Buffalo Bills 2026 NFL Draft: Ideal Targets at Pick 26 and Players to Avoid
The 2026 NFL Draft is in four days, and we have already seen the first big trade with the Cincinnati Bengals sending the 10th overall pick to the New York Giants for DT Dexter Lawrence. I covered some scenarios in my previous blog that we could see on Thursday night. This blog focuses on who I would like to see the Bills target at pick 26, as well as a few I would prefer to stay away from. I’m not wasting my time mentioning Carnell Tate or Ruben Bain. Players expected to hear their names called much earlier than when Buffalo gets on the clock.
There are three players I would love to see drafted by the Bills, my “no doubters.” If they’re off the board, I would prefer to see the Bills trade out of pick 26 and gain some draft capital. I know that's not a given, so I listed three players I would be happy with being drafted at pick 26 if the Bills can’t make a deal.
Last, I mention the three players I just don’t feel great about the Bills selecting with their first-round pick. Players that have been mocked to them and are high on some rankings boards, but don’t make sense projecting them to the Bills with their current roster.
My “No Doubt” Guys
WR K.C. Concepcion Texas A&M
If the Bills want more juice on offense, this is it. Concepcion brings instant separation, versatility, and legit run-after-catch ability. He’s the kind of weapon you can move all over the field and just let him create. With the addition of D.J. Moore and what he brings to the vertical game, adding a dynamic underneath playmaker like Concepcion alongside Khalil Shakir would open everything up for the passing attack. Adding Concepcion would make this the best receiving corps Josh Allen has had since the 2021 season. He also has experience returning punts.
EDGE Malachi Lawrence University Central Florida
Lawrence has an explosive first step, length, and the ability to disrupt even when he doesn’t get home. He’s the kind of edge rusher who makes life easier for the entire secondary and fits what the new Defensive Coordinator Jim Leonhard needs at the position. Adding Lawrence would be a nice complement to what Bradley Chubb and Greg Rousseau bring to the group.
DT Kayden McDonald Ohio State
McDonald is a 6’2”, 320+ pound plug in the middle. He can anchor against the run and collapse the pocket, which this defense has been lacking at the defensive tackle position. Pairing a player like this with the existing front gives the Bills more flexibility and toughness up the middle and doesn’t force them to play Deone Walker or Phidarian Mathis at the NT position.
Trade Back Preferred. Still Plenty to Be Excited About
WR Omar Cooper Jr. Indiana University
Not the flashiest name in the class, but there’s a lot to like. Cooper brings size, strong hands, and ran a 4.42 40 at the combine with a 37” vertical. He’s the type of target who can win on the boundary and give Allen a reliable option when plays break down. He's not my first choice for WR at pick 26, but I wouldn't be mad about the addition.
EDGE Akheem Mesidor Miami University
Mesidor will be a 25-year-old rookie, which makes me hesitant because it's hard to envision you signing him to a second contract. On the plus side, he is mature and was coached by Hall of Famer Jason Taylor at Miami. He’s got a powerful build, plays with leverage, and consistently finds ways to affect the quarterback.
EDGE Cashius Howell Texas A&M
Howell has a lot of upside with burst and bend you can’t teach. He needs more development than you would want in a first-round pick, but the traits are there. He has a high ceiling, but I would prefer a more polished player at this pick.
Players I’m Lower On Than Consensus
EDGE Keldric Faulk Auburn University
Faulk sounds like Greg Rousseau with 10 extra pounds on him. He’s good against the pass and the run, but he’s not a sack artist. There’s upside here, but it feels more like projection than production based on what I have read.
WR Denzel Boston University of Washington
“Boston enters the draft with speed/separation concerns and outstanding competitive toughness,” NFL analyst Lance Zierlien. Sounds pretty similar to another young receiver currently on the Buffalo roster. Boston could very well turn into a great NFL receiver, but I don’t think the risk is worth it for the Bills at pick 26.
LB Anthony Hill Jr Texas University
This is mostly because I do not believe the Bills need to use a first-round pick on the position. I want to see Terrel Bernard and Dorian Williams in this defense to start, and if you draft an LB in the first round, he has to be starting. Hill is athletic and can play physical, but there’s some chaos to his game. Sounds a lot like Williams during his rookie season. Buffalo should address this position on day three.
