Bills news: How Buffalo could improve on defense with 2026 NFL Draft

The Buffalo Bills are entering their first season with Joe Brady as the team's head coach, and they're also preparing for a defensive overhaul under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, the former Bills safety who is expected to adopt a base 3-4 defense in Buffalo this year.

The Bills currently have seven selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, beginning with pick No. 26 towards the end of the first round. Today's edition of Buffalo Rumblinks leads off by examining how Buffalo could get better on defense through the first two rounds of the draft, including addressing the linebacker position by adding a talent like former Georgia linebacker CJ Allen (pictured below).

Why linebacker is a position of need in the draft

So far this offseason, the Bills have yet to address their inside linebackers in free agency. Combined with the penchant for Jim Leonhard to often employ two edge rushing outside linebackers in his schemes with the Denver Broncos, it certainly makes sense for Buffalo to add a linebacker in the first two rounds of the draft.

Potential fits include CJ Allen, high-upside Missouri middle linebacker Josiah Trotter (pictured below), and Texas Tech tackling machine Jacob Rodriguez, who could serve as a long-term building block at the position.

Plus, how adding a well-rounded inside linebacker remains a priority for the Bills; hear Greg Cosell's thoughts on the draft's top linebacker prospects; get the scouting report on Josiah Trotter and Cincinnati linebacker Jake Golday; ponder whether Buffalo should turn its focus to using pick No. 26 on a run-stuffing defensive tackle; and more!

• What one draft analyst is hearing about the Buffalo Bills heading into the 2026 NFL Draft - newyorkupstate.com
• Who could Bills target on defense in 2026 NFL Draft? Look to Broncos for a possible answer - The Athletic (subscription required)
• Bills 2026 mock draft 2.0: Buffalo trades down, adds one of draft's top LBs for Jim Leonhard - newyorkupstate.com
• Well-rounded inside linebackers a priority for Bills: Hard to find' - Buffalo News (subscription required)
• Greg Cosell Breaks Down LB Prospects - BuffaloBills.com
• NFL Draft Profile: Josiah Trotter - WGR 550
• NFL Draft Profile: Jake Golday - WGR 550
• Could the Bills draft a run-stuffing anchor in the first round? - Democrat & Chronicle
• Three of Bills' Four Most-Pressing NFL Draft Needs Belong to Jim Leonhard's Defense - Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
• A family football legacy could collide with a Bills draft need - Democrat & Chronicle

Even more Bills news

Exploring how often the Bills have used a first-round pick on one of the college football prospects they hosted on a top-3o visit. Plus, Buffalo is doing its homework on one of the best punting prospects in the draft; the one glaring weakness the Bills have yet to address on defense this offseason; and more!

• How Have Bills' NFL Draft Visits Impacted their First-Round Selections? - Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
• Syracuse's Jack Stonehouse is drawing interest from Buffalo Bills ahead of NFL draft - newyorkupstate.com
• Bills Mailbag: The draft, the mock drafts and modern television - Buffalo News (subscription required)
• Painful Stat Shows Bills Haven't Addressed Biggest Weakness Yet - Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
• Full list of Buffalo Bills 2026 NFL Draft picks - BuffaloBills.com

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