The Buffalo Bills had an effort at the 2026 NFL Draft that stood out. That’s what happens after three trades in the first round.
After those deals, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane made edge defender TJ Parker his top pick in Round 2. Then in the end, the Bills made 10 total selections with many on Day 3 of the draft. A few of those, such as receiver Skyler Bell, received praise.
Where did ESPN NFL draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. fall on the ledger? He was not overly impressed by the Bills.
Kiper gave the Bills a B-minus grade for the Bills’ haul at this year’s draft. That was in the below average category for Kiper’s grades for all 32 teams in the league.
Every other team in the AFC East received better grades than Buffalo as well… but of course, these rookies all eventually earn their actual grades on the field.
Kiper’s full breakdown on the Bills can be found below:
Top needs entering the draft: Linebacker, wide receiver, edge rusher, cornerback
There were a lot of directions Buffalo could have gone at No. 26. But trading back not once, not twice, but three times was not on my Bingo card. The Bills went to No. 28, then No. 31 and finally to No. 35. That gave general manager Brandon Beane some maneuverability.
That was key. Entering the draft, Buffalo wasn’t slated to pick again after No. 26 until No. 91, super late on Day 2. And after seven straight playoff appearances ended in heartbreak (and the firing of coach Sean McDermott), the pressure is on right now. Quarterback Josh Allen is turning 30 next month; the Bills need to get over the hump and find a way into the Super Bowl. As a result of the trades, Buffalo shuffled its fourth-rounders and moved up from No. 91 to the back end of Round 2 (No. 66).
Salary cap cuts opened some holes on defense this offseason, so Buffalo needed starters. The Bills turned their first two picks into T.J. Parker and Davison Igbinosun. I had higher-rated edges at No. 35 and higher-rated corners at No. 62. However, both players should play big roles for the Bills.
Parker’s production dipped in 2025, with his sack total falling from 11 in 2024 to five in 2025. But he has outstanding speed-to-power and active hands, and he changes up quickly when his first pass-rush plan doesn’t work. He’d join Bradley Chubb and Greg Rousseau and try to keep Buffalo among the league’s better pressure-generating teams. Igbinosun was 103rd on my board, and I would have preferred someone like Malik Muhammad in that spot. He struggled with penalties in college. He gets a little grabby in coverage.
Matt Milano is still unsigned (and 31 years old now), so linebacker was my top need for this roster going into Round 1. Kaleb Elarms-Orr can help. He had 130 tackles last season. Jalon Kilgore is an effective player in the star position with 4.4 speed and explosive traits. And Zane Durant gives Buffalo a 3-technique with 17 tackles for loss and 36 pressures over the past two years.
One of my favorite Bills picks was Skyler Bell. He is a Khalil Shakir-type pass catcher with speed and after-the-catch ability. And he can line up either in the slot or out side.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. gives Buffalo Bills 2026 NFL Draft grade