Fernando Schmude’s final Bills 2026 7-round NFL mock draft

The Bills need a linebacker who can contribute right away, and I believe Keyshaun Elliott is capable of doing exactly that with Buffalo. In 2025, only two FBS defenders finished with 90-plus tackles, 14-plus TFLs, and seven-plus sacks — Elliott was the one doing it from a Power conference, as the green-dot Mike in Brian Ward’s 4-2-5 at Arizona State. Across his last two seasons, Elliot racked up 168 tackles, 18 TFLs, nine sacks, an interception, and four pass defenses (PDs) in 25 games, earning second-team All-Big 12 honors both years. He models his game after Fred Warner, and you can see it in the film — he’s smart, assignment-sound, and plays with a high motor every single snap. There are concerns: short arms (31 1/4″) limit his ability to shed NFL-caliber blockers, and his zone coverage awareness needs work. He profiles best as a two-down linebacker at the pro level without further development. But at pick 91? That’s value. A player who can give you quality snaps on early downs and contribute on special teams immediately is exactly what Buffalo needs. I believe he comes in ready, in case Terrell Bernard’s body doesn’t hold up.

This is the pick I’m most excited about, and I think it could end up being the steal of this entire class. Jeff Caldwell’s story alone is worth knowing: he didn’t even play football seriously until a late growth spurt before his senior year of high school took him from 5’8″ to nearly 6’5″. A walk-on at Lindenwood (FCS), he became a Walter Payton Award finalist in 2024 with 53 catches, 1,032 yards, and 11 touchdowns, then transferred to Cincinnati to test himself in the Big 12. The numbers came back to Earth (32 catches, 478 yards, 6 TDs) but the traits never wavered. And then the NFL Scouting Combine happened. Caldwell ran a 4.31 40-yard dash — the fastest time recorded by any player 6’1″ or taller at this year’s event. His 1.48-second 10-yard split led every player at the combine, not just wide receivers. His 42”vertical ranked second among all wideouts. He finished with a 99 NGS athleticism score. At 6’5″ and 216 pounds with that speed, the catch radius, and the ability to high-point contested balls in the red zone, you’re looking at a legitimate mismatch weapon waiting to be unlocked. Yes, his route tree needs refinement — he’s still learning how to use his tools. But under Joe Brady, with Josh Allen putting the ball anywhere on the field, there may not be a better situation in the entire league for Caldwell to develop into something special. Ask Khalil Shakir to introduce him to Eric Moulds and watch out.

Iowa offensive linemen. You already know. Beau Stephens is nearly a perfect-value pick here, ranked 164 (in the Stick to the Model tool), drafted at 165. He’s a technically sound guard who fits the Iowa mold: physical, dependable, and NFL-ready from a technique standpoint. The Bills can always use interior offensive line depth, and we don’t know about both guard spots long-term. At this stage of the draft, adding a player who can compete for a roster spot and provide quality insurance is a win. Nothing flashy, just smart drafting.

Three picks later, the Bills add corner depth with Hezekiah Masses out of Cal. He’s right around value at 168 with a model rank of 169, and the Bills’ CB room is a group that can use a developmental option behind Christian Benford and Maxwell Hairston. Athlon Sports has him inside the top 130 on their big board, which suggests he’s a player with legitimate Day 2 talent who may slip. Worth the gamble this late in Day 2.

I know, I know. The Bills might be fine with Kyle Allen backing up Josh Allen for now, but why can’t we add a young talent and have some fun? Every team needs a backup quarterback, and if you’re going to take one in the sixth round, you might as well take the one with some potential, and a 4.36 forty — which, for the record, is the third-fastest time ever recorded by a quarterback at the combine, behind only Michael Vick and Reggie McNeal. Green is a boom-or-bust developmental prospect. In 2025, he threw for 2,714 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, while adding 777 rushing yards on the ground. Over 53 career games, he’s a 60.1% career passer with 59 TDs and 35 INTs — consistency is the obvious concern. But the arm talent is elite, the dual-threat ability is legitimate, and Buffalo’s QB room might be one of the best possible places to develop the kid. As a project behind Josh Allen, this is a decent pick that could turn into great value if the coaching staff gets through. Low risk, interesting upside.

Recent visit, interesting story, and maybe the best pure value pick of this mock. George Gumbs showed up at Northern Illinois as a walk-on wide receiver. He became a scholarship tight end. Then he moved to defensive end in the spring of 2023 and has been on an upward trajectory ever since. At Florida, across two SEC seasons, he compiled 7.5 sacks, 14.5 TFLs, and 37 quarterback pressures. His best single-game *Pro Football Focus* grade was 91.9. At the combine, his 41” vertical was the second-best ever recorded by a defensive lineman. He can bend, he can close, and the athletic profile confirms what the tape shows — the tools are genuinely there. The concerns are what you’d expect from someone who has been playing defensive end since 2023: his hands need refinement, his rush plan is still developing, and he had a meniscus injury that cut his final season short. But in the seventh round, with a model rank of 224 and an A-minus grade from the tool? This is exactly the kind of high-ceiling dart throw you want to close out your class with. He’ll be a core special teams contributor from day one and has legitimate rotational upside on the edge if the development clicks.

No trades, no drama — and still, I believe there’s real talent here. The interior of the defensive line was the priority, and McDonald answers that call at the first-round level. Elliott gives Jim Leonhard the linebacker cover he needs on day one. And Caldwell, at the end of Day 2, might be the piece people are talking about a few years from now. The Bills came in needing interior DL help, linebacker athleticism, receiver depth, and secondary reinforcements. Seven picks, every box addressed. Now it’s your turn — what would you have done differently? Let me know your thoughts, Bills Mafia!

Catch up on all this and more with the latest edition of**Leading the Charge!**