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The NFL Draft is just about a week away, and the Buffalo Bills are looking to add some substantial prospects to supplement their roster. It's a big draft for the Bills, as it is head coach Joe Brady's first crack at helping mold the roster with new blood from college.
Buffalo has seven draft picks and some roster holes to fill, so it's important that the team is successful in drafting and developing these players. With a new leadership structure in the coaching room, it's vital that General Manager Brandon Beane select players to help this staff hit the ground running.
The Athletic's Dane Brugler provides a glimpse into what Buffalo's draft could look like next week. Buffalo has only two picks in the top 100, so they must efficiently address their needs.
Here is The Bills Wire's breakdown of Brugler's mock draft for Buffalo:
The BIlls switch to a 3-4 defense under new Defensive Coordinator Jim Leonhard means the Bills will look at a different type of player at the edge position this year. Lawrence, at 6-3, 254 pounds, provides a physical profile that fits what Leonard may ask of his outside linebackers this year.
Lawrence, a fifth-year senior, recorded 28 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and two forced fumbles. The UCF product earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors.
Lawrence would provide Buffalo with a great pass-rush option opposite Greg Rousseau. He's an explosive player; even as a smaller edge rusher, his bend and flexibility give him a bit of an advantage when using a speed rush. He can get around the corner and get in the backfield, which is a necessity for Buffalo's defense, which has struggled to bring down the quarterback consistently.
Buffalo had several needs to address with this draft, and Lawrence immediately fulfills one of those issues.
It didn't take too long for the mock draft to reach questionable status. Farmer is a good tackle, impressing in both pass and run blocking activities. He stood out during Senior Week, putting him on the radar for a day two selection. He has some similarities to current Bills guard O'Cyrus Torrence: Farmer can move into space well when run blocking. He can also use his power to bull over opposing linemen when necessary.
Farmer has started 24 games over the past two years at right tackle for the Wilcats.
This pick is a bit suspect because the Bills have other needs that should be addressed at this point in the draft. Yes, the Bills lost David Edwards in free agency. However, Buffalo has a solid in-house option in Alec Anderson. This adds depth to the offensive line, which, I guess, is a plus.
Buffalo has needed a consistent option at wide receiver, and, well, at least this mock draft addresses it in the middle of the draft.
Benson is a burner. He's another fifth-year senior that Brugler is sending to Western New York.
Benson led the Ducks in receiving yards (719) on 43 receptions. He added six touchdown receptions to his scoring ledger last year.
He is the type of player who can stretch the field for Buffalo's offense. With a 4.37-second 40-yard dash, Benson can get behind defenses quickly. It's not hard to imagine him getting under a deep pass for Josh Allen. Benson might not be a high-volume player, but if Buffalo uses his skill set well, the Oregon product could be a mid-round steal.
The Bills don't have to look far for their next selection. Murdock, a senior, chose to stay with the Bulls to help build a legacy.
He is a great, downhill tackler. Although a bit undersized, Murdock has a nose for the ball and gets to the ball carrier quickly.
Murdock registered a whopping 298 tackles over his final two seasons with Buffalo. He added 30 total tackles for loss during this time.
Murdock also has special teams experience, which is a bonus for making the roster. The Bills are thin at inside linebacker, so a depth player with a day-three draft pick makes sense.
With the move to the 3-4, Buffalo will need players who can line up opposite or on the shoulder of the opponent's center. Cleveland fits the bill as a space eater on the defensive line.
The stats are what are expected of an interior defensive lineman who plays against the run well and takes up space for pass rushers. Last year, Cleveland recorded 36 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, and two sacks.
Buffalo needs bodies at the nose tackle spot, and Cleveland's ability to fill the A-gap could help him find a depth spot on the roster. Deone Walker has the inside track at starting at nose tackle for the Bills. Behind him, the depth chart is unsettled.
Pounds is a reliable tackle. He's a solid pass blocker, using his long frame to divert opposing pass rushers. However, He did have some trouble with speed rushers. He won more than he lost, but at the next level, it is something that needs to be addressed. His run blocking is adequate.
Pounds played over 750 snaps in each of the previous seasons, as highlighted by Brugler.
He has a chance to be a depth player on the line. The Bills are set with Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown as their bookends. Behind the duo, there are some possibilities for a player like Poundds to make a name for himself on the depth chart.
Brugler rounds out the Bills draft with cornerback Toriano Pride from Missouri. Pride played well for the Tigers, starting over the past year and a half with Missouri. He played in 52 total games during his college career, totalling 82 tackles and five interceptions.
Pride also has special teams experience.
Most of Pride's experience is out wide; however, he did play some snaps in the slot, giving him some flexibility at the next level. Pride is a little undersized, but he makes up for the mismatches with taller receivers.
The Bills will start with Christian Benford and Max Hairston at cornerback. However, the depth at the position leaves something to be desired, giving a player such as Pride a chance to make the 53-man roster.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: 2026 NFL draft: All the Bills' picks in The Athletic's 7-round mock
Continue reading...
Buffalo has seven draft picks and some roster holes to fill, so it's important that the team is successful in drafting and developing these players. With a new leadership structure in the coaching room, it's vital that General Manager Brandon Beane select players to help this staff hit the ground running.
The Athletic's Dane Brugler provides a glimpse into what Buffalo's draft could look like next week. Buffalo has only two picks in the top 100, so they must efficiently address their needs.
Here is The Bills Wire's breakdown of Brugler's mock draft for Buffalo:
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Round 1, No. 26: Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF
The BIlls switch to a 3-4 defense under new Defensive Coordinator Jim Leonhard means the Bills will look at a different type of player at the edge position this year. Lawrence, at 6-3, 254 pounds, provides a physical profile that fits what Leonard may ask of his outside linebackers this year.
Lawrence, a fifth-year senior, recorded 28 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and two forced fumbles. The UCF product earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors.
Lawrence would provide Buffalo with a great pass-rush option opposite Greg Rousseau. He's an explosive player; even as a smaller edge rusher, his bend and flexibility give him a bit of an advantage when using a speed rush. He can get around the corner and get in the backfield, which is a necessity for Buffalo's defense, which has struggled to bring down the quarterback consistently.
Buffalo had several needs to address with this draft, and Lawrence immediately fulfills one of those issues.
Round 3, No. 91: Jalen Farmer, Guard, Kentucky
It didn't take too long for the mock draft to reach questionable status. Farmer is a good tackle, impressing in both pass and run blocking activities. He stood out during Senior Week, putting him on the radar for a day two selection. He has some similarities to current Bills guard O'Cyrus Torrence: Farmer can move into space well when run blocking. He can also use his power to bull over opposing linemen when necessary.
Farmer has started 24 games over the past two years at right tackle for the Wilcats.
This pick is a bit suspect because the Bills have other needs that should be addressed at this point in the draft. Yes, the Bills lost David Edwards in free agency. However, Buffalo has a solid in-house option in Alec Anderson. This adds depth to the offensive line, which, I guess, is a plus.
Round 4, No. 126: Malik Benson, Wide Receiver, Oregon
Buffalo has needed a consistent option at wide receiver, and, well, at least this mock draft addresses it in the middle of the draft.
Benson is a burner. He's another fifth-year senior that Brugler is sending to Western New York.
Benson led the Ducks in receiving yards (719) on 43 receptions. He added six touchdown receptions to his scoring ledger last year.
He is the type of player who can stretch the field for Buffalo's offense. With a 4.37-second 40-yard dash, Benson can get behind defenses quickly. It's not hard to imagine him getting under a deep pass for Josh Allen. Benson might not be a high-volume player, but if Buffalo uses his skill set well, the Oregon product could be a mid-round steal.
Round 5, No. 165: Red Murdock, Linebacker, Buffalo
The Bills don't have to look far for their next selection. Murdock, a senior, chose to stay with the Bulls to help build a legacy.
He is a great, downhill tackler. Although a bit undersized, Murdock has a nose for the ball and gets to the ball carrier quickly.
Murdock registered a whopping 298 tackles over his final two seasons with Buffalo. He added 30 total tackles for loss during this time.
Murdock also has special teams experience, which is a bonus for making the roster. The Bills are thin at inside linebacker, so a depth player with a day-three draft pick makes sense.
Round 5, No. 168: Brandon Cleveland, DT, NC State
With the move to the 3-4, Buffalo will need players who can line up opposite or on the shoulder of the opponent's center. Cleveland fits the bill as a space eater on the defensive line.
The stats are what are expected of an interior defensive lineman who plays against the run well and takes up space for pass rushers. Last year, Cleveland recorded 36 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, and two sacks.
Buffalo needs bodies at the nose tackle spot, and Cleveland's ability to fill the A-gap could help him find a depth spot on the roster. Deone Walker has the inside track at starting at nose tackle for the Bills. Behind him, the depth chart is unsettled.
Round 6: Diego Pounds, Offensive Tackle, Mississippi
Pounds is a reliable tackle. He's a solid pass blocker, using his long frame to divert opposing pass rushers. However, He did have some trouble with speed rushers. He won more than he lost, but at the next level, it is something that needs to be addressed. His run blocking is adequate.
Pounds played over 750 snaps in each of the previous seasons, as highlighted by Brugler.
He has a chance to be a depth player on the line. The Bills are set with Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown as their bookends. Behind the duo, there are some possibilities for a player like Poundds to make a name for himself on the depth chart.
Round 7, No. 220: Toriano Pride, Cornerback, Missouri
Brugler rounds out the Bills draft with cornerback Toriano Pride from Missouri. Pride played well for the Tigers, starting over the past year and a half with Missouri. He played in 52 total games during his college career, totalling 82 tackles and five interceptions.
Pride also has special teams experience.
Most of Pride's experience is out wide; however, he did play some snaps in the slot, giving him some flexibility at the next level. Pride is a little undersized, but he makes up for the mismatches with taller receivers.
The Bills will start with Christian Benford and Max Hairston at cornerback. However, the depth at the position leaves something to be desired, giving a player such as Pride a chance to make the 53-man roster.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: 2026 NFL draft: All the Bills' picks in The Athletic's 7-round mock
Continue reading...
