We haven’t even been a week out since the start of the 2026 NFL Draft, but it’s really never too early to start predictions on how next year’s draft could play out in the first round. This year’s NFL Draft was very exciting to watch because outside of the Las Vegas Raiders destined to select quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first pick, everything else after that was up for grabs.
When it came to the Buffalo Bills, a lot of people were hoping that they would trade back in the first round. They didn't just trade down, they did it three times and eventually left the first round to pick up extra draft capital.
Their first pick was at No. 35 where they selected edge rusher T.J. Parker out of Clemson, who will join Jim Leonhard’s new defensive scheme and learn from guys like Greg Rousseau and Bradley Chubb. The edge rusher position was a need for the Bills, and they weren’t afraid to address it early on. Parker is a pure pass rusher and Buffalo is hoping that he can be a difference maker for this defense.
Even with the Parker selection in this past draft, that isn’t stopping a way-too-early 2027 mock draft conducted by Nicholas Rome of Saturday Blitz here on FanSided, from having the Bills go with an EDGE in the first round.
Bills fans can only be angry at way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft
In Rome’s early 2027 mock draft, the Bills selected Arkansas edge rusher Quincy Rhodes Jr. which would make Bills fans very angry because it really does seem like Buffalo is constantly adding to their defensive line early on in the draft. There has been a ton of investment, yet there haven’t been any big time dynamic home runs with those picks.
"Most of the top edge rushers came off the board before the Bills' pick leading to them trading out of the 1st Round. Quincy Rhodes Jr had a breakout season with 8 sacks in 2025, and stacking another impressive season could make him a 1st Round pick." said Rome.
Rhodes had himself his best season so far of his career with 8 sacks and 43 tackles. He is a big edge rusher who could help a team that needs an edge rusher for 2027, and if he steps up his game for 2026, he should be a first round pick.
When it comes to the idea of the Bills drafting Rhodes, it doesn’t look like the Bills will be having a dire need to bring in an edge rusher in the first round. Fans would be very frustrated to see the Bills go the edge rusher route again when they are going to have bigger needs to possibly address at interior offensive line, linebacker, and I would even throw in wide receiver again.
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