ORCHARD PARK, NY — Brandon Beane just threw a massive punch in the arms race, but the Buffalo Bills still haven’t cleared the wreckage of last season’s defensive collapse. By trading for wideout D.J. Moore and signing veteran pass rusher Bradley Chubb, Buffalo checked two massive boxes. Yet, with the 2026 NFL Draft looming and the Bills holding the 26th overall pick, the reality is clear: this roster is still one elite edge rusher away from contending in a gauntlet of a conference.
The Bradley Chubb Gamble
Landing Bradley Chubb brings a name brand to Western New York, but the tape tells a more cautious story. Chubb managed 8.5 sacks last season for a struggling Dolphins unit, proving he still has a motor. However, he hits 30 this June and carries a medical file that would make a surgeon wince. After missing the entire 2024 season with a torn ACL and battling a shoulder injury late in 2025, Chubb isn’t a long-term fix. He’s a bridge. In a division featuring Drake Maye and an AFC loaded with arms like Mahomes and Nix, Buffalo needs a closer who can stay on the field for 17 games.
The transition to new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard changes the math entirely. Leonhard is scrapping the old 4-3 front for a versatile 3-4 look. The traditional, heavy-set ends like A.J. Epenesa don’t fit this new “attacking” identity. Leonhard wants twitch. He wants the speed he saw in Denver with Nick Bonitto—a rusher who doesn’t just push the pocket but collapses it with pure acceleration.
“We aren’t here to play safe. We’re going to be an attacking defense that forces quarterbacks to react to us, not the other way around. We need guys who can win one-on-ones when the game is on the line.”
— Jim Leonhard, Bills Defensive Coordinator
Draft Targets: Finding the Next Bonitto
At pick 26, the elite tier of Arvell Reese and Rueben Bain Jr. will likely be off the board. This forces Beane to look for high-ceiling, “undersized” speedsters. Cashius Howell out of Texas A&M is the name echoing through the halls of One Bills Drive. Howell is a lightning bolt off the edge, racking up 25 sacks over the last three collegiate seasons. He fits the 3-4 outside linebacker mold perfectly. If Howell is gone, keep an eye on Missouri’s Zion Young or a potential trade-back scenario for Oklahoma’s R Mason Thomas.
The D.J. Moore acquisition was a win for Josh Allen. Moore, turning 29 in April, still has the juice to be a true WR1 after fighting for targets in Chicago. But offense wasn’t the only reason the stadium fell silent last January. The lack of a consistent, healthy pass rush killed the Bills’ title hopes. Fixing that starts at pick 26.
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
Buffalo is currently walking a tightrope with the salary cap, making these rookie contracts vital. If Beane nails the edge position in April, the Leonhard-led defense could vault into the top five. If they miss, or if Chubb’s health fails, the Bills risk wasting another prime year of Josh Allen’s career. The draft board is set, and for the first time in the Joe Brady era, the pressure is on the defense to catch up to the offense.
