3 winners and 2 losers emerge for the Buffalo Bills following the 2026 NFL Draft, and they’re impossible to ignore
There was plenty to be excited about if you’re a member of the Bills Mafia following the 2026 NFL Draft. The team got better in all three phases. Here are our 3 winners and 2 losers immediately following the madness that was the 2026 NFL Draft.
The smoke has settled, and the dust has cleared after an exciting 2026 NFL Draft.
Buffalo had 10 selections and made the most out of them all. It wasn’t perfect by any means, and some fans were clamoring for different selections, but a monster day three from Brandon Beane and the front office should have fans excited for the future.
We wanted to take a look at the biggest winners and losers from the 2026 NFL Draft and what it could mean for the future of the organization. It was one of the most important drafts of the Brandon Beane era, and some individuals won in a big way, while others may see their time in Buffalo coming to an end sooner rather than later.
Here are our biggest winners and losers following the hectic 2026 NFL Draft by the Bills.
Winner: Jim Leonhard
Jim Leonhard might be the biggest winner from the 2026 NFL Draft. Buffalo used six of their ten selections on defense, giving Leonhard more options to work with. He got some EDGE rush help with the selection of T.J. Parker, an aggressive linebacker, multiple cornerbacks, and a safety in Jalon Kilgore. Not only that, but the team addressed a major need by drafting a speedy defensive tackle. Though he’s not a 1-tech. It’s still Deone Walker season, and rightfully so. The dude was a monster in 2025.
Leonhard’s defense got stronger and more talented over the weekend, making him one of the biggest winners of the entire draft. The new scheme is going to be fun to watch unfold. Here’s hoping that in January, the defense finds a way not to give up 30 points a game. Sorry, the divisional round loss against the Broncos still stings.
For his first year as defensive coordinator for the Bills, Leonhard was given all the tools needed to be successful. He has to be more than thrilled with how the board turned out.
Winner: Josh Allen
Quarterback Josh Allen got another weapon and perhaps the steal of the draft in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft when the team selected UConn wide receiver Skyler Bell. Bell dropped, and the Bills wasted no time swooping him up with an official selection.
It’s about time the team prioritized the offense and got Allen some weapons in the draft. It’s happened before, but for some reason, this move just feels bigger than the rest. Far too many times, Allen has had to put on his Superman cape and will his team to victory.
With the addition of Bell paired with the newly acquired DJ Moore, the offense is starting to take shape and might be the best receiving core Allen has had during his time in Buffalo.
Winner: Brandon Beane
Whether you agree or not, Brandon Beane had a heck of a day three of the NFL Draft. He filled some major team needs all while getting more than a handful of steals along the way with players like wide receiver Skyler Bell, linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr, and safety Jalon Kilgore. There were a few head-scratching moves like the drafting of Jude Bowry, but overall, Beane had a solid draft on paper, and fans should be excited.
While many think that Beane should have been let go during the firing of Sean McDermott, Beane looked to redeem himself with the stellar draft that he had. Of course, all of it is lip service until the actual games are played and we see just how well the players turned out. But for now, Beane got a massive win on draft weekend.
Loser: Mitch Wishnowsky
Wishnowsky was brought back to the organization on a one-year deal, but his spot in the lineup is far from guaranteed. Wishnowsky is a loser for us following the 2026 NFL Draft because it seems as though the team may have found its punter for the future. With their seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills selected Florida punter Tommy Doman, who is going to compete for the starting job from day one.
Doman has a chance to make waves from the very beginning, which could mean that Wishnowsky’s time in Buffalo is quickly coming to an end.
Loser: Damar Hamlin
The Buffalo Bills brought back Damar Hamlin on a one-year deal to add some much-needed depth in defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s new scheme. Much like Wishnowsky, his job is not guaranteed, especially after the draft has ended. Even before the draft, Buffalo brought in C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Geno Stone, pushing Hamlin further down the depth chart.
Then, with the fifth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills selected South Carolina safety Jalon Kilgore. Kilgore is a steal and might wind up being the full-time safety alongside Cole Bishop, as Gardner-Johnson only signed a one-year deal. It makes it that much more difficult for Hamlin to even crack the 53-man roster.
