The Buffalo Bills, despite being among the best teams in the NFL for a half-decade at this point, have actually not done too well in the NFL Draft. General manager Brandon Beane is the center of it all, and you just have to wonder if this dam is ever going to break.
Beane and the Bills simply have to perform better in the NFL Draft starting now, or things are going to get rough. To be honest, we saw this happen with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025. Years of underperforming in the draft boiled over in 2025.
And now, the Chiefs may have an uphill battle just to get back into the playoffs in 2026, even if Patrick Mahomes is 100 percent ready for Week 1. Let's get into a mock draft roundup for Buffalo, as a common theme is emerging.
Buffalo Bills' mock draft roundup paint a clear picture on defense
Rhett Lewis, NFL.com - Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
"The Bills signed C.J. Gardner-Johnson in free agency, but pairing the rangy, playmaking safety McNeil-Warren with 2024 second-round pick Cole Bishop gives the Bills a long-term vision of the position. "
Rhett Lewis gets things started with a hard-hitting safety in Emmanuel McNeil-Warren from Toledo. The secondary has been a sticky spot for the Bills. Despite fielding a top-notch passing defense, for the most part, the unit just does not have as much talent as you'd like.
McNeil-Warren is a physically imposing defensive back who could feast near the line of scrimmage and also cover well against tight ends.
Nate Tice and Charles McDonald Yahoo! Sports - Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
"Linebacker was tempting here with Anthony Hill Jr. and CJ Allen still available. Instead, the Bills bolster their spine at the safety spot. Even after signing C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Geno Stone, I think the Bills could use another centrally located long-term option that new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard could weaponize (I picture Gardner-Johnson being used more in the slot). McNeil-Warren is such a fun player. He is a quick diagnoser and loves to fit the run, and has experience working in the box or as the deep safety in single-high schemes. That experience that makes him a clean fit in a Leonhard defense that asks a lot out of its safeties."
Both Nate Tice and Charles McDonald also have McNeil-Warren headed to Buffalo, and an underrated move this team made, which could help the secondary flourish, is the signing of CJ Gardner-Johnson. Despite not being able to stick with a team for the long-term. Gardner-Johnson is a true defensive back.
He can play all over the secondary and would allow someone like McNeil-Warren to immediately step into a defense and play to his strengths. New defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard was a defensive back in the league for quite some time, so you'd have to fairly assume that the secondary is a top target for Buffalo in Round 1.
McNeil-Warren also has upside in playing the run, and that was an area where Buffalo's defense struggled in 2025, as we'll see with the next pick.
Peter Schrager, ESPN - Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
"This might be the highest you'll see McDonald going in a mock draft at the moment, but I'm hearing significant first-round buzz on him. A massive run defender, McDonald would be a good fit in Buffalo, where the Bills ranked 30th against the run last season (5.1 yards allowed per carry)."
A huge plus with defensive linemen coming into the NFL who also have elite size is that they are typically effective against the run from day one. The Bills' run defense was atrocious in 2025, so sometimes, teams just need to go out and address urgent needs without necessarily considering the 'best player available' mindset.
Kayden McDonald just recently turned 21 years old and is going to have a high ceiling in this league if his development works out. Despite having notable talent along the defensive line, there is room for improvement.
Nick Wright, FOX Sports - Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
"The Bills have been trying to get corner correct in the draft for a couple of years. I know they just drafted Maxwell Hairston. They take another shot at it with Terrell out of Clemson.""
Avieon Terrell is the younger brother of AJ Terrell, a cornerback from the Atlanta Falcons. The younger Terrell has the ability to play inside or outside, and also just turned 21 years old. The size is a slight concern, as he's under six feet and not even 190 pounds, so a future in the slot might be on the table.
But the ability to play multiple positions in the secondary would line up nicely with Leonhard's new defensive scheme.