Buffalo Bills fans got a little bit of reprieve from all of the questions facing their favorite team thanks to a thorough beatdown of the New England Patriots by the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. With that in the rearview mirror, it is time to look ahead to the offseason.
The NFL Draft is a favorite for fans, the time when the next great “what if” is selected and carries the hopes of a franchise on their shoulders. Though the Bills will certainly have their preferred targets in free agency, the draft is the best opportunity to add cost-effective talent.
The vast majority of mock drafts have the Bills taking a wide receiver. Most of them favor Denzel Boston from Washington or KC Concepcion from Texas A&M. The key to making a run at the Super Bowl, however, should be following what the Seahawks did.
It takes a defense that can get the job done at all levels to truly get the job done. The Bills, who have all-world quarterback Josh Allen, don’t quite need to get to Seattle’s level of defense. That said, finding a few pieces that can make a difference could be what put the Bills over the top. Which is why they should be looking at these players instead.
3 Defensive prospects Bills can target in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft
T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
The Bills defense found a bit of life toward the end of the season, but there was one clear issue: pass rush. Against the Denver Broncos, the Bills could not generate pressure, and it wound up critically hurting their chances to win.
New defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard will need as much talent as he can get, and Parker is one of the most athletic defensive edge rushers out there. Parker is strong, changes direction smoothly, and even has the athleticism to drop into coverage – a major perk in what is expected to be a 3-4 base defense.
He might not have the explosive pass rush ability that the true game-wreckers have, but you aren’t going to find that with the 26th overall pick. With a little work, Parker has the size and skill set needed to become an effective, versatile pass rusher.
Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
In stark contrast to Parker is Howell, an undersized defensive end at Texas A&M who has the kind of explosive first-step quickness that can routinely beat offensive tackles. He shows good intelligence in addition to promising athleticism, making him dangerous as he continues to learn and grow.
His size can be tougher to overcome against the bigger, stronger, more experienced linemen. He also needs to hone his pass rush speed to make it a bit more diverse, opting to go at full speed and nothing else. His hands can use work as well, but most college pass rushers can say the same thing.
The Bills simply need someone who can get to the quarterback on a regular basis. At his size, he could make an excellent edge rusher in a more traditional 3-4 defense. He doesn’t necessarily have the coverage skills of someone like Parker, but that can be worked on down the line if his pass rushing delivers.
C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia
The Bills were woefully thin at linebacker last season, leaning heavily on oft-injured veteran Matt Milano. Though Milano has the smarts needed to do well in the position, his injury history and declining athleticism show that it is time for a change.
Allen could be the next quarterback of the defense. He is excellent instinctually, not to mention a strong communicator who gets his teammates into the right spots. Many feel that he will undoubtedly be a “green dot” player on the defense.
His ability to get off blocks is a question and he doesn’t look like the kind of dynamic playmaker that the truly elite linebackers are at the NFL level. Still, he looks like he can be an above-average player physically with the ability to lead the defense for a long time to come.
Bills must support QB Josh Allen with a standout defense
We all know what Josh Allen can do. The key should be to make it so that he doesn’t have to score 30+ points per game to get a win. Yes, it would be nice to get him a dynamic receiver to work with, but this offense has a higher floor than most others because of the Allen factor.
By getting him a better defense, it means less pressure to have to be perfect. It means being able to suffocate teams with the run and not have to depend on getting just one stop to be the difference. The Bills need to work on honing the defense if they are going to make the most of Allen’s “window.”