Boston College tackle Jude Bowry was picked No. 102 by Buffalo, bringing versatility on the offensive line and a personal drive shaped by family loss.
Boston College offensive lineman Jude Bowry’s NFL dream turned real when Buffalo called his name in the fourth round.
The Bills selected Bowry with the 102nd overall pick Saturday. bringing a 6-foot-5. 314-pound tackle—who can also play guard—into a roster that values up-the-middle competitiveness on both sides of the ball.. For Bowry, it was more than a roster spot.. He described being overcome with emotion when his name came in, saying he was “bawling” after the call.
Bowry, a Germantown, Maryland native and Saint Frances Academy product, enters the pro ranks with experience across the offensive line.. At Boston College. he posted left tackle and right tackle reps. and last season he allowed no sacks in 307 total pass blocks.. That combination—size. flexibility. and protection reliability—is the kind of profile NFL teams often try to secure early. especially when they’re looking to build depth and competition along the line.
In the pre-draft process, Bowry’s upbeat approach stayed consistent.. During his introductory Zoom with the Bills. he spoke with energy and thanked reporters by name. projecting the same positivity he said he carried through college.. Head coach Bill O’Brien framed Bowry as the type of teammate who keeps the room steady.
“He’s a very positive guy and a great person. ” O’Brien said. adding that Bowry loves football and wants to get better each day.. Those remarks connect to the message Bowry delivered earlier at Boston College’s pro day in March. when he discussed how he tries to avoid dwelling on negativity.. “Negativity is not going to help you get through a lot of things,” he said.. “I’d rather see the positive side and continue to be positive about everything and be happy all the time.”
That mental approach matters in a position where repetition is unforgiving.. Offensive line players live on footwork. leverage. recognition. and timing. and young linemen are often judged by how quickly they adjust when an assignment changes or a defender moves unexpectedly.. Bowry’s willingness to study elite examples—he said he watches players such as Laremy Tunsil. Trent Williams. and Buffalo’s own Dion Dawkins—suggests he understands the job is partly technical and partly cultural.
For all the football talk, Bowry’s draft story is also intensely personal.. He is continuing to honor his late brother, Jevon Stephenson, who died in 2024 at age 33.. Bowry said that growing up with “basically a single mom” shaped how he sought guidance. turning to his brothers for inspiration while trying to apply what they taught him.. He described the loss as something that still weighs on him, but also something that motivates him to push forward.. “It stinks, him not being here,” he said, “but I know he’s here in spirit.”
That combination—hope for the future and commitment to work—came through again when Bowry talked about what comes next. He called the moment surreal, but he also insisted that celebrating is only part of the journey. “Celebrate now, but it’s 24 hours,” he said. “It’s time to get back to work.”
From an NFL perspective. Buffalo’s selection fits a familiar pattern: pairing athletic linemen and versatility with a culture that expects development.. The Bills stayed close to an “New England” theme during the draft as well. adding UConn wide receiver Skyler Bell later in the fourth round with the 125th overall pick.. Bell, listed at 6 feet and 192 pounds, was the first consensus All-American in Huskies history and produced a remarkable 2025 season.. Buffalo also moved through that same draft conversation about offensive needs when it targeted tackle prospects, including Bowry.
Bowry’s addition arrives as Boston College also enjoyed multiple departures on draft day.. It marked the first time since 1999 that the school had three offensive players taken in the same year.. Along with Bowry. BC lineman Logan Taylor went to the Chargers earlier. and wide receiver Lewis Bond was selected by the Texans—part of a broader day that included defensive line talent as well.
Ultimately, Bowry’s biggest hurdle in the NFL won’t be effort.. It will be learning the speed and complexity of NFL defensive schemes while carving out the right role—whether that’s developing as a tackle option. competing for guard reps. or contributing through depth and special teams value.. If he brings the same emotional steadiness he described and pairs it with consistent film study. the Bills may have found a lineman built for the grind.
And for Bowry, the draft moment is already being framed as the start, not the destination.