Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Bills Trade Down, Draft Parker and Igbinosun in Ten Picks

4/28/2026

23 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Bills Trade Down

The Bills traded down three times, selecting T.J. Parker at No. 35 and drafting cornerback Davison Igbinosun at No. 62.
General manager Brandon Beane completed ten picks, adding Jude Bowry, Skyler Bell, Kaleb Elarms-Orr, Jalon Kilgore (No. 167) and Zane Durant (No. 181).
Analysts gave grades from D+ to B+, noting no first-round impact, calling Parker a solid run defender, Igbinosun a reach, and pairing Skyler Bell with veteran DJ Moore.

Summary

Bills Revamp Secondary

Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard begins his first season, overhauling Buffalo’s secondary with three new defensive backs.
The Bills’ draft adds cornerback Toriano Pride Jr., safety Jalon Kilgore and safety Ar'Maj Reed-Adams to replace Tre'Davious White, Taron Johnson and Dane Jackson.
Medical concerns about safety Dorian Strong increase the urgency of adding depth at defensive back.

Summary

Bills Miss Window

Analyst Conor Orr said the Bills missed a chance to exploit their championship window by trading down.
The front office framed the extra mid-round picks as a long-term rebuild, yet the Bills remain Super Bowl contenders because quarterback Josh Allen is in his prime.
The draft is described as a key moment in general manager Brandon Beane’s tenure.

History

Historical Context

After the Cowboys' 1995 draft—where they sent the 28th-overall first-round pick to Tampa Bay for two second-round selections and still captured Super Bowl XXX—the franchise proved depth could sustain a dynasty. In 2024, Bills GM Brandon Beane mirrored that approach, trading down three times, picking T.J. Parker at No. 35 and signing ten secondary players to bolster the roster.

1 of 4

Bills Trade Down

The Bills traded down three times, selecting T.J. Parker at No. 35 and drafting cornerback Davison Igbinosun at No. 62.
General manager Brandon Beane completed ten picks, adding Jude Bowry, Skyler Bell, Kaleb Elarms-Orr, Jalon Kilgore (No. 167) and Zane Durant (No. 181).
Analysts gave grades from D+ to B+, noting no first-round impact, calling Parker a solid run defender, Igbinosun a reach, and pairing Skyler Bell with veteran DJ Moore.

1 / 4