2026 NFL Draft: What are the Bills' top roster needs right now?
· Yahoo Sports
It’s finally the week of the 2026 NFL Draft. The league is only a few short days away from seeing who the Buffalo Bills will add to their roster for next season.
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The Bills made several major moves this season, including trading for wide receiver DJ Moore and signing edge rusher Bradley Chubb.
There are still several veteran free agents who could find their way onto a roster following the draft. For now, the Bills have several spots that need to be addressed with this week’s draft.
Where? Here are Bills Wire's top needs heading into the 2026 draft:
Wide receiver
Even with the trade for DJ Moore, which cost the Bills quite a bit in both draft capital and monetary means, the group still feels a bit unfulfilled. Moore will likely start with Josha Plamer out wide and Khalil Shakir in the slot. Keon Coleman figures to fit in somewhere, depending on what day we hear from General Manager Brandon Beane. Beyond that group, Mecole Hardman and Trent Sherfield will be available on opening day. Tyrell Shavers is recovering from an ACL tear, suffered in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
If a wide receiver, who can take some of the load off Josh Allen’s shoulders, is available at the No. 2 spot, then the Bills may need to take a leap and select this wideout. There may be several good receiving options available late in the first round. While the Bills have invested a lot of resources in the position, there is still a necessity to add to this group.
Linebackers
The Bills have not made a great deal of moves at the linebacker position this offseason. Their biggest move has been inactivity — the Bills did not re-sign longtime standout Matt Milano. In addition, they allowed veteran Shaq Thompson to walk this offseason.
With the switch to the 4-3, the Bills will be operating with a different type of linebacker. With new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard at the helm, Buffalo will covet a different skill set for their linebackers.
Beane announced that Greg Rousseau will be moving to outside linebacker from defensive end. Free agent signee Bradley Chubb, along with incumbents Michael Hoecht and Javon Solomon, will stake out the outside linebacker spot.
Buffalo can add to this edge rusher group if the right pass rusher is available. The Bills would benefit from bringing in a tenacious pass rusher to attack quarterbacks.
The questions with the unit continue with what will happen to the inside linebackers. As of now, the Bills are working with Terrel Bernard and Dorian Williams as the starters. Both players have had past injury issues, and each player is a bit of the lighter, more versatile style of linebacker. Buffalo may look for a bigger, run-stopper in the center of their defense-- creating two inside linebackers with complementary skill sets.
Guard
The Bills had to choose who would get re-signed on the offensive line. With limited cap space, they chose to re-sign center Connor McGovern while letting starting left guard David Edwards explore free agency.
The Bills have veteran Alec Anderson as an in-house option to fill the void. The Bills signed Austin Corbett, a 2018 second-round pick, to compete for a roster spot as well.
However, Buffalo may look for a stronger option to fill out the offensive line. This pick will show how much confidence the Bills have in promoting Anderson to starting duties.
Defensive tackle
The switch to the 3-4 means the Bills require someone who can line up opposite the opponent’s center. The best in-house option right now is Deone Walker. Buffalo has Phidarian Mathis and Zion Logue, but both have played sparingly at the NFL level.
They will look for a traditional nose tackle to take on this role. This will allow players such as Ed Oliver and TJ Sanders to play away from the opposing center.
Buffalo’s defense struggled against the run last year. Selecting a gap-filling run-stuffer to command the line will be integral for this unit to improve against opposing running attacks.
Cornerback
Christian Benford is Buffalo’s undisputed shutdown cornerback. Max Hairston, the Bills' first-round pick from last season, will have the inside track at starting opposite Benford. Free agent signee Dee Alford will operate out of the slot.
Beyond that trio, it’s a bit murky on the depth chart. Dorian Strong is the Bills' best reserve option on the perimeter, but his future is uncertain due to a neck injury. Te’Cory Couch, MJ Devonshire, and Daryl Porter Jr. round out the cornerback options.
It would not be shocking if Buffalo invested multiple day three draft options on the cornerback position to help fill out this unit.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: What are the Bills' top roster needs right now?