2026 NFL Draft grade: Bills select DB Jalon Kilgore in Round 5
An evaluation of the Buffalo Bills selecting defensive back Jalon Kilgore in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL draft.
The Buffalo Bills added to their secondary on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL draft, selecting South Carolina's Jalon Kilgore 167th overall in the fifth round. Kilgore is a 6'1", 210-lb defensive back who played the majority of his snaps at slot corner with the Gamecocks, but he has the versatility and athleticism to appear in other spots like in the box, out wide, and at free safety. His 5 interceptions in 2024 led the SEC.
He has all the physical tools you're looking for in a defensive back. He has good size, ran a 4. 4 40-yard dash, has a 37-inch vertical, and has 33" arms.
Bottom line Kilgore can be used as depth right away at multiple spots in the secondary for the Bills while learning and competing. With defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard coming in and putting his spin on things, it will be helpful to have guys like Kilgore who have athleticism to attack offenses and the versatility to wear multiple hats on any given play. We'll see where the Bills want to line him up, but it's a good value pick for a guy that was projected to be drafted in Round 2 by NFL.
com's Lance Zierlein . Draft Grade: A This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: 2026 NFL Draft grade: Bills select DB Jalon Kilgore in Round 5