Answering biggest questions about Buffalo Bills’ 2026 draft class

Feb 25, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane made 10 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, the second time in three years he’s hit the double-digit pick mark, and with the dust settled, a comprehensive review of the club’s draft class is in order. Instead of a granular examination of all 10 rookies — that’ll be coming this week, don’t you worry — I wanted my debut analysis-based article back at Rumblings to be a general, all-encompassing review of what Beane and Co.

did by answering what I’ll assume are the most front-of-mind questions for Bills fans after the draft. Did the Bills draft enough starters? I think the answer to this question has to begin with how the Bills’ season ended — they were a blown call in overtime — yes, it was a catch — away from advancing to their second-consecutive AFC championship game, and they didn’t have a mass exodus during free agency, so “starting” gigs or, more aptly described as “full-time” positions were never going to be easy to come by, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.

Buffalo is returning 12 of its top 13 snap percentage leaders on offense from the 2025 campaign — the only non-returnee is, of course, left guard David Edwards. Unironically, the Bills drafted two potential eventual replacements for Edwards in the 2026 draft with fourth-round pick Jude Bowry and seventh-rounder Ar’Maj Reed-Adams. We all know, with an entirely new system with a fresh defensive coordinator in Jim Leonhard, his side of the ball is where most of the job openings resided.

Even with the acquisition of Bradley Chubb, given Michael Hoecht’s early-November Achilles’ tear, the Bills low-key needed another stand-up rush outside linebacker — insert T. J. Parker.