Bills steal traits-based South Carolina S Jalon Kilgore in Round 5 of 2026 NFL Draft
Bills select their biggest value versus consensus so far in South Carolina safety Jalon Kilgore
NORMAN, OKLAHOMA - OCTOBER 19: Nickle back Jalon Kilgore #24 and cornerback Judge Collier #20 of the South Carolina Gamecocks celebrate after a turnover by the Oklahoma Sooners in the fourth quarter at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Norman, Oklahoma. South Carolina won 35-9. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Buffalo Bills may have just made their best value pick of the 2026 NFL Draft with the selection of South Carolina safety Jalon Kilgore.
He was projected as a top-100 pick by several outlets and consensus viewed him as such. Kilgore is another traits-based prospect who played almost exclusively in the nickel at South Carolina. Many believe that he is best suited to play a higher variety of snaps at the top of the defense where he can play more of a top-down to keep things in front of him.
He’s a strong tackler and plays up to his size/weight profile. Kilgore had 21 passes defensed and eight interceptions over the course of his career. Another positive of Kilgore is that he’s just 21 years old.
Big nickel/Safety Jalon Kilgore (24) as the apex to the top of the screen, carrying & staying on top of Bernard (5) + making an athletic play on the ball downfield for the PBU pic. twitter. com/InTcmeUmv9 — Anthony Cover 1 (@Pro__Ant) January 27, 2026 As stated above, a lot believe that Kilgore is someone that many would like to see in deeper alignments of the defense.