Buffalo Rumblings
The Buffalo Bills take on the Baltimore Ravens to kick off their 2025 NFL season. It’s a huge game, one given the primetime spotlight of Sunday Night Football on NBC. While there are massive playoff stakes at play, those truths won’t be revealed until months from now.
Yet for some of the Bills’ latest rookie draft picks, tonight is of the utmost significance. Among Buffalo’s 2025 NFL Draft picks making his first start against the Ravens is defensive back Dorian Strong, who gets the starting nod at outside corner in complement to cornerback Christian Benford on the other hash.
In keeping with a theme, Strong represents the latest late-round defensive back to start a game during the tenure of head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane. In fact, Benford is one of the regime’s best late-round success stories, having cashed in on a four-year extension this offseason.
Strong’s opportunity comes at the expense of injuries to cornerbacks Tre’Davious White and fellow rookie Maxwell Hairston. Hairston, Buffalo’s first-round pick in 2025, is currently on Injured Reserve and will miss at least the first four games of the season. White is dealing with a groin injury and his timetable to return remains unclear.
That all adds up to an incredible opportunity for Strong, who won’t have an easy task breaking into NFL starting snaps against a Baltimore team many see as the most complete top to bottom.
