Brandon Beane, Buffalo Bills
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General manager Brandon Beane of the Buffalo Bills speaks to the media during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 25, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The Buffalo Bills have struggled in recent years during the early rounds of the NFL Draft, and the 2025 NFL Draft was no exception, as their first-round pick didn’t yield the best results.
Buffalo selected cornerback Maxwell Hairston from Kentucky with the 30th overall pick, and his rookie season was quite the experience.
Hairston sustained an LCL sprain at the beginning of training camp, which limited him to just 11 games.
Bills Predicted to Land Avion Terrell
The Bills are likely exploring the option of picking another cornerback in the first round this year. On Tuesday, ESPN’s draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. projected that Clemson cornerback Avion Terrell could be a good fit for Buffalo.
“The Bills’ tight salary cap led to some cornerback changes this offseason, with the team cutting Dane Jackson,trading Taron Johnson and letting Tre’Davious White hit free agency,” Kiper wrote. “They have Christian Benford and 2025 first-rounder Maxwell Hairston in place, but the depth is shallow. Terrell is great in man coverage, showing the ability to stick on receivers. He didn’t come away with any interceptions last season, but he broke up nine passes.”
Terrell played three seasons at Clemson, appearing in 39 games and recording 125 tackles and three interceptions.
The name Terrell may sound familiar because his brother, A.J. Terrell, played cornerback at Clemson from 2017 to 2019, helping the Tigers clinch the national championship in 2018.
The Atlanta Falcons selected Terrell in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, and his brother is eager to follow in his footsteps as a potential first-round pick.
Terrell Might Be a Top 20 Player
Given that the Bills hold the No. 26 pick, they might have a shot at landing Terrell in that position. However, there’s also a chance they might need to trade up since he could be among the top 20 players in this year’s draft.
Dane Brugler from The Athletichas unveiled his list of the top 100 prospects for the NFL Draft, placing Terrell as the 18th overall player.
“Terrell is a fluid, easy mover with light footwork in his pedal and read-and-drive reactions. He crowds receivers up and down the field and displays instinctive qualities to find and play the football,” Brugler wrote on Feb. 10.
“You would have liked to see more interceptions from him, but he posted impactful production the past two seasons (combined 25 passes defended, eight forced fumbles) and plays with a “Honey Badger” aura.”
The Bills need to make a strong first-round pick this season, and if it’s a cornerback, they must ensure he can step in right away and succeed.
Buffalo’s general manager, Brandon Beane, may face a challenge in securing standout cornerback talent in the first round. Hairston might not emerge as a star player, especially considering he previously drafted Florida’s Kaiir Elam in 2022, only to trade him last offseason after he struggled to perform well over three seasons.
The Bills are going to be an exciting team to watch during the NFL Draft, as they could target a handful of positions with their first-round pick.