Another year, another gut-wrenching playoff loss. Such is par for the course when it comes to the Buffalo Bills. And like every season, the subsequent offseason will be spent asking what went wrong, where changes can be made, and whether the Bills can get it done.
Though the Bills Mafia would love to see a blockbuster trade, the more likely path is through the NFL Draft. The Bills and General Manager Brandon Beane have a spotty record in the draft of late. They find some gems – like Ray Davis in 2024, Khalil Shakir and James Cook in 2022, and Spencer Brown in 2021 – but tend to have a hit-and-miss run on top picks. Kaiir Elam, Keon Coleman, and Boogie Basham being some of the most notable names.
With salary cap challenges facing them, a blockbuster trade may prove too challenging. New head coach Joe Brady, when discussing the offensive philosophy for next season, confirmed that screens will still remain a big part of the scheme.
For that reason, the move is clear when it comes to the 26th overall pick in the draft: Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion.
Why Concepcion Makes Sense
Knowing that screens are going to be a big part of the offense, it makes sense to take a guy renowned for his explosiveness in space. When you give Concepcion a little space to work with, he hits top speed fast and gets away from defenders in a hurry.
Despite his 5’10” frame, he plays stronger than he is and is more than capable of running through arm tackles. He has also shown enough physicality to win contested catches time and again, high-pointing the ball to gain an advantage over defenders.
Concepcion’s route-running is another standout. A major problem for Bills receivers in 2025 was their ability to separate. Concepcion is a natural when it comes to gaining separation, providing easy targets for his quarterback.
On top of all that, Concepcion is a great punt returner, giving him yet another dimension. It would be nice to have someone to take pressure off of Shakir in the screen game, opening him up for other opportunities that utilize his ability to rack up RAC (run after catch).
The Risks Involved
You don’t get to be rated a late-first round prospect without some flaws. For starters, he is undersized despite playing a stronger game than expected. He is going to have to put on size and strength to go up against the bigger, more experienced cornerbacks that populate the NFL.
The other big issue facing Concepcion is his hands. He had seven drops this past season, and many of them are considered to be concentration drops. If he is going to avoid some of the pitfalls that Coleman faced, he will need to work on securing the ball before turning upfield.
His run blocking isn’t great but that feels like something the Bills scheme can mitigate. It will also likely improve with a little added size, giving him a bit more oomph when he does have to block.
Beane Needs to Hit a Home Run with His First-Round Pick
Beane is under more pressure than ever to deliver a difference-maker in the first round of the draft. The Bills traded out of the first round in 2024 to take Coleman, giving the rival Kansas City Chiefs the chance to select the dynamic Xavier Worthy. Maxwell Hairston, the 2025 first-round pick, missed a large chunk of the season due to injury.
The Bills desperately need help on both sides of the ball, and Concepcion makes the most sense when it comes to helping former MVP QB Josh Allen. It may not be the perfect option, but it could help unlock Brady’s offense and take pressure off Allen. If he is the dynamic playmaker he was at Texas A&M, the Bills offense will have gotten a lot more dangerous.