The 2026 NFL Draft draws nearer by the day, and the Buffalo Bills have a big decision to make with their No. 26 overall draft pick.
There’s been some speculation about whether general manager Brandon Beane will be looking to trade out of the first round. The draft class as a whole is largely viewed as underwhelming, though there’s promising depth at the three key positions of need for the Bills: wide receiver, linebacker, and edge. Still, having traded away his second-round pick for D.J. Moore, the Bills could use a few extra picks to build up the defensive depth while easing the pressure on finding an extra pair of hands at receiver.
Buffalo Bills add extra picks to address multiple roster needs in 2026 NFL Draft
Recently, ESPN’s Field Yates released a mock draft that saw the Bills trade out of the first round with the Arizona Cardinals. While discussing his decisions for the Bills in that mock draft, I mentioned that exploring the Bills' options beyond the second round would be an exercise worth doing here on BuffaLowDown, so that’s what we’re going to do.
TRADE:
Round 2, Pick 34: Georgia linebacker CJ Allen
I had originally expected to go away from CJ Allen in Round 2; however, the drop-off at wide receiver is too severe in the second round, and while edge is a more important need, Buffalo doesn’t need a starter there as they do at the vacant off-ball linebacker spot next to Terrel Bernard.
Allen is a fringe first-rounder, and while there’s a slight gamble in giving up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, he projects as a great compliment to Bernard’s athleticism in space. Allen’s athletic profile doesn’t quite compare, but he comes up from Kirby Smart’s system in Athens, one that has a strong track record of putting impressive backers in the league regardless of their athletic profiles.
Round 3, pick 65: Texas Tech edge Romello Height
Despite his name, Romello Height is an undersized edge prospect, though Bills fans shouldn’t categorize him as small at 6-foot-3, 239 pounds. Nonetheless, this selection isn’t about finding a well-rounded player to insert into the lineup immediately; it’s about taking a guy with a useful skill set and working him into the scheme.
Height can rotate in on passing downs to boost the Bills' lacking pass rush. He has an arsenal of moves already, with a great get-off, motor, and production (10 sacks in 2025) to get him started at the NFL level.
New defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard has experience working with undersized pass rushers, and Height could be the next if he’s still on the board in Round 3.
Round 3, pick 91: Oklahoma wide receiver Deion Burks
Sticking with my previous mock draft’s third-round selection, Oklahoma’s Deion Burks remains one of my favorite options with the No. 91 pick in this year’s draft for Buffalo. Burks has an injury history that will give some in Bills Mafia pause, but at this point in the draft, every prospect comes with risks.
Burks is a small, athletic route-runner. His 4.3-speed at the Combine didn’t translate on film as a deep threat burner, but rather as a strength in his playmaking ability after the catch. He has a nose for the end zone, having caught 14 touchdown passes over the last three seasons
Burks might not have an immediate impact in Buffalo’s offense, but he seems a perfect candidate to reach his full potential in due time, learning under Joe Brady and alongside the likes of D.J. Moore and Khalil Shakir.
Round 4, pick 126: Alabama DT Tim Keenan III
Alabama’s Tim Keenan keeps up the trend of trusting high-IQ players with physical limitations to make up the difference. Keenan is stout, standing just 6-foot-1 with 30.5-inch arms.
Still, he was a three-year starter for the Crimson Tide as the immovable object in the center of their defense. He scored 5.5 sacks over that time, but Bills fans shouldn’t look for him to play much on passing downs. Instead, Keenan can help fortify the Buffalo run defense that ranked 28th against the run last season while allowing Deone Walker to play further down the line of scrimmage, where he fits more naturally.
Round 5, pick 165: Iowa cornerback TJ Hall
The Bills' need at cornerback stems from depth needs. There’s no reason to give up on Maxwell Hairston, and Christian Benford has the top spot in the depth chart locked down. However, until Tre White is resigned, the depth behind them is a spot to monitor as Beane puts together Leonhard’s defense.
With the first of their two fifth-round picks, the Bills can feel comfortable taking a shot at a cornerback from a respected college defense whose defensive backs always seem to play well above their draft slot. TJ Hall is a physical boundary corner who can play strongly in man coverage so long as he isn’t tied up with straight-line burners. He ran a 4.59 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, so his aggression against the run and play strength could mean he can offer depth at nickleback as well.
Round 5, pick 168: Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik
While double-dipping at wide receiver or linebacker would be understandable, I agree with some of our contributors here at BuffaLowDown that the quarterback room behind Josh Allen is a bit concerning. There’s no need to draft someone ready to compete with Kyle Allen immediately for the backup job, but rather someone who can eventually grow into that role and serve as the long-term backup.
Clemson’s Cade Klubnik had first-round buzz before the start of the 2025 season. Poor play in his final season ruined those aspirations, but he still has enticing traits as a 6-foot-2 dual threat with a strong arm. Getting mental reps behind Josh Allen and working in a successful offense affords him the opportunity to grow into the quarterback most football fans expected to see as one of the stars of this draft class.