ClutchPoints
The Buffalo Bills are entering the 2025 NFL season with high expectations and a core that has largely remained intact. They have superstar QB Josh Allen still in his prime and the front office doubling down on key pieces via contract extensions. As such, the team looks like a serious contender once again. However, even on a roster filled with established veterans, several young newcomers are making noise during OTAs. They could shake up the depth chart before Week 1 arrives.
The Bills’ top priority this offseason was financial. They needed to lock down core players before they could sniff the open market. That included extensions for Josh Allen, Khalil Shakir, Greg Rousseau, Terrel Bernard, and Christian Benford. They also added former Chargers deep threat Josh Palmer. The offensive side of the ball looks largely set. Defensively, though, there are lingering questions, especially in the secondary.
Despite letting go of veteran corner Rasul Douglas, the team waited until Round 1 of the draft to address the cornerback position. They selected Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston. That selection, along with other high-upside picks like Landon Jackson and Deone Walker, signals a potential shift. Several veteran contributors may be on the hot seat. It’s not because of performance issues necessarily, but because the hungry youth movement has arrived.
Here we’ll try to look at the Buffalo Bills veteran players whose roles will be pushed by rookies in the 2025 NFL season.
Tre’Davious White was once the crown jewel of the Bills’ secondary. Now, he finds himself in a precarious position. Injuries have plagued him in recent seasons, and the franchise’s patience may soon be tested by first-round pick Maxwell Hairston.
Hairston brings elite speed, ball-tracking ability, and twitchy athleticism to the position. At OTAs, he’s already drawing high praise — and not just from coaches. White himself acknowledged the rookie’s physical tools and upside, telling reporters, “It’s only a matter of time before he’s one of the best corners in the league.”
Rasul Douglas and Dane Jackson were other in-house options. However, Douglas hasn’t been re-signed, and Jackson profiles better as a depth piece. That leaves Hairston and White in direct competition for the starting role opposite Christian Benford. Sure, Hairston may not be plug-and-play ready from Day 1. Still, his rise feels inevitable.
The fact that White is endorsing Hairston’s development speaks volumes about the potential passing of the torch. The Bills need a younger, faster secondary to keep up with AFC juggernauts. Hairston could be the spark they’ve been missing since White’s All-Pro days.
Greg Rousseau just signed an extension, signaling the team’s confidence in him long-term. On the flip side, that doesn’t mean his snap count is safe. Third-round rookie Landon Jackson is making waves in camp and could quickly become more than just a rotational pass-rusher.
At 6’4 and 264 pounds, Jackson’s combination of size, bend, and relentlessness makes him a natural fit...
