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ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 28: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills warms up prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Highmark Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
There are four weeks left until the NFL draft, and the Bills currently hold the No. 26 pick in the first round.
Buffalo is in an interesting spot, as it could use help at several key positions on both sides of the ball. This could make it easier for the Bills to draft the best available player and hope for the best moving forward.
Bills Could Look to go Defense in the First Round
On Thursday, NFL insider Jason La Canforareported that he spoke with an NFL general manager. According to the manager, he believes the Bills will focus on defense in the first round of the draft.
“I think they are going defense,” one general manager said, who is also picking in the back half of the first round, La Canfora wrote. “Probably front seven.”
The Bills could certainly use some support in their front seven. However, they made a significant move this offseason by signing former Miami Dolphins pass rusher Bradley Chubb.
Buffalo signed Chubb to a three-year deal worth $43.5 million, indicating that the Bills are heavily invested in him. This commitment suggests that they might not prioritize selecting an edge rusher with their first-round pick, as Chubb is likely to be in Buffalo for the long haul.
Some believe that even though the Bills brought in Chubb, they might still consider adding a pass rusher to their lineup.
“Some believe, in fact, that even after signing Bradley Chubb in free agency (from rival Miami), Bills general manager Brandon Beane will be willing to move up the draft board to land a potential impact edge presence if there is a fear such prospects will not be available at their current pick (26th overall),” La Canfora added.
Even if the Bills decide to pass on drafting a defensive end, they could always take a middle linebacker with their first-round pick, especially since they haven’t made much progress with that position in free agency.
The Bills allowed linebackers Matt Milano and Shaq Thompson to enter free agency this offseason, which could open the door for some young linebackers to step in and fill their positions.
Buffalo Traded For DJ Moore
It seems like defense makes the most sense for the Bills to target in the first round, especially since Buffalo has already used its second-round pick on an offensive player.
Before the new league year began, the Bills struck a deal with the Bears. Buffalo traded away its 2026 second-round pick to Chicago in exchange for wide receiver DJ Moore and a 2026 fifth-round pick.
The Bills are likely going to count on Moore as their top wide receiver this offseason, which probably means Buffalo won’t be looking to draft a receiver in the first round of the NFL draft.
Buffalo can afford to overlook its lack of top-tier receiving talent because it has Josh Allen, one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks. Many great quarterbacks elevate their receivers’ performance regardless of their talent, and Allen has consistently done so throughout his career. He should be able to continue doing this in the upcoming season.
If the Bills decide to focus on defense in the first round, that could actually be good news for Allen since he’s already in control of the offense. Adding a few top defensive players could help Buffalo reach the Super Bowl.