🏈 Bills NFL Draft Predictions 2026: Mock Draft Picks, Best Prospect Fits, Team Needs & More
After replacing longtime head coach Sean McDermott with offensive coordinator Joe Brady this offseason, the Buffalo Bills enter draft week with the No. 26 pick and a defense that needs reinforcements at multiple levels after losing several key contributors from a team that lost a heartbreaker in the Divisional Round last January.
As part of our NFL draft predictions for every team, we break down the Bills' full draft picks, biggest team needs, ideal prospect fits, mock draft projections, and our prediction for which player Buffalo will draft in the first round, which begins Thursday at 8 p.m. ET live on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network.
📊 Bills draft picks 2026
See where the Bills rank by the latest Super Bowl odds for every team.
| Round | Pick(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | No. 26 |
| 2 | No pick |
| 3 | No. 91 |
| 4 | No. 126 |
| 5 | No. 165, 168 |
| 6 | No. 182, 208 |
| 7 | No. 220 |
🆘 Bills team needs entering draft
We break down every team's projected NFL win totals with our best Over/Under picks by division.
- Team needs: DL, LB, OL, WR, DB
- Key additions: Bradley Chubb (EDGE), DJ Moore (WR, via trade), Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (S)
- Key departures: David Edwards (OG, Saints), Matt Milano (LB), Joey Bosa (EDGE), Darius Slay (CB, retiring), Taron Johnson (CB, Raiders)
Buffalo signed Chubb and added Gardner-Johnson this offseason, but the defensive depth around those two remains concerning after losing Milano, Bosa, and two cornerbacks in the offseason. Expect the Bills to target those positions for new DC Jim Leonhard, though Josh Allen could use help up front and at receiver (what's new?) for this team to finally break through in the AFC.
🏈 Bills draft prospect fits
I asked NFL draft expert Rob Paul to pick the Bills' best prospect fit in a dream scenario, their safest pick, and their best upside pick for Thursday:
| Pick type | No. 26 pick | Grade | Paul's take |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌟 Dream pick | Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State | 7.20 | With Tyson's injury history, he could slide down the board into the Bills' lap, in which case Brandon Beane has to take the most well-rounded wide receiver in the class to add to Buffalo's DJ Moore-led receiver room |
| 🛡️ Safe pick | Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State | 7.15 | The top non-Power Four prospect in the draft class is also one of the most pro-ready, with Johnson's combo of footwork and cover instincts making him a plug-and-play cornerback for the Bills |
| 🚀 Upside pick | TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson | 7.10 | If Buffalo wants to continue adding to its pass rush, Parker would be an obvious fit with his power and motor poised to make him an instant contributor in the Bills' defensive line rotation |
📝 Bills mock draft consensus picks
I went through the latest mock drafts from other top experts across the industry and gathered their predictions for the Bills' first pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Here's who they expect Buffalo to draft at No. 26:
| Source | Pick |
|---|---|
| Mel Kiper (ESPN) | Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn |
| Chad Reuter (NFL.com) | KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M |
| Mike Renner (CBS) | Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF |
| Todd McShay (The Ringer) | Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn |
| Dane Brugler (The Athletic) | Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF |
| Nate Tice (Yahoo) | Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo |
Four of the six mocks we surveyed project the Bills to address the pass rush, split between Auburn's Keldric Faulk and UCF's Malachi Lawrence. The outliers are Tice, who has Buffalo taking Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, and Reuter projecting Texas A&M receiver KC Concepcion at No. 26. Paul thinks the Bills will land a different receiver in a trade-up with the Cowboys at No. 20 in his latest mock draft.
🔮 Bills draft prediction 2026
See Rob Paul's expert NFL mock draft for projections and analysis of all 32 first-round picks.
Paul's pick at No. 20 (traded up from No. 26): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
- Pro comparison: Amari Cooper
- Measurables: 6'2" | 203 lbs | 21 years old | RAS: N/A
Dallas trades back once again with a team looking to add an impact receiver, and this time it's the Buffalo Bills jumping the Pittsburgh Steelers to select one of the most complete pass catchers in the draft. While Buffalo did trade for DJ Moore, the Bills must get Josh Allen more help. Injuries plagued Jordyn Tyson throughout his collegiate career, but when he was on the field, it felt like he was always moving the chains. He has a deep release package and the start-stop ability to be a devastating route runner.
Trade specifics: Bills trade picks No. 26 (Round 1) and No. 126 (Round 4) to the Cowboys for pick No. 20 (Round 1).
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