Buffalo Bills Draft Grades
The dust has settled on the 2026 NFL Draft, and now comes one of the most polarizing traditions in football media. The handing out of grades before a single snap is played, by happy or scorned analysts, based on where the players they graded were selected.
For the Buffalo Bills, this year’s class sparked plenty of opinions across national outlets. Some analysts love the value. Others question the strategy. As always, the truth will play out over the next few seasons, but for now, let’s see how the experts graded Buffalo’s haul.
Below is a full roundup of Bills draft grades from across the national media landscape, along with key takeaways and trends.
National Media Roundup
CBS Sports Pete Priscoe:B- Priscoe’s best pick was Skyler Bell and worst pick was T.J. Parker with this to say, “This is based on personal preference, but I would have taken R Mason Thomas over T.J. Parker, who the Bills took in the second. He fits better in my book.”
ESPN Mel Kiper: B- “There were a lot of directions Buffalo could have gone at No. 26. But trading back not once, not twice, but three times was not on my Bingo card…The Bills turned their first two picks into T.J. Parker and Davison Igbinosun. I had higher-rated edges at No. 35 and higher-rated corners at No. 62. However, both players should play big roles for the Bills.” Kiper’s grade goes into what a lot of these do; he had other players graded higher than the ones the Bills selected. His favorite pick was the Skyler Bell selection.
Fox Sports Rob Rang:A “While Parker will understandably get most of the attention, I thought GM Brandon Beane found quality value and stylistic fits throughout the draft. Cornerback Davison Igbinosun and offensive tackle Jude Bowry were two of my favorite "second-tier" prospects at their respective positions.” Rang also had this to say about the Bills’ day 3 selections, “Wideout Skyler Bell and safeties Jalon Kilgore and Zane Durant also have the athleticism that suggests they could be future NFL starters…Perhaps my favorite Day 3 pick for the Bills, however, was TCU linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr, a heat-seeking missile who might compete for a starting role immediately.”
NFL Chad Reuter:A “The Bills traded down three times in Round 1 to gain additional mid-round selections and still found a much-needed physical pass rush presence on the edge in Parker. Igbinosun possesses the size and physicality to start on the outside, especially if he continues reducing his pass-interference penalties.” Reuter also mentioned the Moore trade and praised the Bills' value in the Bell, Elarms-Orr, and Kilgore selections.
Pro Football Focus (PFF):B LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr is their highest graded pick with their entire draft class ranking 10th out of the 32 NFL teams.
Sports Illustrated Matt Verderame: D+ Verderame is the most critical of the Bills’ draft class that I have seen so far. “General manager Brandon Beane must think Buffalo’s roster is set. The Bills traded back multiple times to get out of the first round, and then took a rotational edge rusher in Parker to play with Greg Rousseau and Bradley Chubb. Afterward, Beane selected depth in Igbinosun and Bowry, neither of whom project as starters in 2026. Perhaps the most intriguing pick is Bell, who caught 101 passes for 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns last year with the Huskies.”
The Athletic Dane Brugler:22nd. His favorite pick was T.J. Parker, and he liked that they were able to get him after trading back. He had this to say about their Day 3 selections, “Buffalo cleaned up in the fourth round, adding key depth at three positions: offensive line, wide receiver, and linebacker. But I’m eager to see how Buffalo uses Kilgore (and his athleticism). He made an immediate impact as a freshman in college, and it won’t be surprising if he finds his way onto the field as a rookie.”
The Ringer Danny Kelly:C “The Bills were on-brand with the T.J. Parker pick early in the second round, grabbing a big, long-levered, and power-based rusher. Parker fits the profile of a handful of edge defenders the team has seemed to rely on in recent years, and should slide right into the rotation. I liked the selection of receiver Skyler Bell, who brings a vertical element to the offense from the outside. Safety Jalon Kilgore brings top-notch upside as well, showing instincts in coverage and plenty of production. But he needs to turn the intensity up to 11 if he’s going to stand out on this defense. All in all, Buffalo added some potential early contributors, but I’m not sure I see a star in this group.”
USA Today: B- “Best pick: Parker. Buffalo traded out of the first round and still landed a Day 1 talent in Parker, a high floor pass rusher with room to grow. Sleeper pick: WR Skyler Bell. New head coach Joe Brady loves screen passes and easy yards-after-catch opportunities. Bell led all draft-eligible FBS wideouts when it came to yards after catch in 2025.”
Local Media
Democrat & Chronicle Sal Maiorana: No Grade Given. “The work has been done, the picks have been made, and now we wait to see how it all works out. You’ll see a bunch of grades on each team’s draft class - a completely foolish exercise in every way - but we won’t know anything about these players until training camp gets rolling, and then the season actually begins.”
SI.COM Alex Brasky:B Brasky is known to be pretty critical of Brandon Beane, and he doesn’t hold back with certain selections. Parker was a “redundant” pick in his opinion, Igbinsoun was “questionable,” and Bowry was “the Bills’ worst pick of the draft.” Elarms-Orr was his favorite pick, Bell a favorable choice, and Kilgore rated a “steal.”
Syracuse.com Ryan Talbot: No Grade Given. Buffalo seemed to address the majority of their needs over the weekend. The defense added valuable contributors. Offensively, OL Jude Bowry and WR Skyler Bell could provide an immediate impact. Bowry could compete for the swing tackle job or kick inside to compete at guard, and Bell has the chance to factor into the offense as a rookie. Punter Tommy Doman Jr. will battle Mitch Wishnowsky for the starting job. It may not have been the flashiest draft, but there is no arguing that most needs were met.
My Thoughts
To me, draft grades are fun to review to see which analysts got their feelings hurt and which ones had players they liked get selected where they believed they should be drafted. They do not indicate how good a player or a team will be. If you want a good reminder as to why you shouldn’t take these seriously, read the Bleacher Report article on the 2012 Seattle Seahawks draft with their grade of an F.
Brandon Beane executed a plan that he and his staff went into the weekend with, and that’s what matters. The team is better today than they were before the draft. Go Bills!
