The first month of the NFL season is often a good indicator of how successful or unsuccessful a team or player’s year will go. For the Buffalo Bills, these three players have surpassed preseason expectations in the first four games.
Player #1: Deone Walker
Walker, a fourth-round pick in the 2025 draft, seemed to have a lot of question marks entering training camp and preseason. The three-time All-SEC defender was projected to be a possible top-10 pick at the start of the 2024 season, but following a drop-off in play and a broken back, Walker dropped to the fourth round.
Through the first month of the regular season, the 6’7 defensive tackle has started three games, notched seven tackles, two tackles for a loss, two pressures, and has played nearly 40% of the snaps. For the disruptive defensive tackle, starting three of the first four games and recording nearly 40% of snaps is quite the start.
Editor’s Note: Walker uses a swift swim move to get around Daniel Brunskill and force a crucial turnover.
Player #2: Jackson Hawes
A round after Walker, Buffalo selected Jackson Hawes in the fifth round. Hawes, drafted to be a dominant run-blocker, has done just that while also being productive in the passing game. The importance of the 24-year-old was shown following Week 3 against the Miami Dolphins. According to YardsPerPass, when Hawes was on the field, the Bills averaged 6.57 yards per carry on 14 attempts, while when he was off, Buffalo averaged just 3.2 yards per carry.
In the passing game, Hawes registered just 16 receptions for 195 yards in his senior year at Georgia Tech. Through four weeks in the NFL, the 253-pound tight end is on pace to finish the season with 17 catches, 230 yards, and four touchdowns.
Player #3: Matt Prater
On Sept. 4, the Bills signed Matt Prater to their practice squad as an insurance option for Tyler Bass, who was/is dealing with a pelvic injury. Just three days later, the 41-year-old and oldest player to ever put on a Bills jersey kicked the game-winning field goal in a 41-40 victory over the Ravens.
On nine field goal attempts this year, Prater has connected on eight of them, and has been a perfect 13-for-13 on extra points. The veteran’s consistency could lead to Buffalo management having difficulty in conversations on what their next steps are at the kicker position when Bass is fully healthy.
Through the first four weeks of the NFL season, Walker, Hawes, and Prater surpassing expectations are a key reason why the Buffalo Bills are the AFC’s only remaining undefeated team.