The 2026 NFL Draft featured the Buffalo Bills turning seven picks pre-draft and turning it into ten selections because of various trades that they made. Brandon Beane had a lot of pressure going into this draft to deliver a strong rookie class, especially after trading their original 2nd-round pick to the Chicago Bears to acquire DJ Moore.
The Bills put another focus on drafting help for defense, as six of their selections were on defense. While T.J. Parker and Kaleb Elarms-Orr stand out as the players who could immediately contribute, there is another defensive draft pick that the Bills could have as a steal that isn’t getting enough attention.
Bills' Jalon Kilgore could be huge steal that no one is talking about
Justin Melo from Sports Illustrated recently put together a piece on the “most overlooked NFL draft pick at every position” and also discussed why they could be big steals. Jalon Kilgore, who the Bills drafted in the 5th round, was listed for Buffalo.
"South Carolina safety Jalon Kilgore was a versatile defensive back prospect who could play from a variety of alignments. He's a legitimate chess-piece who could make an instant impact for the Buffalo Bills despite being a Day Three selection. Kilgore combined for 102 tackles, 15 pass breakups, and seven interceptions across 2024-25." said Melo.
It was surprising to see Kilgore still on the board in the 5th round, but that could be a huge pay off for the Bills. With already having Cole Bishop, and the additions of C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Geno Stone this offseason, Kilgore will have the opportunity to learn a lot from guys who have been serviceable in the league.
He isn’t just solid against the pass, but his ability to help stop the run could separate him from other players both this year and moving forward. Even though Gardner-Johnson and Stone are there, they both only have one-year deals. If Kilgore can get some serious playing time, he will have the chance to show that he can be a great running mate with Bishop.
To start out the season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Kilgore just on special teams. However, if he can get some in-game experience and show glimpses of promise, it would not be a surprise to see him become a starter sooner than later for this defense.
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