Buffalo Rumblings
Is 2025 the year without a draft crush?
With the 2025 NFL draft just days away, I find myself in a bit of a conundrum. For years I’ve followed the draft diligently, waiting to see what the Buffalo Bills eventually do when they’re on the clock.
Every year for as long as I can remember, I’ve had a “draft crush” — someone that I truly hoped the Bills would select. That one player I was sure would make the difference needed for Buffalo to win the Super Bowl, or more realistically to end the playoff drought. But now as I sit here, just days away from the draft — I have nothing.
Now, I’ll be the first to admit, just because someone is my draft crush doesn’t mean they’re destined for success in the NFL. I’m not afraid to admit that I pounded the table for the Bills to select quarterback Tim Tebow in the 2010 draft. Unfortunately I saved the receipt on this one, which I’m embarrassed to even include in this article.
I’ve shared a story on multiple occasions how I almost drove off the road when the Bills passed on Matt Leinart in 2006, only to select safety Donte Whitner. That wasn’t a proud moment, and certainly one of those cases where I was very happy to eventually be proven wrong.
There have been plenty of other misses during my fandom, including: Hakeem Butler, Travis Etienne, Jake Locker, Eric Ebron, Darron Lee, and on and on... and on. However, just because my team doesn’t select my draft crush, that can very often be a good thing for them in retrospect.
While it’s easy to point out some of my horrendous takes, there have also been some pretty good hits in the past. Patrick Willis has a gold jacket and a bust in Canton. David DeCastro was a six-time Pro Bowler for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and I wrote about Lamar Jackson being my 2018 “draft crush” here at Buffalo Rumblings. It’s obviously too soon to talk about Creed Humphrey, but I believe most of Bills Mafia will chalk that one up as an “I told you so” prospect. These victory laps are far and few between, but it’s fun to look back at the years when my draft crushes made me look good.
As much fun as it is to take a look back at past draft crushes, I’m struggling to find that same type of prospect in 2025. Over the past few years players have just emerged early in the process including Jordan Davis, Jack Campbell, and Brian Thomas, Jr. — albeit none of whom were available when the Bills were on the clock.
Plenty of Bills fans will gush about Michigan defensive lineman Kenneth Grant, or Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden. There are plenty of talented cornerbacks and edge rushers that fans have gravitated towards as well.
But now here I am, just days away from the 2025 draft, without a crush. Based on my less-than-stellar...
