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

Q: What is the Buffalo Bills' draft position in the 2026 NFL Draft?

The Buffalo Bills hold the 26th pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Q: Who is the new defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills?

Jim Leonhard, a former Bills safety, is the new defensive coordinator.

Q: Why do the Buffalo Bills need to address the linebacker position in the draft?

The linebacker position is identified as a need for the Bills as they prepare for a defensive overhaul.

Q: Which player is being considered to improve the Bills' linebacker position?

Former Georgia linebacker CJ Allen is mentioned as a potential addition to enhance the Bills' linebacker corps.

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!

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!