The Buffalo Bills shore up the middle of their new defense in Peter Schrager’s latest 2026 NFL mock draft.
The ESPN analyst released his predictions for the upcoming draft and at the No. 26 overall spot defensive lineman Kayden McDonald heads to Buffalo. McDonald does not play the sexiest position as a nose tackle, but the Bills lack in that area and it needs to be addressed ahead of next season with new coordinator Jim Leonhard running the defense.
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At 6-foot-2 and 326 pounds, McDonald is a big prospect from Ohio State that will need to sharpen his game at the next level. However, he is already considered a stout run defender which would also help Buffalo’s No. 30 ranked run defense from last year.
In 14 games played in 2025, McDonald had 65 tackles, including nine for loss, with nine for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles.
For more on McDonald to the Bills, Schrager’s breakdown can be found below:
Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
This might be the highest you’ll see McDonald going in a mock draft at the moment, but I’m hearing significant first-round buzz on him. A massive run defender, McDonald would be a good fit in Buffalo, where the Bills ranked 30th against the run last season (5.1 yards allowed per carry).
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Bills solidify middle of defense in Peter Schrager 2026 NFL mock draft