The 2026 NFL Draft is a critical one for the Buffalo Bills. There are issues on the roster, and new head coach Joe Brady needs to create his team quickly to capitalize on Josh Allen's prime.
The team's roster has needs beyond just the 2026 season. Hitting well in this draft keeps the Super Bowl window open for another half-decade. Brandon Beane has had his fair share of misses, but the to-do list is clear for 2026.
Add to the wide receiver room, top or bottom
The Bills have one of the NFL's most expensive WR rooms, but you couldn't tell by looking at the stat sheet. Not by the highlight reels either. In fact, you couldn't tell by watching the games either. Yes, the Bills are very good at spending a lot of money, not so much at generating consistent results. They've once again opted to spend big on a wide receiver after failing to draft one.
In trading for D.J. Moore, the Bills have solved a problem by worsening another. Buffalo doesn't have a gaping hole at WR, just a small one, accompanied by an enormous price tag. Receiver is a premium position, and this year's free agent crop tells us the same. Even this rather disappointing free agent class reset the market, and top-tier WR contracts will be unaffordable for Buffalo next season. They need to find rosterable players now, on rookie contracts.
It's a nice idea, that the top need should be addressed with the top draft pick, second need gets the second pick, and so on. It isn't true to life. The team doesn't need to add a receiver with their highest draft pick, but they do need to add one. There are options who could become a top-level talent late in round one, but a toolsy player who can add to the room's depth and cut spending over the next four seasons still adds true and calculable value to this roster.
Adding a Day 3 draft pick or two is an acceptable outcome, as long as they are selected with a role in mind and a plan for development. D.J. Moore can truly be the WR1 that Josh Allen has been craving, but he cannot do it alone. If they don't support Moore in the goal of being a true WR1, the Bills cannot afford to go and buy another one for the fourth offseason in a row. Either commit to top talent early, or make the rest of the room cheap and effective for future years. Two paths, but only one goal in mind- A competitive and affordable future for Josh Allen.
Find the 2027 guards
It's true, the Bills have done an admirable job filling the holes before the draft. It's something Beane does well: showing few cracks, giving away very little to other teams before making their selection. So, many may not notice that guard is the greatest weakness on the Bills' roster. They have O'Cyrus Torrence, now on the final season of his rookie contract. They have Alec Anderson returning to potentially fill the left guard spot on a one-year deal.
The only two interior linemen the Bills have after 2026 are recently-retained C Connor McGovern and backup centre Sedrick Van Pran-Granger. No guards are on the roster long-term. After David Edwards left for the Saints on a four-year $61M contract, there's a void. There's no guarantee anyone can replace him at an acceptable level. The increasing acceptance that O'Cyrus Torrence will break the market next year gives little choice. The Bills are already cash-strapped and cannot afford five linemen on market-setting contracts.
The best thing the Bills can do in this draft is find two or more guards to establish a future. There is one season in which to learn and grow into the players the Bills need, then it's time to start. Neither of the current starters at guard will likely be on the roster next season, and the Bills need to fix this problem before it becomes a desperate issue next offseason. There are plenty of powerful interior linemen in this draft, available in the third round or later. Get them under contract, give them a year to learn, use them while they're cheap. The Bills have lots of wiggle room in this draft, but this is non-negotiable.
Get the OLB of today
One good thing about athletes in the modern era is that they defy convention. Linebackers who play off the edge are commonplace, but now they offer something in coverage, too. With Jim Leonhard's 3-4 defense on the way, and a sudden lack of true outside linebackers, Buffalo will be searching for these athletes.
The roster features a deep stock of defensive line play, but little in terms of actual coverage options. Dorian Williams is as good as it gets for this version of the Bills, and they need more. It's not a necessary feature in the way the WR room or IOL is, but it helps. A late-round selection would be adequate in terms of talent- someone too big to play safety and too small to play edge. The players who fit this mold fit because they can't quite stick anywhere else. A freak athlete may not be the solution, but linebackers are always a deep class. This role is needed, and it's needed for 2026.
A safety pick
The Bills had a slew of safeties start for them in 2025, and the answer didn't present itself. Cole Bishop was excellent, but he needs a partner. Though the Bills had Jordan Hancock under contract, they signed CJ Gardner-Johnson and Geno Stone to one-year deals. The implication is that the answer isn't on the roster, but next season, neither will any of the new additions.
Safety is a premium spot to find a year-one contributor due to special teams usage, so spending a draft pick here won't be a waste. If the team can find a speedy, sure-tackling safety in Day 3, they're set up very well for 2027 and beyond.