The Buffalo Bills have plenty of new pieces in 2026.
Namely, many fresh faced rookies via the this year’s NFL draft.
Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane moved up and down the board at the 2026 draft, making numerous trades. In the end, the Bills ended up making 10 total selections at the event.
Even though the Bills ended up not being a pick in Round 1, there still could be a few first-year pros that see a chance to start in Week 1 against the Houston Texans.
With there, here is Bills Wire’s three rookies with the best chance to start in Week 1 for the team:
Round 2, pick 62: CB Davison Igbinosun, Ohio St.
The Bills used one of their top selections in 2026 on Igbinosun. Christian Benford and Maxwell Hairston would be penciled in for the starting positions at outside cornerback currently.. While Hairston was a first-round pick a year ago, he did not find early footing in the NFL.
Injuries did not help, but Hairston will have Igbinosun right on his heels this offseason. Out of the gate, Igbinosun has seen promising reviews thrown his way from spring practices as well.
Round 5, pick 167: S Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina
Kilgore could was quickly raved as a value pick for the Bills. Many did not expect him to fall all the way to Buffalo in the fifth round. NFL.com projected him a second-round selection.
At safety, the Bills only return one starter: Cole Bishop. There is a chance that Kilgore could earn the starting position next to Bishop but he will need to beat out veteran CJ Gardner-Johnson.
Even if Kilgore doesn’t do that, he could find his way to being Buffalo’s top nickel cornerback. Taron Johnson previously held that role, but with the change to Jim Leonhard as defensive coordinator, Johnson was deemed not a fit. Could Kilgore be one?
Round 7, pick 239: P Tommy Doman, Florida
Mitch Wishnowsky returns as the punter for the Bills. However, when a team invests a draft pick in any sort of kicker? That prospect immediately has a… leg up… on the competition.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: 3 Bills rookies with best chance to be Week 1 starters in 2026
Reporting by Nick Wojton, USA TODAY / Bills Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
