Orchard Park, NY (WGR550) – For the second time in three years, the first round of the NFL Draft ended and the Buffalo Bills did not have a player to show for it.
General manager and President of Football Operations Brandon Beane, who said earlier this week they had “on the lower end” of usual first-round graded players, decided there just wasn’t someone he valued enough at his original pick No. 26, so he traded down to 28.
Then did it again to pick No. 31.
Then did it again to pick No. 35, which is the third pick of the second round.
The last time Beane made this sort of move was just two years ago when he traded down twice. First, with the Kansas City Chiefs from 28 to 32. Then with the Carolina Panthers from 32 to 38 and out of the first round. They eventually chose wide receiver Keon Coleman.
As far as 2026, the Bills entered Thursday night’s draft with seven total selections in rounds 1, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6, and 7. After all the deals, they’ve not only recouped a second round selection they didn’t have after trading it for wide receiver D.J.Moore, but now own nine picks in rounds 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, and 7.
Beane did not speak to reporters Thursday night. He is expected to speak Friday night after rounds two and three.
A big question about his multiple trade-downs will be when he decided to do it. Was it after players like wide receiver K.C. Concepcion and safety Dillon Thieneman were selected right before the Bills were on the clock? Was it as the draft was unfolding, knowing any players he wanted were already gone? Or was it maybe even long before this draft started because he felt there wasn’t proper value, so he started working the phones to set deals up?
Whatever the answer is (and Beane most likely won’t reveal specifics), Beane may not be done wheeling and dealing. He could trade back again with his early-second round pick, and has plenty of ammunition to make more than the two scheduled selections on Friday night.
As it stands, the Bills have the third pick in round two, the second pick in round three, and the first pick in round four (which would kick off the draft on Saturday).
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