running under 5 seconds (4.95) at 313 pounds. That makes him a weapon on slants and stunts in the pass-rush game. And his playing weight probably is a tad higher than 313. He has exceptionally long arms, at 34⅜ inches. He played great against national champion Ohio State. If the Bills landed Harman, I think he would be playing more snaps than Jones by the end of the season. Another thing the Bills love: He’s young. He doesn’t turn 22 until August. This would be a great scenario for the Bills.
Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston shows support for his teammates during the Wildcats' pro day March 11 in Lexington, Ky. James Crisp, Associated Press
Jay Skurski's pick
Maxwell Hairston
Kenneth Grant was my pick in my final mock draft, but he’s long gone in this scenario. So we’ll wait on the defensive line and address the biggest roster need, which is at cornerback. Hairston adds dynamic speed to the defense. His 4.28-second 40-yard dash was the fastest at the NFL scouting combine. He had five interceptions in 2023. That total dropped to one in 2024, but he missed five games because of a shoulder injury. Durability is a bit of a concern, but Hairston is a willing tackler – a must in Sean McDermott’s defense – who has good production. He had six interceptions in 20 college starts and 16 passes defensed. The Bills signed Tre’Davious White and Dane Jackson this offseason, but both of them are on a one-year contract. Hairston would ideally become a long-term answer opposite Christian Benford, but the Bills wouldn’t have to force him into the lineup in Week 1 if the coaching staff determined he wasn’t ready. Hairston doesn’t turn 22 until August and holds his degree in community leadership and development. He played basketball and ran track in high school. All of those are factors that will make him attractive to the Bills’ front office.
Ole Miss defensive back Trey Amos runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine Feb. 28 in Indianapolis. Michael Conroy, Associated Press
Katherine Fitzgerald's pick
Trey Amos
Like Jay, I’m going cornerback to fill a long-term roster need, but I’ll go with Trey Amos. Amos played at Louisiana-Lafayette and Alabama, then rounded out his career at Ole Miss. Between all those stops and with one year under Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding’s complex coverage, Amos has shown his versatile style and adaptability. He’s coming off a year in which he had an SEC-best 16 passes defended, showing his knack for playmaking. Amos (6-1, 195) has some room to improve on tackling, but he had three interceptions and gave up just two touchdowns, according to Pro Football Focus, in his final college campaign. Amos is self-reflective, though, and he not only knows his flaws; he’s actively working on them. “My best skill is my man coverage, just getting hands on wide receivers and just being able to like just do my thing,” he said in February at the NFL combine. “I just go out there and just compete. And I feel like I just need to improve tackling, just taking better angles. I feel like that’s how I can improve being a cornerback. I feel like my man coverage and my zone coverage have all gotten better.”
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori runs drills during the Gamecocks' pro day March 18 in Columbia, S.C. Scott Kinser, Associated Press
