The current draft class is tailor-made for Brady\u2019s vision, and for Leonhard\u2019s (predicted) aggressive 3-4 scheme. Every pick directly addresses a roster need without sacrificing the \u201cBest Player Available\u201d mindset, while fitting the new defensive philosophy that emphasizes length, athleticism, and gap discipline up front.<\/p>\n
Without further ado, here\u2019s my first Bills\u2019 seven-round 2026 NFL Mock Draft.<\/p>\n
Las Vegas sends picks 2.36, 3.67, and 5.134 for Buffalo\u2019s 1.26 and 4.126<\/p>\n
With several options of similar value on the board, and missing the second-round pick traded for wide receiver DJ Moore, Beane trades down with the Raiders, securing an extra third, and moving down from late in the first to early in the second, and from late in the fourth to early in the fifth.<\/p>\n
Round 2, pick 36: Trade Down<\/p>\n
New Orleans sends picks 2.42 and 3.73 for Buffalo\u2019s 2.36<\/p>\n
No exclamation mark on the trade alert anymore, since, as fans, you\u2019re probably mad at me at this point. I get you, it\u2019s not sexy to wait that long for your team\u2019s first pick, but the Saints called offering an extra third to move up six spots, and with the value on my board still very similar, it was a no-brainer.<\/p>\n
Round 2, pick 42: Malachi Lawrence, EDGE (UCF)<\/p>\n
ORLANDO, FL – OCTOBER 26: UCF Knights defensive end Malachi Lawrence (51) looks on during a game between the BYU Cougars and the UCF Knights on October 26, 2024 at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, FL. (Photo by Ricky Bowden\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n Here it is, my first addition to Leonhard\u2019s new defense. Malachi Lawrence is a fast-rising edge prospect among this year\u2019s draft scene, projected as a high-upside early second-round pick. His combination of elite athletic testing and a refined pass-rush arsenal makes him a premier fit for Buffalo\u2019s transition to an attacking 3-4 defense.<\/p>\n Lawrence recorded a 1.59-second 10-yard split (89th percentile) and a 40\u201d vertical jump, demonstrating the elite \u201cget-off\u201d needed to win the outside shoulder of NFL tackles. Unlike many \u201ctraits-only\u201d prospects, he possesses a deep \u201cbag\u201d of moves, including a signature cross-chop, speed-to-power, and active hand usage that allows for frequent secondary rush wins. He finished his UCF career 10th on the school\u2019s all-time list with 20.0 sacks, including a 2025 season where he earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors.<\/p>\n At 6\u20194\u201d and 253 pounds, Lawrence is a prototypical stand-up outside linebacker. He has already met with the Bills and is viewed as an ideal rotational piece who can eventually push for a starting role in this new alignment. Leonhard intends to prioritize an \u201cattacking defense\u201d that speeds up quarterbacks. Lawrence\u2019s 19.2% pass-rush win rate (via Pro Football Focus\/PFF) is among the best in the 2026 class, suggesting he can immediately contribute as a sub-package specialist, complementing Bradley Chubb, Greg Rousseau, and Michael Hoecht in the room.<\/p>\n Round 2, pick 56 \u2014 Trade Up and draft Chris Bell, WR (Louisville)<\/p>\n Buffalo sends picks 3.67 and 5.134 for Jacksonville\u2019s 2.56<\/p>\n MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 17: Chris Bell #0 of the Louisville Cardinals carries the ball against Jr. Romanas Frederique #29 of the Miami Hurricanes during the first half of the game at Hard Rock Stadium on October 17, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n With Chris Bell falling in Round 2, it\u2019s time to take a calculated risk and move up for him \u2014 and the assets acquired in the previous two trades allow me to do so. At this point, he\u2019s the best player on my board, and there\u2019s space for more competition for playing time.<\/p>\n Originally a fringe first-round prospect, a late-season ACL tear suffered in November 2025 has created a \u201cbuying opportunity\u201d for teams willing to wait on his medical recovery. For the Bills, Bell represents the prototypical big-bodied \u201cX\u201d receiver they have lacked to complement Josh Allen\u2019s elite arm strength. His rare combination of size (6\u20192\u201d, 222 pounds) and speed (was projected to run a 4.40\u20134.44 40-yard dash at the 2026 Combine) has had scouts often compare him to A.J. Brown due to his \u201cbully\u201d mentality at the catch point and elite yards-after-catch ability. I can see some Eric Moulds in his game.<\/p>\n Before his injury, Bell was a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist in 2025, recording 72 receptions for 917 yards and six touchdowns in just 11 games. Bell is the kind of player who, when healthy, has the potential to become a true WR1, allowing DJ Moore to slide to a more suitable WR2 role as he ages.<\/p>\n Round 3, pick 73: Domonique Orange, DT (Iowa State)<\/p>\n FORT WORTH, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 8: Jordyn Bailey #4 of the TCU Horned Frogs is wrapped up by Domonique Orange #95 of the Iowa State Cyclones during the first half at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 8, 2025 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n Make #95 great again! No one better than \u201cBig Citrus\u201d to replace a Bills legend and become a new fan favorite, wearing the same jersey. Having accumulated mid-round picks from the Jacksonville deal allowed the Bills to land Orange without sacrificing future capital.<\/p>\n Orange is a premier value pick for the early third round. The 6\u20194\u201d, 325-pound defender is the quintessential zero-technique nose tackle. While his box score stats are modest, his value as a space-eater makes him a foundational piece for Buffalo\u2019s transition to a 3-4 defense under Leonhard, even though he doesn\u2019t necessarily need a true zero-technique to run his fronts.<\/p>\n Orange provides a high floor as a day one run-stuffer, offering unrivaled play strength \u2014 he boasts elite weight room numbers, including a 650-pound squat and 450-pound bench press, which translate to an immovable anchor against NFL-caliber double teams. Despite his massive frame, Orange made the 2025 Feldman Freaks List thanks to a shocking 34\u201d vertical jump, highlighting the lower-body explosiveness needed to reset the line of scrimmage.<\/p>\n In 50 career games at Iowa State, Orange proved to be a force multiplier, consistently commanding double teams that freed up linebackers to flow to the ball (music to Terrel Bernard\u2019s ears). While he had only 1.0 career sack, Orange recorded 13 pressures in 2025 \u2014 ranking third on his team \u2014 showing he can collapse the pocket even when not designated as a primary rusher. With 33 5\/8\u201d arms and 10 1\/4\u201d hands, he can lock out blockers and maintain gap integrity, making everybody around him better.<\/p>\n Round 3, pick 91: Trade Down<\/p>\n Los Angeles Rams send picks 3.93 and 7.207 for Buffalo\u2019s 3.91<\/p>\n Moving down two spots to add a seventh made sense to me here.<\/p>\n Round 3, pick 93: Bud Clark, S (TCU)<\/p>\n FORT WORTH, TX – SEPTEMBER 13: TCU Horned Frogs safety Bud Clark (21) returns a fumble that gets called back during the game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Abilene Christian Wildcats on September 13, 2025 at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n A highly productive four-year starter and three-time team captain, Clark is one of the premier ballhawks in this class, offering elite ball skills and alignment versatility that could see him contribute immediately in sub-packages and eventually become Cole Bishop\u2019s long-term partner. His draft stock sits in the late Day 2 to early Day 3 range primarily due to a slender frame and age (24-year-old rookie), allowing the Bills to snag an elite playmaker at a discount.<\/p>\n Clark finished his TCU career with 15 interceptions and 21 pass breakups over 61 games. At the 2026 NFL Combine, Clark posted an impressive 4.41-second 40-yard dash and a 38\u201d vertical jump, confirming the range seen on tape. He allowed a meager 59.9 passer rating when targeted over his final two seasons, earning a massive 90.1 PFF coverage grade in 2024.<\/p>\n Leonhard values safeties who can \u201cwear different hats.\u201d Clark has over 500 career snaps each at free safety, box safety, and slot corner, making him a perfect \u201cchess piece\u201d for Leonhard\u2019s modular system.<\/p>\n Round 5, pick 134: Trade Up\/draft Harold Perkins Jr., LB (LSU)<\/p>\n Buffalo sends picks 6.165 and 6.168 for Jacksonville\u2019s 5.134<\/p>\n BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA – SEPTEMBER 13: Linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. #7 of the LSU Tigers defends during the first half of a game against the Florida Gators at Tiger Stadium on September 13, 2025 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n Buffalo still had to select a promising linebacker capable of, at minimum, offering some potential and athletic ability behind Terrel Bernard (whose health is a big question mark going forward). Enter Harold Perkins Jr., via LSU. After the last pick, the Bills sat out of the entire fourth round, but called up Jacksonville again to strike on another trade, moving up from early in the sixth to early in the fifth instead, and securing Harold Perkins Jr. there.<\/p>\n The LSU product\u2019s stock settled into the Day 3 (Round 4\u20135) range due to an undersized frame (6-0 5\/8\u201d, 220 pounds) and a 2024 ACL injury. Despite these concerns, he remains an elite \u201cboom-or-bust\u201d value pick because of his rare athletic traits and proven ability to create havoc in the backfield.<\/p>\n Landing the former five-star recruit and freshman All-American in the fifth round is exceptional value here, based on untapped ceiling, athletic testing, and impressive college production. At his 2026 Pro Day, Perkins clocked a blazing 4.38-second 40-yard dash, proving his explosive speed returned after his 2024 knee injury. He\u2019s also one of the few players in college history with 30-plus tackles for loss (35.5) and 5-plus interceptions (5), showcasing a rare \u201cdefensive weapon\u201d profile. With over 600 snaps at EDGE, off-ball linebacker, and slot defender, Perkins offers multiple paths to the field that most fifth-round picks lack.<\/p>\n While Perkins may struggle as a full-time 3-4 interior linebacker due to his smaller frame, Leonhard\u2019s \u201cconcept-based\u201d defense can hide the incoming rookie\u2019s size by using him as a roving \u201cjoker\u201d in passing downs. Leonhard\u2019s history at Wisconsin suggests a heavy use of a \u201cStar\u201d or \u201cBig Nickel\u201d defender. Perkins played this exact role at LSU in 2025, specializing in blitzing from the slot and range in space. His best trait is his pass-rush productivity, posting a 90.9 PFF pass-rush grade at his peak, making him an ideal situational blitzer in an aggressive scheme.<\/p>\n Round 7, pick 207: Jadon Canady, CB (Oregon)<\/p>\n SEATTLE, WA – NOVEMBER 29: Defensive back Jadon Canady #22 of the Oregon Ducks intercepts the ball during a game between the Oregon Ducks and Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium on November 29, 2025, in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Henry Rodenburg\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n After trading up using the pair of sixth-round picks, Buffalo\u2019s last two are in the seventh. With that, one of them was used to select Jadon Canady from Oregon. He\u2019s a potential steal this late in this draft. While his smaller frame (5\u201910\u201d, 181 pounds) and past injury history have pushed him down draft boards, his elite coverage efficiency and positional flexibility make him a high-floor prospect who can contribute immediately on special teams while developing into a specialized defensive role.<\/p>\n Despite his draft projection, Canady was the 10th highest-graded cornerback in the country by PFF College<\/a> in 2025, finishing the season with an 85.3 overall defensive grade. Across 50 career games, he recorded 154 tackles, four interceptions, and 23 passes defended, showing a consistent ability to find the football across stops at Tulane, Ole Miss, and Oregon. Also, evaluators often describe Canady as a \u201cmake-it guy\u201d \u2014 a player whose \u201cjitterbug\u201d energy and relentless competitive drive make him an ideal candidate for gunner roles on special teams.<\/p>\n Canady\u2019s ability to transition seamlessly between boundary corner, slot, and safety across three different high-level collegiate programs demonstrates the mental processing Leonhard values. He might be a nickel candidate\/special teamer early on, but don\u2019t write him off in other roles.<\/p>\n Round 7, pick 220: Jaeden Roberts, G (Alabama)<\/p>\n![\"ORLANDO,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/gettyimages-2180523636.jpg\"\/)
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