5 Bills Targets To Keep Your Eye On At The Senior Bowl
Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
After the Buffalo Bills fell one game short of returning to the Super Bowl for the first time in 31 years, it’s only right that Bills Mafia wants to get a good look at players who might put them over the Kansas City Chiefs hump next season. There are various areas to upgrade on offense, but even more needs on defense, and Bills fans will have a close eye on that side of the ball when looking for their next generation of players.
Who should Bills fans pay extra attention to during the Senior Bowl?
Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
The Bills had a down year against the run in 2024. Their PFF Run Defense Grade of 58.8 was seventh-worst in the NFL, and a huge, mobile player to plug up the middle would be of great benefit.
Walter Nolen is a DOMINANT run defender and flashes excellence as a pass rusher 🚀
Nolen posted 72 stops while only missing 5 tackles in his college career. He’s also posted 67 pressures and 14 total sacks.
He’s a player I expect to see go in round 1. pic.twitter.com/zFe3kTfOMj
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 30, 2025
Enter 6-foot-3, 305-pound Walter Nolen, who has an excellent combination of size, strength, and agility, but remains a project in terms of block-escaping technique. If he overpowers his blocker, he’s borderline unstoppable. He was the fifth-highest overall graded interior defensive lineman in the NCAA by PFF last season (88.9 Overall Grade), and had the second-best Run Defense Grade (91.4).
He has immense upside and performed strongly in 2024, as he totaled six sacks, 35 pressures, 25 hurries, and only two missed tackles. Having a player to fortify the defensive line, especially one who helps as a run-stopper and pass-rusher, would be a massive weapon against Patrick Mahomes or any quarterback unlucky enough to line up across from him.
Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA
Carson Schwesinger has had a hell of a ride. He started as a walk-on at UCLA and played a grand total of 101 snaps between 2022 and 2023. But finally, the prospect came out of absolutely nowhere in 2024 to not only be a full-time starter, but notch First-Team All-American honors. Schwesinger was also a finalist for the Dick Butkus Award for his efforts.
I love watching UCLA LB Carson Schwesigner – #37 on @MoveTheSticks Top 50
1 year starter (Career: 806 snaps on defense, 569 snaps on special teams), Former walk on. Bio engineer major.
Rangy/Athletic. If you use LBs in pressures or QB spies – he’ll be a great fit. 3 Down usage. pic.twitter.com/k8LT1ttSBd
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) January 30, 2025
The linebacker still has plenty of room to grow, especially considering his rapid ascent up draft boards. Still, his strong overall play in 2024 has made him a candidate to exceed his current Day 2 projection. He doesn’t blow people away with strength, size, and measurables, but he’s a versatile and quick athlete who is good in coverage and can rush the passer. He also has been lauded as a player with strong character and work ethic.
“We see it every day. The way that [Schwesinger] plays this game and the way that he approaches it, it’s all in his training,” said UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster. “He’s truly a captain on this team. People respond to him. He might not say much, but actions speak louder than words and they try to follow the way that he leads.”
Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State
Darien Porter doesn’t have a ton of experience at defensive back, but he’s a big, fast prospect who can turn into a very solid pro player with the correct coaching.
Darien Porter (@IowaStateFB) is the type of corner I can’t help but love. Not a lot of reps starting at corner but the kid can flat out play pic.twitter.com/SmR3WhhOPe
— TJ Wengert (@TJWengert) January 29, 2025
2024 was a standout year for the Cyclones prospect. In 201 coverage snaps, he only allowed five receptions on 17 targets for 70 total yards. He didn’t give up a single touchdown and picked off three passes, which all amounts to a passer rating allowed (4.7) that more resembles a Grade Point Average than a football statistic.
Porter has plenty of room to grow, especially as he gets more familiar with the game. He is taller than your average cornerback (6-foot-4) and regularly demonstrates strong awareness and ball skills. With the right development, he can turn into a rock-solid starter. He’s currently projected to be an early pick on Day 3 who has a strong chance to rise into Day 2.
Jack Bech, WR, TCU
Amari Cooper may have played his last snap in Buffalo. While he wasn’t a bad player, he didn’t live up to the lofty expectations that came with him when the Bills traded for him in the middle of the 2024 season.
With a team in need of a big-bodied, No. 1 receiver who thrives downfield, Jack Bech may be a strong option.
Jack Bech is the most unique WR near the top of the 2025 NFL Draft.
He’s a converted tight end playing X receiver and is a nuanced, physical route runner at 6’2 215lbs.
Boasts just a 1.6% drop rate with a gaudy 68.4% contested catch rate. Also the best run blocker in the class. pic.twitter.com/q5EBAizhle
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 12, 2025
Bech’s solid 2024 season saw him haul in 62 passes with only one drop. He notched 1,034 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, which is a massive jump for a player who had 346 yards and a single touchdown in his previous two seasons, combined. He doesn’t have top-end speed, but he’s an incredibly reliable receiver that Josh Allen can lean on, which would be a boost for an offense that, barring a sophomore leap from Keon Coleman, doesn’t seem to have a clear-cut, go-to No. 1 receiver.
Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas
Landon Jackson is one of the bigger edge rushing prospects in this upcoming draft, as he’s 6-foot-6 and 273 pounds. Those measurables, combined with his PFF run defense grade of 88.7 (third-highest among EDGEs in the NCAA in 2024) make him a highly intriguing name in this year’s draft.
Arkansas LB Landon Jackson absolutely blows up the run here. Would have leveled the QB in a live setting. #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/nldjgCc2Yj
— Thomas Christopher (@ThomasCP_NFL) January 29, 2025
While he isn’t the quickest, flashiest, or twitchiest athlete, his hand placement, size, and motor are enough to help him overcome that lack of agility. He has solid pass-rushing ability, shown by his 35 pressures, 20 hurries, and seven sacks in 2024, with all seven of his sacks coming in a seven-game stretch in the middle of the season. He may not be the dominant, overwhelming kind of pass-rush threat that makes fans drop their jaw, but he’s a balanced player who can overpower offensive tackles and get where he needs to be in the backfield.
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