The Buffalo Bills made waves at the 2026 NFL Draft, and not just because of their picks. After orchestrating three separate trades in the first round alone, general manager Brandon Beane ultimately walked away with 10 total selections—many coming on Day 3. The highlight of their haul came early in Round 2, when they snagged edge defender TJ Parker, while later picks like receiver Skyler Bell drew some buzz. But what did ESPN's draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. think of Buffalo's performance? The verdict: a solid but unspectacular B-minus grade.

That grade places the Bills below average in Kiper's rankings for all 32 teams, and notably, every other AFC East squad earned higher marks. Of course, as any football fan knows, these grades are just a starting point—the real test comes when these rookies hit the field.

Kiper's analysis highlighted a few key factors. Entering the draft, Buffalo needed help at linebacker, wide receiver, edge rusher, and cornerback. At pick No. 26, the Bills could have gone in many directions, but trading back three times—first to No. 28, then to No. 31, and finally to No. 35—gave Beane some much-needed flexibility. The reasoning was clear: Buffalo wasn't scheduled to pick again until No. 91, deep into Day 2, and with seven straight playoff appearances ending in heartbreak (and the firing of head coach Sean McDermott), the pressure is on. Quarterback Josh Allen turns 30 next month, and the Bills need to find a path to the Super Bowl now.

Those trades allowed Buffalo to shuffle its fourth-rounders and move up from No. 91 to the back end of Round 2 (No. 66). Salary cap cuts had created holes on defense, making starters a priority. The Bills used their first two picks on TJ Parker and Davison Igbinosun. However, Kiper noted that he had higher-rated edge rushers available at No. 35 and higher-rated cornerbacks at No. 62. Still, both players bring the kind of grit and potential that could help Buffalo finally get over the hump.