Bills 2026 NFL Draft final grades reveal huge early impact selections and clear glimpse of evolving identity in Buffalo
The Buffalo Bills got busy during the 2026 NFL Draft, trading multiple times and securing some more draft ammunition. Brandon Beane struck gold in some of the later rounds, giving the team a phenomenal chance of repeating the success they saw in 2025.
The Buffalo Bills traded multiple times throughout the 2026 NFL Draft. While there were plenty of more pressing team needs, the team prioritized defense early in the 2026 NFL Draft. General manager Brandon Beane needed to hit more than a few home runs throughout the draft, and we think that he did exactly that.
The Buffalo Bills got better over the weekend. Here’s a breakdown of all the selections and the grades that we gave the front office for their decisions.
Let us know in the comments section whether you agree or disagree with our rankings. Without further ado, here’s the entirety of the Bufaflo Bills’ 2026 NFL Draft class.
Bills’ final draft grades for the 2026 class
Round 2, Pick 35: T.J. Parker, Clemson
While the Buffalo Bills still had plenty of team needs to address, they decided to go for EDGE and help bolster that unit. Parker is going to be a difference-maker on defense and help Buffalo where they needed it the most: stopping the run. It’s a slam dunk pick by the organization for their first overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Grade: B+
Round 2, Pick 62: Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
Much like the addition of Parker, there were more pressing team needs to address at this stage of the draft. Igbinosun is a physical defender who can really make a name for himself, but is crowded behind both Maxwell Hairston and Christian Benford. For now, he’s important depth at the position, and that’s a big enough win if you ask me.
Grade: B–
Round 4, Pick 102: Jude Bowry, Boston College, OT
The Buffalo Bills moved down one spot in the 2026 NFL Draft in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders. It netted them a seventh-round pick in 2027, which is a win in itself. The team selected Boston College swing tackle Jude Bowry. A to Z Sports has him as a potential starter, though for now, he’ll play some important depth at the position.
Grade: B
Round 4, Pick 125: Skyler Bell, WR, UConn
Getting quarterback Josh Allen another weapon is what we’ve been pounding the table for, and Buffalo got a steal with where Bell landed in the draft. He had 101 catches, 1,278 yards, and 13 touchdowns in his final season and is an elite after-the-catch player. He’s a similar player to Khalil Shakir, and you can never have too many of those on the roster.
Grade: A
Round 4, Pick 126: Kaleb Elarms-Orr, LB, TCU
Buffalo finally got a linebacker, one of the biggest team needs for the organization. Another draft pick, another steal from Buffalo and general manager Brandon Beane. He posted electric testing numbers during the NFL Combine and projects as a viable NFL starter after his full breakout season in 2025. He’s a versatile player who can flex his muscle in the special teams unit as well. A big win from Beane and the organization.
Grade: A
Round 5, Pick 167: Jalon Kilgore, S, South Carolina
The Buffalo Bills may have found someone to compete with Dee Alford for the vacant position left over from Taron Johnson. If there’s one thing that’s for certain, it’s that Kilgore has all the intangibles to be a monster in the NFL. If he can translate that freak athleticism into on-field production, then Buffalo will have loved their fifth-round pick. Buffalo needed some depth at safety and got exactly that with Kilgore.
Grade: B+
Round 5, Pick 181: Zane Durant, DT, Penn State
With the final pick in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills selected Zane Durant from Penn State. Durant becomes the first new defensive tackle the Bills have added to the roster this entire offseason. If he can be more consistent with his game, Buffalo will have walked away with another solid addition to the roster. He was a team captain in 2026, starting in 12 games with 25 tackles, including four and a half for loss, and four sacks, with his first career interception to boot. Sky is the limit for Durant.
Grade: B+
Round 7, Pick 220: Toriano Pride Jr., CB, Missouri
Pride Jr. didn’t miss a single game during his time with Missouri. The seventh-round selection by the Buffalo Bills is one of the fastest players in the draft and is exceptional in man coverage. This is a late-round steal for Brandon Beane and company, as you can never have too much depth at the position. We all know how the divisional round against the Denver Broncos went when Dane Jackson had to come in for relief.
Grade: B–
Round 7, Pick 239: Tommy Doman, P, Florida
There’s going to be a punting competition in Buffalo. While the team signed Mitch Wishnowsky to a one-year deal, it’s not guaranteed that he’ll be the punter moving forward. That’s especially true after the team drafted Tommy Doman with the 239th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The only knock on the pick was that Buffalo wasn’t able to get Ryan Eckley earlier in the draft, but that’s just the way the board fell.
Grade: B–
Round 7, Pick 241: Ar’maj Reed-Adams, G, Texas A&M
You can never have too much protection for quarterback Josh Allen. Buffalo is beefing up the trenches with the first and last pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Starting with EDGE and ending with guard. Ar’maj Reed-Adams was the official pick by the team with the final selection, coming from Texas A&M.
Grade: C
Final word
The Buffalo Bills and general manager Brandon Beane needed to have a good draft, and they did exactly that. While they didn’t prioritize some of the bigger team needs with their first few selections, they got the job done when the smoke settled and the dust cleared.
All that’s left to do is wait and see how all of these players pan out, but for now, Beaene and the organization did a phenomenal job in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Final grade: B+
