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Bills Eye Trade of No. 26 Slot, Target Defensive Picks

4/24/2026

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Summary

Bills Draft Strategy

The Buffalo Bills will open the 2026 NFL Draft with the No. 26 pick and seven selections.
Lacking a second-round pick after trading it to Chicago for receiver D.J. Moore, GM Brandon Beane warned the Bills may trade the No. 26 slot if a desired player falls to gain picks.
Analysts expect most of the remaining picks—Nos. 91, 126, 165, 168, 182 and 220—to be used on defensive players for the 3-4 scheme under coordinator Jim Leonhard.

Summary

Analytics Predicts

The author's 2024 analytics model correctly identified Keon Coleman as a first-round pick and predicted a defensive-tackle trade-up that materialized with T.J. Sanders.
Wide receivers lead the visit chart with ten unique prospects, double the count of any other position.
Only K.C. Concepcion and Malik Benson met Buffalo twice, with Concepcion earning the sole top-30 WR visit and Benson’s meetings limited to a pro day and a workout.

History

Historical Context

The NFL's draft trading system, introduced in 1989, transformed team strategies by allowing trades of draft picks. The Dallas Cowboys notably traded Herschel Walker, acquiring multiple picks that fueled their 1990s dynasty. This precedent influences current strategies, as Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane considers trading the No. 26 pick to enhance their draft position, highlighting the ongoing evolution of team-building in the league.

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Bills Draft Strategy

The Buffalo Bills will open the 2026 NFL Draft with the No. 26 pick and seven selections.
Lacking a second-round pick after trading it to Chicago for receiver D.J. Moore, GM Brandon Beane warned the Bills may trade the No. 26 slot if a desired player falls to gain picks.
Analysts expect most of the remaining picks—Nos. 91, 126, 165, 168, 182 and 220—to be used on defensive players for the 3-4 scheme under coordinator Jim Leonhard.

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