The Buffalo Bills added ten players during the 2026 NFL draft as general manager Brandon Beane did a good job filling holes on the roster.
There were six defensive players taken, including their first two picks in EDGE T.J. Parker (pick 35) and cornerback Davison Igbinosun (pick 62). Despite the draft capital spent on defense, that side of the ball could use some additional help as it is under major construction this offseason.
Here are the three biggest positions of need for the Bills following the draft:
Boundary corner
The Bills addressed the cornerback position early in the 2026 draft, taking Igbinosun in the second round, and yet they still lack depth on the outside. After Christian Benford, Maxwell Hairston, and Igbinosun, there are not a whole lot of proven commodities. Tre’Davious White and Dane Jackson have moved on, and Dorian Strong’s career is still up in the air after a promising start due to his neck injury.
The team added Toriano Pride Jr. in the seventh round but should look for a veteran to provide depth considering they’ve been depleted at corner the last couple postseasons.
Off-ball linebacker
Dorian Williams and Terrel Bernard are most likely penciled in as the starting off-ball linebackers for their new 3-4 system under Jim Leonhard, and behind them there is Joe Andreessen and fourth-round rookie Kaleb Elarms-Orr, but they could use a veteran to come in and help this unit with their schematic transition.
Both Matt Milano and Shaq Thompson, who played a lot of meaningful snaps for the defense, are still free agents.
Nose tackle
Many analysts and fans predicted the Bills would address the nose tackle position in the draft, with Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald being a popular player in mock drafts. It remains to be seen how much of a role a true run-stuffing nose would have in the updated version of the Bills defense, but they are thin at the position.
Deone Walker broke out last year as a promising fourth-round rookie, but after him they have Phidarian Mathis, DeWayne Carter, and Zion Logue, who haven’t provided consistent play for them.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: 3 biggest needs for the Bills following the 2026 NFL Draft
Reporting by Kam Towle, Bills Wire / Bills Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
