What's the first position the Bills draft in 2026?

[GunnerBill]

7 minutes ago, BillsVet said:

 

One of the last times this topic came up (and it's an off-season tradition now) @GunnerBill noted that Beane losing Schoen was a big blow.  This may be true, but it's hard to believe that in the 4 off-seasons without Schoen, Beane hasn't changed his approach to include emphasizing drafting WRs in RD1/2/3.  Points to trusting a strategy and not trusting evaluations/evaluators he's brought on at one of the high-positional value positions.  

 

The point losing Schoen was more about the talent evaluation rather than the strategy. The strategy has always been Beane's but he leant on Schoen a lot for evaluating the guys. 

[Artful Dodger]

On 7/28/2025 at 1:53 PM, Goin Breakdown said:

 Long Snapper is my vote. 

Normally I would agree with you but the legendary Reid Ferguson, the longest tenured Bill on the team, isn't going anywhere. 

[BillsVet]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

The point losing Schoen was more about the talent evaluation rather than the strategy. The strategy has always been Beane's but he leant on Schoen a lot for evaluating the guys. 

 

Both elements seem to dovetail though.  They don't take WRs because they're not confident in their evaluations now and that works because their strategy, at least with college players, doesn't require taking them high,  Have to consider the amateur scouts know this and adjust their time/activities accordingly.      

Edited Wednesday at 03:17 PM by BillsVet

[OldTimer1960]

I voted Outside CB given Hairston's injury.  An ACL and a full year of no football for a rookie may have killed his career before it even began.  I know that players come back from ACLs, but they are frequently not the same after coming back and Hairston has exactly ZERO NFL experience to fall back on if he loses some speed/quickness.

[uticaclub]

3 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

The "WHY" is as Beane has said multiple times he believe it is the way to build the team. Have waves of defensive linemen to send in fresh and attack offenses. He says all the time it "starts up front."

 

 

3 hours ago, SoCal Deek said:

Thanks! So it’s definitely not by accident then. And it’s your premise that it’s not going to change so long as Beane is in charge. And, just as important, you believe it isn’t McD who’s demanding this approach. 
 

I’d recommend you get used to it then. It’s hard to believe that Beane’s going anywhere as long as Josh Allen is a Buffalo Bill. 

 

That's why I believe his philosophy is flawed. 
 

When have waves of defensive players up front ever been effective against a decent quarterback? If our defense is going to struggle, we should focus on arming Josh with more offensive weapons and look for undervalued defensive players, similar to what we've done with wide receivers since 2020.

 

 

[MPL]

Just trade it for a player at this point. 

[SoCal Deek]

1 hour ago, uticaclub said:

 

 

 

That's why I believe his philosophy is flawed. 
 

When have waves of defensive players up front ever been effective against a decent quarterback? If our defense is going to struggle, we should focus on arming Josh with more offensive weapons and look for undervalued defensive players, similar to what we've done with wide receivers since 2020.

 

 

Not sure that I disagree. But as much as I dislike the phrase….”it is what it is” now and apparently for as long as Beane’s in control. I can’t imagine that McD (a defensive coach) is going to lobby him to change the approach. 

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, uticaclub said:

 

 

 

That's why I believe his philosophy is flawed. 
 

When have waves of defensive players up front ever been effective against a decent quarterback? If our defense is going to struggle, we should focus on arming Josh with more offensive weapons and look for undervalued defensive players, similar to what we've done with wide receivers since 2020.

 

 

 

Are you talking generally or for the Bills? There are examples of both. I don't think is is totally flawed as a theory I just think there is an over allocation of resource in the pursuit of it. 

 

The teams who have made that a staple of their success historically do it finding some gems. It isnt with 7 or 8 premium resource (either in picks or cap dollars) guys.