ORCHARD PARK — Brandon Beane is backed into a corner. Following the blockbuster trade for D.J. Moore that stripped Buffalo of its 2026 second-round pick, the Bills enter the draft with just two selections in the top 100. Holding picks 26 and 91, there is zero margin for error. The pressure is on to find immediate contributors for a roster that just added veteran pass-rusher Bradley Chubb and is transitioning into year one of the Jim Leonhard defensive era. While the board offers tempting talent, certain “draft darlings” represent significant risks for this specific Bills’ window.
Buffalo needs fresh blood on the edge. While Gregory Rousseau remains a fixture, the newly signed Bradley Chubb is 30 years old and carries a well-documented injury history. Many mock drafts link the Bills to Clemson’s T.J. Parker at 26. On paper, it fits the old Buffalo mold: a 6-foot-4, 263-pound power rusher with long arms. Parker exploded for 11.0 sacks in 2024, but his production slipped to 5.0 sacks last fall without a dominant supporting cast.
The real issue is the scheme. Jim Leonhard’s aggressive 3-4 system thrives on twitchy speed and the ability to bend the corner. Parker wins with heavy hands and a bull rush, resembling the A.J. Epenesa archetype more than a modern 3-4 outside linebacker. For a defense looking to “play fast,” drafting a power-dependent end who lacks elite burst would be a step backward. Buffalo should look toward prospects like Cashius Howell if they want a true fit for Leonhard’s vision.
Georgia’s C.J. Allen is a tackling machine. His 2025 campaign was stellar, racking up 88 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. He is a natural leader and a Butkus Award finalist who could instantly run the “green dot” for the Bills. However, taking an off-ball linebacker at 26 is a luxury Beane cannot afford this year.
The depth of the 2026 linebacker class is significant. While Allen is a “plug-and-play” starter, the talent gap between him and a Day 2 prospect like Jacob Rodriguez or a Day 3 flyer like Red Murdock isn’t wide enough to justify the 26th overall pick. With no second-rounder in the holster, Beane must prioritize premium positions like receiver or edge rusher. Taking a linebacker here would ignore the roster’s structural needs in favor of a safe, lower-impact selection.
Washington’s Denzel Boston looks like a Josh Allen dream. At 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds, his 61% contested catch rate is elite. He hauled in 11 touchdowns last season and possesses a massive catch radius that masks erratic quarterback play. But there is a glaring red flag: speed. Boston declined to run the 40-yard dash at both the Combine and his Pro Day, fueling concerns that he struggles to separate from NFL-caliber cornerbacks.
Buffalo is currently entering Year 3 of the Keon Coleman experiment. Coleman has shown flashes of brilliance, but he still battles the same “speed and separation” questions that followed him from Florida State. Doubling down on the “big-bodied, slow-twitch” receiver profile is a dangerous game. The Bills’ offense needs a vertical threat who can run away from defenders, not another target who requires Josh Allen to throw into tight windows every snap.
“We know the math. We have two swings in the top 100 to get this right. In this league, you can’t just draft good players; you have to draft the right fits for what your coaches are building.”— Brandon Beane, Bills General Manager
The Bills are officially in a “win-now” cycle. The Moore trade and the Chubb signing indicate a front office that believes the Super Bowl window is wide open in 2026. Because pick 26 is their only selection until the end of the third round, Beane might look to trade back to recoup that missing second-round value. If they stay put, expect them to target a high-ceiling athlete who fits Leonhard’s “fast and confident” mantra rather than a high-floor player with limited physical upside.
