The Buffalo Bills wrapped up the 2026 NFL Draft with ten new faces in the locker room, and general manager Brandon Beane deserves credit for plugging several roster holes. The focus was clearly on defense, with six of those picks coming on that side of the ball—including the team's first two selections: EDGE T.J. Parker (pick 35) and cornerback Davison Igbinosun (pick 62). But even with that draft capital, the defense remains a work in progress as it undergoes a major offseason overhaul. Let's break down the three biggest needs still facing the Bills after the draft.
1. Cornerback Depth
The Bills addressed the cornerback position early by snagging Igbinosun in the second round, but the depth chart beyond him, Christian Benford, and Maxwell Hairston is thin. With Tre'Davious White and Dane Jackson now gone, and Dorian Strong's promising start clouded by a neck injury, the team is left with questions on the outside. They added Toriano Pride Jr. in the seventh round, but given how depleted the cornerback room has looked in recent postseasons, a veteran addition would provide some much-needed stability and experience.
2. Linebacker Help
Under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, the Bills are transitioning to a 3-4 scheme, and the off-ball linebacker spots are still a work in progress. Dorian Williams and Terrel Bernard are likely penciled in as the starters, with Joe Andreessen and fourth-round rookie Kaleb Elarms-Orr behind them. But this unit could really benefit from a seasoned veteran to ease the schematic transition. Both Matt Milano and Shaq Thompson—who logged significant snaps for the defense last season—remain free agents, and bringing one back could be a smart move.
3. Nose Tackle
Many analysts and fans expected the Bills to target a nose tackle in the draft, with Ohio State's Kayden McDonald a popular mock draft pick. But the team passed, leaving the position thin. Deone Walker broke out as a promising fourth-round rookie last year, but behind him, the depth chart features Phidarian Mathis, DeWayne Carter, and Zion Logue. It's still unclear how much a true run-stuffing nose tackle would factor into Leonhard's updated defense, but the lack of bodies at the position is hard to ignore.