Bills must gather answers on these 6 prospects at NFL Combine

With the festivities in Indianapolis kicking off on Tuesday for the 2026 NFL Combine, the Buffalo Bills will get their first look at the draft class to narrow down which prospects could be in play in April’s draft.

Of course, general manager Brandon Beane, head coach Joe Brady, and their staff will be keyed in on entire positions, particularly those of need at wide receiver, interior offensive line, and all across the defense, thanks to the new 3-4 scheme defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard is bringing from Denver.

Still, there are a few select players at those positions of need that the Bills will want to see rise to the occasion to prove they’re worth investing in later in the spring. These six players will no doubt be on the Bills' radar this week at the Combine, and a strong performance from any of them could give Buffalo extra reason to consider them when the Bills are on the clock.

Buffalo Bills have several key positions to evaluate at 2026 NFL Combine

Washington WR Denzel Boston

Of the first-round-caliber receivers available in the 2026 NFL Draft, Washington’s Denzel Boston is one of the more likely options to be on the board when the Bills pick at No. 26. A big-bodied receiver, Boston certainly has the makeup of a reliable target in the right situation.

That said, with comparisons ranging from Michael Pittman to Puka Nacua, Boston’s athleticism and struggles to separate from sticky coverage are the biggest detractions in his scouting report. While Boston surely isn’t going to have testing numbers to make everyone flip their opinions on his limited athletic profile, Buffalo will want to see him exceed expectations in the Combine’s agility drills.

The Bills need a difference-maker out wide, and while proving that he can be such at the Combine is a stretch, Buffalo will get a clearer idea in meetings, interviews and on-field drills if Boston is up to the task. 

Missouri OG Keagen Trost

The Bills' offensive line will have some turnover this offseason, as it’s highly unlikely that Beane is able to retain both left guard David Edwards and center Connor McGovern. McGovern seems like the most likely candidate to be re-signed between the two, so Buffalo will need to keep an eye on the guard prospects. 

That said, it wouldn’t be at all surprising if the team gives Alec Anderson a shot at left guard, having re-signed him late last week. If that turns out to be the case, then Buffalo can key in on a sleeper option like Missouri’s Keagen Trost. 

Trost is likely a Day 3 selection, and certainly won’t draw much buzz regardless of how strong of a Combine he puts together. Nonetheless, he’s a plausible late-round option for the Bills as they build some depth on the interior offensive line. 

Trost played right tackle for the Tigers after moving up to the SEC from FCS-level Indiana State. At 6-foot-4, 315 pounds, he’s undersized even at guard. However, Trost was one of the SEC’s top offensive linemen in 2025, backed by his strength as a run blocker.

If Trost can show a bit more athleticism at the Combine, then he may be worth a late-flier in the draft as the Bills reconfigure the interior offensive line.

Miami EDGE Akheem Mesidor

Again, there isn’t an edge rusher the Bills won’t do their homework on in this draft. It’s a deep class, and the Bills need to build depth at the position and find an immediate difference maker. Miami’s Akheem Mesidor isn’t even the best pass-rusher from the Hurricanes' 2025 roster, but so far his stock indicates he’ll be in play for Buffalo at pick No. 26.

Even at 6-foot-3, 280 pounds, Mesidor’s athleticism jumps off the page of his scouting report, and the Combine will certainly give him a shot to put it on full display. That said, the Bills should hope he doesn’t boost his stock too much.

Nonetheless, if the Bills are thinking defense in the first round, Mesidor is a likely candidate to be the pick, and if Beane and Brady spend significant time with him in Indianapolis, that feeling will only get stronger. 

Iowa State IDL Domonique Orange

The Bills can’t fill every need in the draft, but with a new defensive scheme, they will need to find young players to build around. Domonique Orange out of Iowa State won’t get anyone excited for his pass-rushing skills– he had just one sack in his career with the Cyclones.

However, Orange is a gap-penetrating run defender that would find a place in Leonhard’s three-man front with ease. Of course, a strong Combine performance on the field would help solidify that. Orange needs to show better lateral quickness. Still, if they meet with him, they’ll be meeting with one of the bona fide leaders in Matt Campbell’s locker room over the past few seasons in Ames.

That said, Orange’s stock likely won’t fluctuate much from the Combine. But his fit in Leonhard’s scheme as a run-stuffer should make him an intriguing prospect to watch for this week.

Texas Tech ILB Jacob Rodriguez

Bills Mafia has seen the Matt Milano comparisons with Jacob Rodriguez, a Heisman hopeful with the Texas Tech Red Raiders in 2025. He’s a playmaker with quality leadership intangibles, and while he’s a bit undersized, he doesn’t shy away from doing his job effectively in both phases on defense.

The Bills need someone who can develop and eventually take over in the middle of the defense alongside Terrel Bernard, and Rodriguez seems like a logical fit to that end. Still, Rodriguez’s athletic profile is one of his biggest question marks, so he’ll be looking to silence some critics in Indianapolis.

If he manages to do so, then the Bills will have to consider him as a possible selection as early as the second round. 

Toledo S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren

Great safeties are hard to come by, so when a safety starts gaining some serious buzz as a potential first-rounder, it’s wise to perk up and pay attention. The Bills have been paired with Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in several mock drafts already, even if it isn’t the most pressing need on the defense.

Still, Leonhard’s defense needs a commanding presence in the secondary, particularly one with the intermediate coverage skills McNeil-Warren brings to the table.

Still, speed is a question mark for the former Rocket defender, so all eyes will be on his 40-yard dash. If he delivers a strong time, his stock will continue to rise, giving Buffalo plenty to consider if he’s still on the board when they are on the clock in the first round.