After the signing of offensive lineman Jude Bowry, the Buffalo Bills have officially inked all 10 of their 2026 draft picks to rookie contracts, allowing them to all participate in training camp. This 10-member class is unique for the team, as general manager Brandon Beane decided to draft more for depth and competition, since the team really didn't need to add more immediate day-one starters.
After going through the three-day rookie minicamp last week, the class, along with their depth, will be put to the test as competition for jobs begins in training camp. Despite the team not using a first-round pick, this class still contains highly valuable players who will have an opportunity to contribute to the 53-man regular-season roster in 2026.
Let's take a look at what these 10 rookies can show the Bills' fans at the start of training camp.
How rookies performed at mandatory minicamp
1.) LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr
Kaleb Elarms-Orr was drafted to be more than just a depth piece on the 53-man roster. Despite being picked No. 126 in the 4th round, he may have been a late Day 1 or early Day 2 pick, bringing hope that he might start this season. This potential is especially relevant now, as Dorian Williams' injury creates new opportunities for him.
2.) S Jalon Kilgore
With veteran free agent additions C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Geno Stone most likely to start on opening day with Cole Bishop, the Bills decided to draft a high-value safety in Jalon Kilgore. The former University of South Carolina Gamecock also has special teams experience as a punt returner, during which he tallied 12 returns in college.
Right now, Kilgore will have to battle Gardner-Johnson and Stone to leapfrog them for the starting job, but since both veterans only signed one-year deals, don't be surprised if Kilgore ends up as the starter by the end of the season. If not, he can always be considered for special teams duties.
3.) DT Zane Durant
Zane Durant will most likely be a bench player for most of the season, but besides adding depth, he is fast. The former Penn State Nittany Lion has good size at 6-foot-1, 294 pounds, with quickness at the line of scrimmage. His 4.75 speed makes him fast enough to shoot the gap and use his power and motor to sack the quarterback.
He will have to take a year on the bench to work on his run defense, but he already has the physcial tools and the speed to play in the NFL.
4.) CB Toriano Pride Jr.
Toriano Pride Jr. offers a versatile skill set that can be valuable in the NFL, where teams can never have enough cornerbacks. At 5 feet 11, 188 pounds, Pride lacks the prototypical size when going up against the taller, more physical wide receivers in the game. He does have the speed and athleticism to play man and press coverage, which Jim Leonhard prefers to call in his 3-4 aggressive scheme.
Right now, he could make the 53-man roster, but it may be better if the Bills put Pride Jr. on the practice squad so he can earn reps and work on the rest of his game.
5). EDGE T.J. Parker
T.J Parker, drafted at No. 35 in the second round, is straight out of the Beane school of edge rushers. He is a powerful athlete at 6-foot-3, 265 pounds, with a great motor and enough strength to stop the run at the second level.
Parker brings first-round value to the Bills, and besides Elarms Orr, he will have an opportunity to start Day 1 despite being behind Greg Rosseau and Bradley Chubb.
6.) CB Davison Igbinosun
With their second pick in the second round, the Bills took a gamble on cornerback Davison Igbinosun from Ohio State. He has the prototypical NFL corner size at 6-2, 195 pounds, and can play man coverage in Leonhard's defense.
He already comes from an NFL-style defensive scheme at Ohio State under defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, who spent 17 seasons in the NFL. Plus, he and future teammate Jordan Hancock won a national championship together with the Buckeyes in 2024.
While he will make the plays needed to play in man coverage, he can be a little too aggressive with his hands, which led to penalties earlier in the season, but he cleaned them up later.
He will probably compete alongside second-year player Maxwell Hairston for the starting corner job because he's taller and more physical than the smaller and faster Hairston.
7.) WR Skyler Bell
Of all the draft picks in this class, Skyler Bell may have been the headliner in terms of generating PR and excitement. The 6-foot, 185-pound receiver may be one of the best receivers in the draft class, and he fell right into the Bills' lap in the 4th round.
He is an exciting route runner who can play either on the outside or in the slot. Similar to Khalil Shakir, he's a thrill to watch with the ball in his hands, and he can even go all the way for touchdowns.
Bell will be eye-opening to watch in camp as he will look to compete with Keon Coleman, D. J. Moore, and Khalil Shakir for targets on opening day. Right now, he is leaving minicamp with a hamstring injury.
8.) P Tommy Doman Jr.
In years past, punters whom the Bills drafted had to worry about kicking into the swirling winds at the old Highmark Stadium. For Tommy Doman Jr., that shouldn't be the case, as the new stadium is protected from the elements.
The job should be Doman Jr.'s to lose as a rookie, as he will be competing against 36-year-old Mitch Wishnowsky Jr. Should Doman win the job, that would give the Bills three likely rookie starters in their 2026 Draft class.
9). OT/OG Jude Bowry
Jude Bowry was an important selection at the top of the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Bills lost swing tackle Ryan VanDemark in free agency to the Minnesota Vikings and already have other promising young prospects in Chase Lundt and Tylan Grable.
Bowry will have a chance to compete for starting reps at left guard with Alec Anderson and Austin Corbett. If he wins that job, he'll be the fourth rookie from this class to start alongside Parker, Elarms-Orr, and Doman Jr.
He can also fill in at either tackle spot in case Dion Dawkins is injured at left tackle or Spencer Brown is injured at right tackle. All in all, this was a great value pick as the Bills took a versatile offensive lineman who is 6 foot-5, 311 pounds in the fourth round.
10.) OG Ar'Maj Reed-Adams
The Bills took a gamble by selecting Ar'maj Reed-Adams out of Texas A&M in the seventh round of the Draft. He is a big player at 6-foot-5 and 325 pounds, filling a need for guard depth.
Reed-Adams will most likely be a practice squad player, but the team could use him should one of the guards go down with a serious injury,
Taking another lineman in the 7th round isn't all that bad when depth at that position is more important than ever before in the NFL's long history.
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