The time is now for the Buffalo Bills to get over the hump and make it back to the Super Bowl. There are no juggernauts in the AFC, and you can make a strong case that the Bills have the best player in the league under center.
But for Buffalo to take that next step, Josh Allen is going to need some help. And the Bills will need several players to take big steps forward in 2026. The good news is that there are three players on the roster primed to have career seasons this year.
So without further ado, here are the three players who are the most likely to make their first-ever All-Pro team this season:
3 Bills who are primed for big breakout seasons in 2026
TE Dalton Kincaid
The Bills are desperate for someone to step up in the passing game. The hope is that the addition of D.J. Moore alongside a healthy Khalil Shakir will be enough to spark the unit. However, Dalton Kincaid could be the player who supercharges this offense.
Kincaid played just 12 games last season and posted some modest numbers. But it was his performance against the Broncos that was especially eye-opening. Kincaid caught all six of his targets for 86 yards and a touchdown and was the most reliable pass catcher for the Bills. More importantly, he finally looked healthy and destroyed one of the best secondaries in the NFL.
The belief is that Kincaid is fully healthy going into the 2026 offseason and should be ready to shoulder more of the workload on offense. We know how talented Kincaid is and what he can do for this offense. If he manages to stay healthy for 15 or more games, don’t be surprised if he posts huge numbers and becomes the NFL’s top tight end.
CB Christian Benford
You can make a strong case that Christian Benford is the best defensive player for the Buffalo Bills. The Bills rewarded him with a big contract after his 2024 season and he played well in 2025 for the most part. However, a foot injury limited him and caused him to miss a bunch of practice time last season.
Benford was a strong fit in Sean McDermott’s defense and time will tell how he fits with Jim Leonhard. But given Leonhard's track record of working with defensive backs, we can assume that it will go famously. Benford is one of the best all-around cornerbacks in the league, and with a little bit more ball production, he could easily find himself as a first-team All-Pro selection in 2026.
DT Ed Oliver
The 2025 season was a lost year for Oliver as he played just three games before returning for the playoffs against the Broncos. Not only did he tear his bicep, but he also suffered a meniscus injury that slowed down his rehab process. But the good news is that he’s fully healthy going into the 2026 offseason and should be primed for a monster season.
Oliver will be entering his age-29 season and has yet to make a single Pro Bowl team during his career. But that’s not because he hasn’t been good. Oliver has been one of the best defensive tackles in the league since entering the league, but his overall production (sacks, tackles for loss, etc.)isn’t overwhelming. And most All-Pro voters care about counting stats rather than efficiency, pressure rates, etc.
That’s starting to change as voters are becoming more aware of advanced stats and analytics, and that should only help the case for Oliver. But the Bills also have a deeper and more talented defensive line this season, which should take some of the pressure off Oliver.
If Oliver can have an All-Pro caliber season, and he certainly is talented enough to do so, he could singlehandedly be the reason why the Bills are able to get over the hum. He has that type of talent and can wreck a game at a moment’s notice. Expect a massive season for Oliver heading into Year 8.
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