NFL
By: Randall Slifer
The combine is over, and free agency is knocking on the NFL door. Brandon Beane left some crumbs about how to address this offseason. Specifically, Brandon Beane knows he needs to nail these next two offseasons, or he will be next in line to leave Buffalo. Free agency will predict far more for the draft, but let’s take a look at addressing needs and how we can attack them in the draft:
*I used the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus boards and ensured no pick was drafted higher than his consensus*
Round 1 pick 26: WR Texas A&M – KC Concepcion
6’0 196lb 30.25” arms 9.25” Hands
2025 Stats: 61 rec, 919 yards, 9 TD
KC Concepcion is a dynamic athlete who can win on all three levels. He has an explosion at the line of scrimmage and 3rd-level speed to keep his separation on go balls. Buffalo needs a receiver like Concepcion who can run inside in the slot as well as dominate out wide. He can take advantage of screens and quick passes, bolstered by 7.2 yards after the catch per reception, allowing Khalil Shakir to work more outside instead of being fed short passes all game. Concepcion and a free agent pickup like Romeo Doubs would complete the room with not much else needed for the 2026 season.
*Reader Note: Dillon Thieneman is gone
Round 2 pick 60: LB Missouri – Josiah Trotter
6’2 237lb 32.25” arms 10.25” hands
2025 stats: 84 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 14 pressures, 2.5 sacks, 4 QB hits
Josiah Trotter is a young, high-energy MIKE linebacker. At only 20 years old, he shows he’s good enough for the NFL to declare early for the draft. Trotter’s upper-body strength brings violence to the line of scrimmage, where he defends the run and attacks gaps. According to PFF, he’s accountable for 33 defensive stops, including 43 solo tackles and only a 11% missed tackle rate. His explosion and closing speed lead to his high pressure and tackles-for-loss rate, which are very translatable to the NFL. Not to mention, he is a part of a whole football family, including his father, Jeremiah Trotter Sr. Sign me up.
*Reader Note: Jacob Rodriguez is gone
Round 3 pick 91: S TCU – Bud Clark
6’0 188lb 31.5” arms 9” hands
2025 Stats: 56 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 Sack, 4 INT, 6 PBU
Bud Clark played at TCU for six years, and that’s not a detriment. Safeties need to be smart and instinctual. They can play for a long time in the NFL, so age is not a concern for me when drafting safeties. Bud Clark is an explosive, sideline-to-sideline safety who offers one of the top ranges playing centerfield. He has a high IQ for identifying routes, and he’s a ball hawk who wants to jump on the ball. In his collegiate career, he has accounted for 15 interceptions and 20 PBU’s! One glaring aspect of Buffalo’s defense that is missing from 2024 to 2025 is the turnover margin. Bud Clark gets some of those turnovers back for the Buffalo Bills.
*Reader Note: Genesis Smith is gone
Round 4 pick 126: OL Texas A&M – Trey Zuhn III
6’6 312lb 32.25” arms 10” hands
2025 stats: 10 pressures allowed, 2 sacks, 1 QB hit
The Buffalo Bills’ offensive line will be going through some changes for the first time in a while for the 2026 season. David Edwards and Connor McGovern may be out the door, and O’Cyrus Torrence is in his final year. Ryan VanDemark is in question, losing depth as well. Trey Zuhn played left tackle most of his career, but he can play everywhere on the line. Alec Anderson can take the left guard spot, and Buffalo needs someone to fill the versatility role of Alec Anderson over the last two years. Trey Zuhn’s ability to back up both guards and Sedrick Van Pran-Granger is key in this pick, and there could be a possibility he could slide into Dion Dawkins role three to four years from now.
*Reader Note: Caleb Tiernan is gone
Round 6 pick 166: Edge Iowa – Max Llewellyn
6’6 258lb 32.25” arms 9” hands
2025 stats: 45 pressures, 6 sacks, 11 QB Hits, 26 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss
The Buffalo Bills will be looking at a top edge defender in free agency, but a Javon Solomon replacement should be a need in this draft. Max Llewellyn is a dynamic pass-rusher with an arsenal of pass-rush moves. On top of the classics of bull rush, swipes, and rips, he has the best spin move in the draft. He falls this low in the draft because he does not contribute to defending the run, and he doubled his snap count from 2024 to 2025 and produced very similar stats (2024: 35 pressures, 6 sacks, 6 QB Hits). Buffalo takes the buy low and gets a steal in round 6.
*Reader Note: Tyreak Sapp is gone
Round 7 pick 220: iDL Texas – Cole Brevard
6’3 346lb 33” arms 9.5” Hands
2025 stats: 18 tackles, tackle for loss, 10 pressures
Cole Brevard is a force at nose tackle who Penn State recruited, transferred to Purdue, and ended up in Texas. Brevard is a space-eater who can handle double teams and sometimes triple teams. His anchor is his top quality, and he has a 72 run defense grade according to PFF. His strength can help him become versatile and bring some pass rush with a solid bull rush. The Buffalo Bills can pair him with a free-agent nose tackle and have them work together, and Brevard already has grown-man strength, ready for the NFL.
*Reader Note: Demonte Capehart is gone
Pick 7 pick 228: CB Stanford – Collin Wright
6’0 188lb 30.75” arms 8.75” hands
2025 stats: 33 tackles, 56% rec rate, 1 INT, 4 PBU
Collin Wright is a developmental cornerback who can work inside and outside. The Buffalo Bills need some depth in the cornerback room, with Dorian Strong’s timetable uncertain and Tre White contemplating retirement. Collin Wright is more of a zone corner because his long speed is questionable. Still, Wright can learn from Christian Benford how he became such a dynamic corner despite average athleticism. Collin Wright looked fluid at the combine while running the drills and posted a 39” vert to show some explosion.
What do you think about this draft? Let me know here in the replies or reach out to me on Twitter @RandallSlifer. Go Bills!
