ORCHARD PARK – For a team that is the only one to reach the NFL playoffs in each of the last seven seasons, and in 2026 is considered by the wise guys in Las Vegas to be one of the top three or four betting favorites to play in Super Bowl 61, the Buffalo Bills enter the NFL Draft with a whole bunch of needs that must be addressed.
With a new defense under construction in the wake of the Sean McDermott firing, new coordinator Jim Leonhard has likely steered president/GM Brandon Beane and his scouting staff in a few different directions as he lets them know the types of players would fit best in his base 3-4.
Of course, even with the addition of wide receiver DJ Moore in a trade from Chicago, one that cost the Bills their second-round pick, that position is always at the forefront for Buffalo as it must do a better job of providing Josh Allen the weapons necessary to back up the oddsmakers’ continued faith in the Bills.
You can throw all kinds of possible names out every year when trying to predict who the Bills might pick in the first round, but they are usually concentrated on maybe two or three position groups, max. This year, their first-round pick, No. 26 overall, could come from as many as six position groups, and there probably wouldn’t be too much pushback unless, you know, they take a tight end or a running back.
Joe Brady is experiencing his first draft process as a head coach, and he admitted it has been fascinating sitting in on the Bills’ own mock drafts to understand who their options could be Thursday night.
“I couldn’t tell you who’s even gonna be available at 26,” he said Monday. “That was an interesting thing at the mock draft, right? Like, just trying to figure all that out. We’re in a fortunate position that we can play a game tomorrow (with their current roster). We can have the ability to take the best players available than sit there and say, ‘hey, we have to get this position.’”
As the mock draft season comes to an end, here is a sampling of some of the final thoughts on the Bills:
Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn
Picked by: Todd McShay, The Ringer; Mel Kiper, ESPN
Height/Weight: 6-foot-5, 276 pounds
McShay’s rationale: “Faulk represents excellent value at no. 26. The production at Auburn wasn’t eye-popping, and I understand why some scouts question his ceiling as a pass rusher, but his skill set is unique, he just turned 21, and, at minimum, he’s already a very strong run defender. The Bills have a real pass rush problem, and that’s not something (Josh) Allen can fix. They ranked 27th in pass rush win rate (31 percent) last season and managed just one sack across two playoff games. Even if you’re skeptical about Faulk’s pass rush upside, his ability to hold up against the run will help keep the rotation fresh and create better situations for others to get after the quarterback.”
Kiper’s rationale: “Would the Bills consider another first-round cornerback after going with Maxwell Hairston in 2025? Would they continue to hammer the receiver position? Would they even consider a trade back if another team started seeing Ty Simpson fall? All valid options for a perennial contender. But I have Buffalo taking a chance on a prospect with a ton of impressive physical traits and upside. Faulk is scheme-versatile, and he can make an impact in the pass rush and against the run. His production didn’t take the expected jump last season (he went from seven sacks in 2024 to only two in 2025), but getting him in the building with Greg Rousseau and Bradley Chubb could unlock his potential.”
Sal’s thoughts: “I’m not on board with Faulk because I don’t think he brings the explosive speed off the edge that the Bills really need. At his height and weight, he is likely going to be a 4i or 5-tech player and to me, unless you’re going with a run-stuffing nose tackle type, I’m not taking a lineman in this spot, I’m going with a speedy edge rusher.”
Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Picked by: Brendan Donahue, Sharp Football; Jordan Reid, ESPN
Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 326 pounds
Donahue’s rationale: “The Bills will most likely be targeting the defensive line early in the draft. The question is, will it be on the edge or inside? Buffalo was 31st in defensive rushing EPA allowed last year, so getting the best run-stopping defensive tackle in the draft may be the smarter move. McDonald is also considered to be a very good scheme fit for new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard.”
Reid’s rationale: “Having a nose tackle who’s willing to eat up blocks and do the dirty work in run defense is essential to defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s 3-4 scheme. McDonald would fill that role as the best run-defending interior defensive lineman in this class. His 7.8% run stop rate last season topped all FBS defensive linemen, but he can also create negative plays in the backfield with quick wins, as evidenced by his 9.5 tackles for loss.”
Sal’s thoughts: “I’m in total agreement with Donahue and Reid because as I said above, if the Bills want to upgrade their D-line, what they really need is a dominant interior player who can stop the run and eat up double teams and that’s exactly what McDonald can do for them. Ed Oliver and Deone Walker should be fine as the ends in the base 3-4 and we’ll have to see about TJ Sanders and Landon Jackson. But none of those players is a fit to line up in the A gaps the way McDonald could be.”
Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
Picked by: Rob Rang, FOX Sports
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 231 pounds
Rang’s rationale: “The Bills were buffaloed at the point of attack last season, with not one but two safeties (Cole Bishop and Jordan Poyer) finishing with more tackles than any of the club’s linebackers. It would be a surprise to see Rodriguez go in the first round, but his instincts and playmaking ability would add an immediate jolt to the Bills’ defense, and he won’t be available when their turn comes around again at No. 91 overall.”
Sal’s thoughts: “I disagree with anyone who believes picking an off ball linebacker this high is not a prudent move. Why wouldn’t you want to add a player who can be on the field for 100% of the snaps if you choose because he can do everything that’s needed from a linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. All Rodriguez did at Texas Tech was make plays all over the field, every game. He’s kind of been my man crush throughout this draft process.”
KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
Picked by: Chad Reuter, NFL. com
Height/Weight: 5-foot-11, 196 pounds
Reuter’s rationale: “When it comes to improving the Bills’ lackluster receiving corps, trading for DJ Moore was a nice first step. Adding Concepcion’s ability to make plays after the catch puts a big smile on Josh Allen’s face heading into training camp.”
Sal’s thoughts: “The needs on defense are more pressing, but I’m certainly not going to kill Beane if he takes Concepcion in this spot. Giving Allen another weapon is never a bad idea and the Rochester native’s dynamic skill set is fun to watch. He had some drop issues in college, but he made up for it in production.”
Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Picked by: Nick Shook, NFL. com
Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 203 pounds
Tyson’s rationale: “It might be stunning to see Tyson fall this far down the first-round board, but he does have a concerning injury history. He also has the kind of big-play capability the Bills have lacked since they traded Stefon Diggs to Houston, so they end Tyson’s slide here, even after acquiring DJ Moore, who will not solve their issues at receiver alone.”
Sal’s thoughts: “Tyson has been projected almost everywhere as, at minimum, a top-20 pick so I don’t think he’ll slide down to No. 26. If he does, he would certainly be intriguing, but the injury history is troublesome. He had just one season where he played at least 12 games (2024) and across his four seasons (one at Colorado and three for Arizona State) he played just 33 games. However, taking just his last two years into account, in 21 games he caught 136 passes for 1,812 yards and 18 TDs, so the production is legit.”
Malachi Lawrence, edge, UCF
Picked by: Dane Brugler, The Athletic
Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 253 pounds
Brugler’s rationale: “The Bills’ drafting history under general manager Brandon Beane has leaned more toward bigger defensive ends, so this would be a chance to go with a lighter, more explosive option. Though he’s not super bendy, Lawrence has the initial burst and rush explosiveness to create problems for blockers.
Sal’s thoughts: “Lawrence’s length is a game-changer as his arms measured 33 ⅝ inches which was top third among the edge rushers at the combine, his 10-yard split of 1.59 seconds was second-fastest, and his 40-inch vertical leap was second-highest. He’s an athletic freak and the Bills don’t have many of those types of guys on their defense.”
Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Picked by: Luke Easterling, Athlon Sports
Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 203 pounds
Easterling’s rationale: “Cole Bishop made a huge jump last year, but the Bills still need another high-end safety to solidify the defensive backfield, and Thieneman’s combination of athleticism and versatility would make him an ideal fit.
Sal’s thoughts: “I don’t think Thieneman is making it to No. 26, and while I wouldn’t be opposed to adding a player who could immediately work his way into the starting lineup at a position that is becoming more important in the NFL, I just don’t see the Bills picking a safety over a pass rusher or edge rusher.”
Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for more than four decades including 37 years as the full-time beat writer/columnist for the D&C. He has written numerous books about the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast/YouTube show. He can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com, and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: How the latest mock drafts see the Bills using their first round pick
Reporting by Sal Maiorana, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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