The Shutdown is Coming: Bills Prospect Vows to ‘Suffocate’ NFL’s Best Offenses”

Mahomes makes magic out of nothing, Hurts steamrolls through defenders, and defenses? They’re left scrambling for answers. But Bowman is built differently. The 22-year-old Oklahoma safety turned heads at the 2025 NFL Combine, proving he’s a game-changer. His mission in the NFL is crystal clear: suffocate offenses, shut down playmakers, and make quarterbacks think twice before testing him. The league has been warned.

Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts have a way of making even the best defenses look helpless. Dial up the perfect blitz, and Mahomes still manages an impossible sidearm pass while falling to the ground. Try to bring down Hurts? He brushes off defenders like they’re nothing and keeps moving. The result? Defenses try, they fail, and the cycle repeats

Honestly, at some point, defenses need to hit back. With the NFL Draft around the corner, fresh talent is ready to step up, and one name is already creating serious buzz: Billy Bowman Jr.

The 22-year-old safety out of Oklahoma made a statement at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, showing he’s built to be a game-changer. His mission for his rookie season? Shut down offenses before they even get started. “I want to suffocate offenses,” Bowman said during the combine. “Offense is easy to play. You know your play. You know where the ball is going. All you got to do is get the ball, make somebody miss.” (via: EssentiallySports)

In his mind, offense is predictable, but defense? That’s where the real challenge lies. “Defense, it brings so much more of a challenge,” he added. So it’s so much more fun. But my goal is just to suffocate offenses. I don’t want to give them nothing. I want to hold them to zero to 3. When the ball is in the air, it’s mine. If they hand the ball off, I want to rally to the ball as quick as possible. My mentality is suffocation.”

And Bowman backed it up on the field. Over 47 games at Oklahoma, he posted 199 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 11 interceptions, and 14 pass deflections. If the ball was in play, he was in the mix.
Bowman’s “suffocate offenses” mindset isn’t just talk, it’s how he plays. His dominance at Oklahoma and a standout NFL Combine performance proved he’s built to shut down opposing attacks. Now, as a top Buffalo Bills prospect, he’s ready to bring that same relentless energy to the pros.

Is Billy Bowman Jr. target for the Bills?
The Buffalo Bills are entering the 2025 season with a mix of highs and hard lessons. Josh Allen just had a career-best season, capping it off with his first MVP title. But on the flip side, their AFC Championship loss to the Chiefs (yet again) still stings. To bounce back, bolstering the roster is a must and they’re already on it.
One key focus? The safety position. With Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde gone, the Bills need reinforcements, and Billy Bowman Jr. is emerging as a strong contender. Despite being overlooked in the draft process, he’s proven his potential, clocking a 4.42 40-yard dash, recording a 10’3″ broad jump, and hitting 17 reps at 225 pounds. However, his 5’9”, 192-pound frame raises concerns.
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter praised his performance, noting his fluid movement and strong catching ability in drills. With the draft approaching, all signs point to Buffalo eyeing a safety and Bowman could be their guy.