Nothing is guaranteed for a sixth round rookie in the National Football League. Many late round selections are out just as quickly as they came in. However, Buffalo Bills sixth round pick, Dorian Strong, has a golden opportunity to make himself uncuttable going into the 2025 season.
Strong was the third cornerback selected in the Bills 2025 draft class. They went outside in the first round, picking up Maxwell Hairston. They doubled up in the fifth, selecting National Champion Jordan Hancock. Then finally, seven picks later, the team selected its third corner of the weekend with Dorian Strong.
Now with Hairston out for a few weeks with a serious-enough knee injury, Strong has been making a name for himself around training camp.
Sports Illustrated writer Alex Brasky gawked over the rookie in a Wednesday afternoon X post.
“Dorian Strong is coming on like a speeding bullet as training camp progresses,” Barsky writes. “An INT Wednesday a feather in his cap. Strong will be a starter in this league in short time. Team won’t be able to keep him off the field. Another late-round hit for Brandon Beane.”
Dorian Strong Listed On Two-Deep Ahead Of Preseason Game One
The Buffalo Bills are scheduled to take on the New York Giants in just a few hours. It will be the first time fans see this iteration of the Super Bowl hopefuls.
Looking at the injury report in the corner back room, it looks like aside from the rookie Hairston the unit will be at full health. This seemingly places Dorian Strong across from sixth year returner Dane Jackson on the second team defense while veterans Tre’Davious White and Christian Benford earn the start.
Bills writer Mike Moraitis says the two could be directly in competition this offseason to earn a rotation spot.
“Strong can still garner some reserve snaps for Buffalo, which would give him valuable experience,” Moraitis writes. “Strong’s biggest form of competition to be the first man off the bench on the outside is veteran Dane Jackson.”
Strong went from a fringe roster player to competing for rotational snaps in the regular season, and that competition starts this afternoon. As a rookie he will get plenty of snaps to prove his ability and I expect the rookie to shine in his first game under the bright lights.
Strong Could Be The Answer Long Term
When you’re paying your quarterback 330 million dollars, you look to save money where you can. Starting next season, the Bills have an opportunity to be paying two rookie contracts on the outsides.
As a sixth round rookie, Strongs contract is worth just one million a year for the next four years. If he in fact is a future starter, this put the team in a huge financial advantage while their Super Bowl window is open.
Moraitis seems to share this optimism as he outlines how the rookie can step into an extended role in the fuutre.
“With White and Jackson set to be free agents in 2026, Strong may be auditioning for a starting job down the road,” Moraitis hypothesizes. “And, if he ends up doing enough to seize it, that would be extremely helpful for the cap-strapped Bills.”
