The Buffalo Bills have had a relatively quiet offseason but have managed to achieve quite a bit. The moves general manager Brandon Beane has made gives the team a lot more flexibility when it comes to the somewhat limited draft capital that the team has.
The upcoming NFL Draft is important for a few reasons. The Bills are currently slated to pick 26th overall in the first round barring a potential trade back. If they keep the pick, there is really only one position that they should be focused on with that selection.
Acquiring edge rusher help is the move for Bills in first round
While the receiver room was far from ideal last season, the Bills were one play away from the AFC championship game with Brandin Cooks as Josh Allen’s top target. When you have a truly elite quarterback, there is a lot of room for error.
The one thing that has consistently cost them in the Josh Allen era has been getting to the quarterback. Beane has tried and failed to add an impactful pass rusher. Though Bradley Chubb looks like he can earn a double-digit sack total, the Bills are still lacking a truly explosive edge rusher.
There are a number of potential options in a deep draft for edge rushers. R Mason Thomas from Oklahoma, Akheem Mesidor from Miami (FL.), and Kedrick Faulk from Auburn would all be excellent additions to Jim Leonhard’s 3-4 defense. Most importantly, it would give Leonhard more options for disrupting the quarterback.
Wide receiver and safety can be addressed with other picks
Though Bills fans are clamoring for more, the No.1 receiver issue has been resolved thanks to the D.J. Moore trade. The hope is that Joshua Palmer and Dalton Kincaid can stay healthy in 2026 and become bigger contributors.
The Bills have signed a pair of veteran safeties in hopes of pairing one with emerging star Cole Bishop while also finding greater flexibility in the secondary. Neither Geno Stone nor C.J. Gardner-Johnson is a long-term solution but will make for excellent veteran mentors.
Investing in both positions is still important. Using a mid-round pick on each position would give them a piece to mold for the future without having to burn a premium asset to make that happen.
Being back as true contenders
The Bills have already re-established themselves as contenders in the AFC without a truly earth-shattering move. When you have an all-world quarterback and a great offensive line, you can fix a lot of problems – as we saw all throughout the 2025 season.
With the right additions through the draft, the Bills can bolster their defense both now and into the future. They may not have made a massive move like the Baltimore Ravens, but they are significant enough to keep the contention window open for the immediate future.