ORCHARD PARK, NY — The Buffalo Bills sit less than a month away from the 2026 NFL Draft with a glaring question mark at pick No. 26. While the roster looks formidable after the blockbuster acquisition of wideout DJ Moore, general manager Brandon Beane faces a crossroads. Draft boards are shifting rapidly, and the phone in One Bills Drive is already ringing. The biggest buzz? A potential trade with the Arizona Cardinals, who are reportedly desperate to leapfrog back into the first round for Alabama signal-caller Ty Simpson.
The Ty Simpson Ripple Effect
Draft pundits are locked on a specific scenario: Buffalo sliding back to No. 34 in a deal with Arizona. This move would mirror Beane’s aggressive history of maneuvering for value. If the Bills stay put or move to the early second round, the mission is clear. New defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard is installing a versatile 3-4 system that demands specific archetypes. The Bills need “disruptors,” and the latest mock drafts point toward the edge of the defensive line.
- Cashius Howell (EDGE, Texas A&M): Howell is the name most linked to Buffalo. He racked up 11.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss last year. His short arms might scare some scouts, but his explosion off the line fits Leonhard’s aggressive scheme perfectly.
- Zion Young (EDGE, Missouri): A Senior Bowl standout who measured in at 6-foot-5 and 262 pounds. He didn’t just play well in Mobile; he took home Defensive Player of the Game honors.
- CJ Allen (LB, Georgia): With Terrel Bernard’s injury history, Buffalo could look at the draft’s best traditional Mike linebacker. Allen would give the Bills a third “Allen” on the roster alongside Josh and Kyle.
“Jim’s vision for this defense is about identity. We want a unit that the rest of the NFL simply doesn’t want to play against. We’re looking for guys who play fast and think faster.”
— Joe Brady, Bills Head Coach
Filling the Gaps in the 3-4 Transition
The move to a 3-4 base defense creates a massive need for a true nose tackle. While Deone Walker impressed as a rookie, he is more of a floating weapon than a space-eater. Enter Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald. At 326 pounds, McDonald is a pure run-stuffer who allows linebackers to flow freely to the ball. Taking a two-down tackle at 26 is a reach for some, but for a team with Super Bowl aspirations, securing the middle of the field is a necessity.
On the offensive side, the departure of David Edwards to the Saints left a void at left guard. While Austin Corbett provides veteran insurance, Chase Bisontis from Texas A&M remains a dark horse candidate. Protecting Josh Allen remains priority number one, and Bisontis is widely regarded as a plug-and-play starter who could stabilize the interior for the next decade.
