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

[DrDawkinstein]

52 minutes ago, RoyBatty is alive said:

RB or LB

 

We go thru RBs like no one else and we wont pay up for Cook.

 

 

Exactly the reason to not use a 1st on an RB.

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

It'll be a DE or DT.

 

[Victory Formation]

It depends largely upon whether or not we’re able to extend McGovern, Torrence and Edwards. I could see IOL.

 

WR is also an obvious choice as well, as well as a bell cow RB that can play all three downs. A Najee Harris or Bijan Robinson type of player..

Edited July 28 by Victory Formation

[RoyBatty is alive]

13 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Exactly the reason to not use a 1st on an RB.

Unless you have a generational Ashton Jeany (POTENTIAL), Barkely or Henry, i would AGREE but i am assuming we will have a very high draft pick #32 so at that point makes sense. 

[dcinmuncie]

I say lb

 

we all know milano’s injury prone and just turned 31. I question their depth (minus Dorian Williams) behind Bernard and Milano 

 

to me, this is a must do.

[DrDawkinstein]

Just now, RoyBatty is alive said:

Unless you have a generational Ashton Jeany (POTENTIAL), Barkely or Henry, i would AGREE but i am assuming we will have a very high draft pick #32 so at that point makes sense. 

 

But we dont pay RBs. So we just let a 1st rd pick walk after their rookie deal?

 

edit to add:

 

In this scenario where we are drafting a RB in the 1st because we let Cook walk, I'm already salty with Beane for finally hitting on a 2nd round pick but then letting him walk.

 

Our drafting, especially in the 1st/2nd hasnt been good enough where we can warrant letting those guys cycle out.

 

I can understand the philosophy of not paying RBs, but if that's the case then we should only pick them in the 3rd or later.

Edited July 28 by DrDawkinstein

[Victory Formation]

7 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

But we dont pay RBs. So we just let a 1st rd pick walk after their rookie deal?

 

edit to add:

 

In this scenario where we are drafting a RB in the 1st because we let Cook walk, I'm already salty with Beane for finally hitting on a 2nd round pick but then letting him walk.

 

Our drafting, especially in the 1st/2nd hasnt been good enough where we can warrant letting those guys cycle out.

 

I can understand the philosophy of not paying RBs, but if that's the case then we should only pick them in the 3rd or later.

I’m not saying we will draft a RB, but it’s possible..

[Mike in Horseheads]

10 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

But we dont pay RBs. So we just let a 1st rd pick walk after their rookie deal?

 

edit to add:

 

In this scenario where we are drafting a RB in the 1st because we let Cook walk, I'm already salty with Beane for finally hitting on a 2nd round pick but then letting him walk.

 

Our drafting, especially in the 1st/2nd hasnt been good enough where we can warrant letting those guys cycle out.

 

I can understand the philosophy of not paying RBs, but if that's the case then we should only pick them in the 3rd or later.

Which RB did we have that we didn't pay?  Cook is the first I can think of and he came out on the press with a ridiculous demand (IMO).  It was doomed from there. 

[DrDawkinstein]

9 minutes ago, Mike in Horseheads said:

Which RB did we have that we didn't pay?  Cook is the first I can think of and he came out on the press with a ridiculous demand (IMO).  It was doomed from there. 

 

He didnt come out in the press, and its not a ridiculous demand in the grand scheme of the NFL. He made ONE social media COMMENT (not even a post) in a comment section that was discussing players getting paid, and all he commented was "15 mill year".

 

And if you think Cook's $15M/yr demand is ridiculous, what do you think this made-up 1st rounder will want if he is at all successful (which is what we want to happen)? By then it will be $20m-$25M/yr and we're right back where we started.

 

We didnt pay Singletary, he wasnt worth a 2nd contract. But he was a 3rd rounder and not that special anyways.

 

But this whole notion that we'll pick a RB in the 1st is predicated on not paying Cook. And if we arent paying Cook, it's unlikely we pay the next guy.

 

Just like Safeties. Beane has his spending plan, and which positions he's willing to pay what. It's why Poyer and Hyde never had big pay days even when they were All Pro. 

 

So if we arent paying RBs as a general philosophy, there is no point in drafting them early.

 

 

[Victory Formation]

6 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

And if you think Cook's $15M/yr demand is ridiculous, what do you think this made-up 1st rounder will want if he is at all successful (which is what we want to happen)? By then it will be $20m-$25M/yr and we're right back where we started.

You’re missing the point. If Buffalo drafts a top 5 RB in the bottom of the first round, Josh now has a bell cow RB for the next 5 years. Our window is now.

 

If we can add someone who can put up 1,100-1,500 yards rushing along with with 30-40 catches and some change, you do it.

 

By the time his contract expires, Josh will be in his mid 30s.

[Johnnycage46]

I'm a little disappointed nobody is jumping on the special teams train with me...

[Augie]

6 hours ago, DrDawkinstein said:

Given values it should be down to DE or WR. We just loaded up on DL. Should be WR.

 

Unless…..it’s anything else. I generally trust them, and they cover their bases a bit in FA. But it’s still easy to argue they draft what you’d expect in the early rounds. That is not entirely stupid, btw. We should have some idea where they lean regarding position.

[Mike in Horseheads]

33 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

We didnt pay Singletary, he wasnt worth a 2nd contract. But he was a 3rd rounder and not that special anyways.

 

 

 

 

Coming out on Social media is worse than the press.   

... As for Singletary he was a scrub, big deal we didn't pay him.  So your narrative of we don't pay running Backs sb back and even that is not true yet.

[DrDawkinstein]

Just now, Mike in Horseheads said:

Coming out on Social media is worse than the press.   

... As for Singletary he was a scrub, big deal we didn't pay him.  So your narrative of we don't pay running Backs sb back and even that is not true yet.

 

It's not my "narrative", it is what we have to assume in this thread in order to say we'll draft a RB in the 1st next year.

 

We arent going to pay a RB and then draft one in the 1st. Right? I'm not making up any narrative that applies to right now or reality. I'm dealing in the hypothetical.

 

The Bills draft a RB in the 1st next year = we didnt pay Beane's best 2nd round pick because he's a RB that could command a pay day.

 

Not my story. It's the thread's.

[Sierra Foothills]

6 hours ago, Cash said:

I fully admit this is a dumb topic.  In between reading camp reports, I was thinking about positional groups and contract years, and started wondering what positions were plausible for our top pick in next year's draft (presumably #32 overall).  My rankings are below, listed from least likely to most likely:

 

Approximately zero chance

1. FB
2. Special teams
3. QB - only reason this isn't #1 is that career-ending injuries are unfortunately possible in the real world, whereas a competent front office spending a first on a FB, K, P, LS, or even return-specialist-only is basically impossible.

 

Highly unlikely

1. OL - I know we have 2 starters who'll be free agents, but we also have a strong pipeline of young talent at all positions.  It's hard for me to imagine the Bills go OL in the 1st or 2nd next year.
2. Outside CB - Even if Hairston is unimpressive as a rookie, he'll get at least one more shot in 2026.  Add in Benford being signed, and this would be a huge overcommitment to one position.  I don't see it.
3. TE - Only remote chance would be both a full flameout from Kincaid AND a TE being by far BPA at our spot.
4. NCB - Note that I'm not counting a Big Nickel type here, just a straight-up replacement for Taron Johnson.  Only doubt is that Johnson isn't getting younger and does have some injury history.
5. DT - You can never say never on d-line, but with Ed O under contract, TJ Sanders and Deone Walker entering year 2, and the Bills not valuing 1-tech very much, DT would be a huge suprise.
6. S - I think the Bills like Rapp a lot and hope they'll like Bishop a lot by the end of the season.  Even if they go into 2026 looking for a big upgrade, I think it's more likely they use either free agency or a later round.

 

Dark horse options

1. LB - I doubt they'll want to move on from Bernard next year, but Milano might be gone and Walker might not develop enough.  Also a chance they repeat Carolina history with a Shaq Thompson-type player, who's basically a hybrid LB/Big Nickel.
2. RB - this would be predicated on all three of Cook leaving and Ray Davis not showing a ton of development and there being a dynamic option available. 

 

The likely candidates

1. DE - Always a possibility.  Bosa will probably be gone, Epenesa too.  Unless Solomon or Jackson shows some real ability this year, DE will be very much in play.
2. WR - A lot will depend on the development of Coleman and the impact of Palmer.  And really, how well the offense performs against the elite teams and in the playoffs.  If we find ourselves one injury (or zero!) away from having repeats of the regular seasons Ravens and Texans games, I think the Bills will be very serious about getting a WR who can win on the boundary.

 

6 hours ago, DrDawkinstein said:

Still a total waste.

 

If we're going to operate under the philosophy of "you dont pay RBs" then they shouldnt be drafted any earlier than the 3rd.

 

We need those 1sts and 2nds becoming long-tenured, contributing, cornerstone players. Not temporary rentals.

 

And if by picking at 32 youre implying that we just won the SB, then there is no way Cook ISNT a big part of that success, and shouldnt be allowed to walk either.

 

2 hours ago, RoyBatty is alive said:

RB or LB

 

We go thru RBs like no one else and we wont pay up for Cook.

 

We need to upgrade LBs and Milano is now 31.

 

1 hour ago, Victory Formation said:

It depends largely upon whether or not we’re able to extend McGovern, Torrence and Edwards. I could see IOL.

 

WR is also an obvious choice as well, as well as a bell cow RB that can play all three downs. A Najee Harris or Bijan Robinson type of player..

 

Firstly it's impossible to know for sure how all these positions will look 10 months from now but I expect the Bills will be picking at #32 so that's my first assumption.

 

Assuming I'm right, I think there are non-premium positions that the Bills might draft from in order to get the best player at those positions as the Eagles did with Jihad Campbell (LB) and the Ravens with Malaki Starks (S).

 

Pertaining to the Bills I can see those positions being RB, LB, and IOL. 

 

Assuming that Cook is allowed to walk (which I hate to see), I can see a running back in play. Players at that draft spot are making less than Cook is asking for in AAV.

 

I agree that IOL is going to be in play because starters McGovern and Edwards are UFAs at the end of this season and because O'Cyrus will be extension eligible. It's hard to imagine that we won't lose at least one of McGovern or Edwards.

 

I agree that linebacker is also in play at #32 with the lack of depth and durability the Bills have at that position.

 

Contrary to the OP's disclaimer, this is an interesting subject but one that we'll have to wait on to see who's right.

 

[wppete]

Has to be a WR. Hope it’s a deep WR draft. 

[stlbills13]

Actually a fun topic. A lot depends on the season. If disaster struck and you're picking in the top 10 or something, any position other than QB is acceptable

 

For this exercise I'll assume it's another pick between 28-32.

 

QB - See above no chance

RB - Very doubtful unless Cook carries us to a SB and then leaves and the front office feels we need a new Cook

WR - Always possible. Probably 2nd most likely for me. 

TE - Even if Kincaid flames out they'll be scared to try that again

OL - I actually would spend a 1st rounder here. You can never have too much talent and depth. But Kromer magic probably pushes this to later rounds

DE - Always should be an option and it's going to be a need even if Jackson is a stud

DT - Probably not unless Oliver turns himself into a cut candidate

LB - I think this is most likely. Milano is a cut candidate. They don't seem to love Dorian. Everyone else is a JAG

CB - Max and Strong get more time

NCB - Another potential need but this feels like one they try to fill in house

S - If Bishop busts then for sure 

[Maine-iac]

Couple of options I like but I'll go with LB.  Bernard has an out at 3 years with little dead cap and a decent size cap hit.  If he can't stay healthy they'll need a LB.  Dorian is up after 2026 and Milano leaves a ton of dead cap.  If we draft a LB with the first pick we get (fingers crossed) a day one starter and plus athlete on a rookie contract.  I could easily see WR or Safety here also depending on how the players we have do this year and what athletes are available when we draft in the first next year.

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

8 hours ago, Cash said:

I fully admit this is a dumb topic.  In between reading camp reports, I was thinking about positional groups and contract years, and started wondering what positions were plausible for our top pick in next year's draft (presumably #32 overall).  My rankings are below, listed from least likely to most likely:

 

Approximately zero chance

1. FB
2. Special teams
3. QB - only reason this isn't #1 is that career-ending injuries are unfortunately possible in the real world, whereas a competent front office spending a first on a FB, K, P, LS, or even return-specialist-only is basically impossible.

 

Highly unlikely

1. OL - I know we have 2 starters who'll be free agents, but we also have a strong pipeline of young talent at all positions.  It's hard for me to imagine the Bills go OL in the 1st or 2nd next year.
2. Outside CB - Even if Hairston is unimpressive as a rookie, he'll get at least one more shot in 2026.  Add in Benford being signed, and this would be a huge overcommitment to one position.  I don't see it.
3. TE - Only remote chance would be both a full flameout from Kincaid AND a TE being by far BPA at our spot.
4. NCB - Note that I'm not counting a Big Nickel type here, just a straight-up replacement for Taron Johnson.  Only doubt is that Johnson isn't getting younger and does have some injury history.
5. DT - You can never say never on d-line, but with Ed O under contract, TJ Sanders and Deone Walker entering year 2, and the Bills not valuing 1-tech very much, DT would be a huge suprise.
6. S - I think the Bills like Rapp a lot and hope they'll like Bishop a lot by the end of the season.  Even if they go into 2026 looking for a big upgrade, I think it's more likely they use either free agency or a later round.

 

Dark horse options

1. LB - I doubt they'll want to move on from Bernard next year, but Milano might be gone and Walker might not develop enough.  Also a chance they repeat Carolina history with a Shaq Thompson-type player, who's basically a hybrid LB/Big Nickel.
2. RB - this would be predicated on all three of Cook leaving and Ray Davis not showing a ton of development and there being a dynamic option available. 

 

The likely candidates

1. DE - Always a possibility.  Bosa will probably be gone, Epenesa too.  Unless Solomon or Jackson shows some real ability this year, DE will be very much in play.
2. WR - A lot will depend on the development of Coleman and the impact of Palmer.  And really, how well the offense performs against the elite teams and in the playoffs.  If we find ourselves one injury (or zero!) away from having repeats of the regular seasons Ravens and Texans games, I think the Bills will be very serious about getting a WR who can win on the boundary.

Keep building those trenches. I don’t care which side. But Buffalo will probably go LB

[Sojourner]

2 hours ago, Johnnycage46 said:

I'm a little disappointed nobody is jumping on the special teams train with me...

Thats a long and lonely train ride for a first pick in the next draft class. Safe travels on that my friend!