The Buffalo Bills traded out of the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, opting for more overall picks. This decision has sparked debate among fans about its wisdom.
Key points
Buffalo Bills traded out of the first round of the 2026 NFL draft
Brandon Beane opted not to make a first-round pick
The team gained two overall picks, increasing from seven to nine
The Bills improved their positions in several rounds
Fans are debating the decision's wisdom
Mentioned in this story
Brandon Beane
Buffalo Bills
Were the Bills smart to trade out of the first round? Vote now
Three times the team chose to trade away a first-round pick rather than pull the trigger on a player. In the process, Beane gained two overall picks, up from seven to nine, and he improved his positions in several rounds.
What did the Buffalo Bills get?
Buffalo now has:
An early second-round pick (No. 35)
An early third-round pick (No. 66)
Three fourth-round picks (Nos. 101, 125, 126)
Two fifth-round picks (Nos. 167 and 168)
A sixth-round pick (No. 182)
A seventh-round pick (No. 220)
Now or never for Brandon Beane and the Buffalo Bills
Clearly now, Days 2 and 3 will be critical for both the Bills and Beane, who is on the hot seat in Buffalo after popular head coach Sean McDermott was shown the door in the wake of the 33-30 loss to the Denver Broncos in January. Since that moment, Beane has been on the spot to get QB Josh Allen and the rest of the team, at least, into the Super Bowl, if not win it all.
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
The selections of wide receiver KC Concepcion, who was born in Rochester, at No. 24 and safety Dillon Thieneman at No. 25 were likely blows to Beane's draft board when it came time to pick at No. 26. Concepcion had even come to Orchard Park for a pre-draft visit for interviews, medical checks and meetings with coaches and staff.
Buffalo Bills face a big question
With Allen not getting any younger, it begs the question: Did Beane make the right call by trading out of the first round?
Our poll will remain open until 11:59 p.m. Sunday. The results will be posted on our Instagram account Monday morning.
Buffalo Bills first round picks through the years
1969 - RB O.J. Simspon: He was the first player to cross the 2,000-yard rushing mark in a season. He finished with 10,183 yards and 57 touchdowns in nine years with Buffalo and is among the Buffalo Bills' greatest picks.
1970 - DT Al Cowlings: Long before he became O.J. Simpson's wheelman, Cowlings was the fifth overall pick in the draft but gave the Bills three lackluster seasons.
1971 - WR J.D. Hill: The No. 4 overall pick made the Pro Bowl in 1972 with career highs of 52 receptions and 754 receiving yards. He played seven years in the NFL, five with the BIlls and two with the Detroit Lions.
1972 - DE Walt Patulski: The No. 1 overall choice, he bombed during four seasons in Buffalo.
1973 - TE Paul Seymour: The No. 7 overall pick in the caught 62 passes for 818 yards and three touchdowns in five seasons.
1973 - G Joe DeLamielleure: The Bills second pick of the first round (No. 26) helped Buffalo lead the NFL in rushing yards in his first season, paving the way for O.J. Simpson to rush for 2,003 yards. The six-time Pro Bowler played 13 seasons (seven in Buffalo) and is in the Hall of Fame.
1974 - WR/TE Reuben Gant: The 18th overall pick had a seven-year pro career, but only stood out in 1977, his first as a tight end, when he caught 41 passes for 646 yards and two touchdowns. He is among the Bills greatest draft busts.
1976 - CB Mario Clark: Clark, center, and his teammates are the faces of dejection after the Buffalo Bills' 28-21 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1982 playoffs. Two years later, the cornerback won a Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers.
1978 - RB Terry Miller: He would be a flash in the pan for the Bills. He rushed for 1,060 yards his rookie season, and would never come close to matching that again.
1979 - LB Tom Cousineau: The No. 1 overall choice never played a down for the Bills. He refused to sign a contract, went to the CFL for a few years and after the Bills traded his rights to Cleveland he signed with the Browns but never did much.
1979 - WR Jerry Butler: Butler was the second of two first-round picks by the Buffalo Bills during the 1979 NFL draft. He played his entire career with Buffalo and was a 1980 Pro Bowl selection.
1980 - C Jim Ritcher: The 16th overall pick was selected to two Pro Bowls, played in all four Buffalo Super Bowls and is on the Bills Wall of Fame.
1981 - F Booker Moore: The 28th overall pick is considered another Buffalo Bills draft bust, playing just four seasons of pro ball.
1982 - WR Perry Tuttle: Caught just 24 passes in two years for Buffalo and was out of the NFL by 1985.
1983 - TE Tony Hunter: He was selected two picks ahead of Jim Kelly in the 1983 NFL draft. The tight end was no longer a Bill by the time Kelly started tossing balls in the Nickel City (1986).
1983 - QB Jim Kelly: The second of the Bills' two first-round picks that year, he opted for the USFL and didn't arrive in Buffalo until 1986. Despite his late start, he became one of the Bills' greatest quarterbacks, leading the team to six AFC East titles and four AFC championships before being enshrined at Canton.
1984 - RB Greg Bell: The 26th overall pick snagged rookie of the year honors when he rushed for 1,100 yards and seven touchdowns for the Buffalo Bills. His Bills' career then petered out, but he would find greater success rushing for the Los Angeles Rams in the late-'80s.
1985 - CB Derrick Burroughs: The Bills' second first-round pick of 1985 played five seasons and never really experienced success with Buffalo.
1986 - RB Ronnie Harmon: For many Bills fans, his career is defined by a dropped pass against Cleveland Browns during the 1989 playoffs. Harmon (16th overall pick in 1986) was later eclipsed by Thurman Thomas, and only played for Buffalo for four years. He was selected for the Pro Bowl in 1992 with the San Diego Chargers.
1986 - T Will Wolford: The Bills' second first-round pick (20th overall) in the 1986 draft was selected for the Pro Bowl twice during his seven-year career with the Bills, mostly at left tackle. Here, Wolford celebrates a touchdown by RB Thurman Thomas.
1987 - LB Shane Conlon: The No. 8 overall draft pick played six seasons for the Buffalo Bills, logging 545 tackles, three interceptions and forced four fumbles.
1990 - CB James Williams: Stocked with quality starters, the Buffalo Bills often used their first-round picks in the 1990s to select defensive backs. James Williams (16th overall pick in 1990) was the first of five selected in that decade. He played six seasons in the NFL, with four coming in Buffalo.
1991 - S Henry Jones: The 26th overall pick became one of the best safeties in the Bills' history. He spent of all but two years of his pro career in Buffalo. His top season came in 1992, when his eight interceptions tied for the league lead.
1992 - T John Fina: He was the 27th player taken off the board in 1992 by the Bills and played 10 season in Buffalo.
1993 - CB Thomas Smith: He started 95 of 110 career games with Bills, made six interceptions and four fumble recoveries after Buffalo drafted him with the 28th overall pick.
1994 - CB Jeff Burris: The 27th overall pick hauls compiled 529 tackles and 19 interceptions during a 10-year career. He was a Bill for four years.
1995 - OG Ruben Brown: His nine-year stay in Buffalo produced eight trips to the Pro Bowl.
1996 - WR Eric Moulds: It took two years for Moulds to make an impact, but once he did he became one of the best receivers in the NFL.
1997 - RB Antowain Smith: The 23rd overall pick played only four seasons with the Bills. He became the first of a parade of Bills who experienced career rebirths with the New England Patriots.
1999 - CB Antoine Winfield: Pound for pound was one of the best cover corners in the NFL who later went on to star with the Vikings, too.
2000 - DE Erik Flowers: Was too light to play defensive line in the NFL and was sent packing after just two years.
2002 - OT/OG Mike Williams: The No. 4 overall pick never came close to living up to the draft status, especially since the Bills could have taken future perennial Pro Bowler Bryant McKinnie.
2004 - WR Lee Evans: The 13th overall pick posted Top 5 numbers as receiver for the Buffalo Bills, but he never made the Pro Bowl.
2006 - S Donte Whitner: The 8th overall pick isn’t popular with Bills’ fans today, but he did give the team five solid seasons before leaving for San Francisco.
2006 - DT John McCargo: After being selected 26th overall, McCargo spent most of his rookie season on the injured reserve. The defensive tackle started just one game in five seasons with the Bills, and is considered another draft bust by Buffalo.
2007 - RB Marshawn Lynch: The 12th overall pick in the 2007 draft was selected to five Pro Bowl teams. But Lynch's best years were with the Seattle Seahawks.
2012 - Stephon Gilmore: The 10th overall pick was a stellar cornerback for the Buffalo Bills in four of his five seasons in the Nickel City. He got better after signing with the Patriots, much to the chagrin of Bills fans. He retired in April 2026.
2016 - DE Shaq Lawson: The 19th overall pick by the Bills spent six season with Buffalo in two stints. He hasn't played in a game since the 2024 season.
2017 - CB Tre'Davious White: The 27th overall pick's first four seasons with Buffalo were outstanding. But injuries took a huge toll over his next four seasons. Tre mounted a serious bid for comeback player of year in 2025 with in his return to the Bills. The 31-year-old is an unsigned free agent in 2026.
2018 - QB Josh Allen: The player who turned the franchise around, and when his career over, the 2024 NFL MVP will likely hold every Bills QB record.
2018 - LB Tremaine Edmunds: After selecting Josh Allen with the 7th overall pick, the Buffalo Bills picked up Tremaine Edmunds with the 16th pick in the first round of the 2018 draft. He has 900 tackles and 8.5 sacks over his eight-year career, five of which were in Buffalo. Edmunds signed with the New York Giants in March.
2019 - DT Ed Oliver: At No. 9 overall, he probably hasn’t lived up to that status, but he has been a consistent producer who is now on his second contract. After seven seasons, Oliver has 243 total tackles, nine forced fumbles and 30 sacks.
2021 - DE/OLB Greg Rousseau: Since being selected No. 30 in the 2021 draft, he's racked up 228 total tackles, seven forced fumbles and 32 sacks.
2022 - CB Kaiir Elam: The Bills actually traded up in the first round to make sure they got him, but he struggled all three years he was here, never became a starter, and was traded to the Cowboys in March 2025. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in April 2026, and unless he pulls it together, could be another NFL bust.
2023 - TE Dalton Kincaid: As a rookie he set the team record for most catches (73) and yards (673) by a tight end. But his starts have declined each year since then due to injuries.
2025- CB Maxwell Hairston: The 30th overall pick played in 11 games but started just three of them in 2025 due to injuries and the resurgence of Tre'Davious White.
1 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1969 - RB O.J. Simspon: He was the first player to cross the 2,000-yard rushing mark in a season. He finished with 10,183 yards and 57 touchdowns in nine years with Buffalo and is among the Buffalo Bills' greatest picks.
1 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1969 - RB O.J. Simspon: He was the first player to cross the 2,000-yard rushing mark in a season. He finished with 10,183 yards and 57 touchdowns in nine years with Buffalo and is among the Buffalo Bills' greatest picks.
2 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1970 - DT Al Cowlings: Long before he became O.J. Simpson's wheelman, Cowlings was the fifth overall pick in the draft but gave the Bills three lackluster seasons.
3 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1971 - WR J.D. Hill: The No. 4 overall pick made the Pro Bowl in 1972 with career highs of 52 receptions and 754 receiving yards. He played seven years in the NFL, five with the BIlls and two with the Detroit Lions.
4 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1972 - DE Walt Patulski: The No. 1 overall choice, he bombed during four seasons in Buffalo.
5 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1973 - TE Paul Seymour: The No. 7 overall pick in the caught 62 passes for 818 yards and three touchdowns in five seasons.
6 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1973 - G Joe DeLamielleure: The Bills second pick of the first round (No. 26) helped Buffalo lead the NFL in rushing yards in his first season, paving the way for O.J. Simpson to rush for 2,003 yards. The six-time Pro Bowler played 13 seasons (seven in Buffalo) and is in the Hall of Fame.
7 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1974 - WR/TE Reuben Gant: The 18th overall pick had a seven-year pro career, but only stood out in 1977, his first as a tight end, when he caught 41 passes for 646 yards and two touchdowns. He is among the Bills greatest draft busts.
8 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1976 - CB Mario Clark: Clark, center, and his teammates are the faces of dejection after the Buffalo Bills' 28-21 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1982 playoffs. Two years later, the cornerback won a Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers.
9 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1978 - RB Terry Miller: He would be a flash in the pan for the Bills. He rushed for 1,060 yards his rookie season, and would never come close to matching that again.
10 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1979 - LB Tom Cousineau: The No. 1 overall choice never played a down for the Bills. He refused to sign a contract, went to the CFL for a few years and after the Bills traded his rights to Cleveland he signed with the Browns but never did much.
11 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1979 - WR Jerry Butler: Butler was the second of two first-round picks by the Buffalo Bills during the 1979 NFL draft. He played his entire career with Buffalo and was a 1980 Pro Bowl selection.
12 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1980 - C Jim Ritcher: The 16th overall pick was selected to two Pro Bowls, played in all four Buffalo Super Bowls and is on the Bills Wall of Fame.
13 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1981 - F Booker Moore: The 28th overall pick is considered another Buffalo Bills draft bust, playing just four seasons of pro ball.
14 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1982 - WR Perry Tuttle: Caught just 24 passes in two years for Buffalo and was out of the NFL by 1985.
15 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1983 - TE Tony Hunter: He was selected two picks ahead of Jim Kelly in the 1983 NFL draft. The tight end was no longer a Bill by the time Kelly started tossing balls in the Nickel City (1986).
16 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1983 - QB Jim Kelly: The second of the Bills' two first-round picks that year, he opted for the USFL and didn't arrive in Buffalo until 1986. Despite his late start, he became one of the Bills' greatest quarterbacks, leading the team to six AFC East titles and four AFC championships before being enshrined at Canton.
17 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1984 - RB Greg Bell: The 26th overall pick snagged rookie of the year honors when he rushed for 1,100 yards and seven touchdowns for the Buffalo Bills. His Bills' career then petered out, but he would find greater success rushing for the Los Angeles Rams in the late-'80s.
18 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1985 - CB Derrick Burroughs: The Bills' second first-round pick of 1985 played five seasons and never really experienced success with Buffalo.
19 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1986 - RB Ronnie Harmon: For many Bills fans, his career is defined by a dropped pass against Cleveland Browns during the 1989 playoffs. Harmon (16th overall pick in 1986) was later eclipsed by Thurman Thomas, and only played for Buffalo for four years. He was selected for the Pro Bowl in 1992 with the San Diego Chargers.
20 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1986 - T Will Wolford: The Bills' second first-round pick (20th overall) in the 1986 draft was selected for the Pro Bowl twice during his seven-year career with the Bills, mostly at left tackle. Here, Wolford celebrates a touchdown by RB Thurman Thomas.
21 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1987 - LB Shane Conlon: The No. 8 overall draft pick played six seasons for the Buffalo Bills, logging 545 tackles, three interceptions and forced four fumbles.
22 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1990 - CB James Williams: Stocked with quality starters, the Buffalo Bills often used their first-round picks in the 1990s to select defensive backs. James Williams (16th overall pick in 1990) was the first of five selected in that decade. He played six seasons in the NFL, with four coming in Buffalo.
23 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1991 - S Henry Jones: The 26th overall pick became one of the best safeties in the Bills' history. He spent of all but two years of his pro career in Buffalo. His top season came in 1992, when his eight interceptions tied for the league lead.
24 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1992 - T John Fina: He was the 27th player taken off the board in 1992 by the Bills and played 10 season in Buffalo.
25 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1993 - CB Thomas Smith: He started 95 of 110 career games with Bills, made six interceptions and four fumble recoveries after Buffalo drafted him with the 28th overall pick.
26 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1994 - CB Jeff Burris: The 27th overall pick hauls compiled 529 tackles and 19 interceptions during a 10-year career. He was a Bill for four years.
27 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1995 - OG Ruben Brown: His nine-year stay in Buffalo produced eight trips to the Pro Bowl.
28 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1996 - WR Eric Moulds: It took two years for Moulds to make an impact, but once he did he became one of the best receivers in the NFL.
29 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1997 - RB Antowain Smith: The 23rd overall pick played only four seasons with the Bills. He became the first of a parade of Bills who experienced career rebirths with the New England Patriots.
30 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
1999 - CB Antoine Winfield: Pound for pound was one of the best cover corners in the NFL who later went on to star with the Vikings, too.
31 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
2000 - DE Erik Flowers: Was too light to play defensive line in the NFL and was sent packing after just two years.
32 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
2002 - OT/OG Mike Williams: The No. 4 overall pick never came close to living up to the draft status, especially since the Bills could have taken future perennial Pro Bowler Bryant McKinnie.
33 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
2004 - WR Lee Evans: The 13th overall pick posted Top 5 numbers as receiver for the Buffalo Bills, but he never made the Pro Bowl.
34 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
2006 - S Donte Whitner: The 8th overall pick isn’t popular with Bills’ fans today, but he did give the team five solid seasons before leaving for San Francisco.
35 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
2006 - DT John McCargo: After being selected 26th overall, McCargo spent most of his rookie season on the injured reserve. The defensive tackle started just one game in five seasons with the Bills, and is considered another draft bust by Buffalo.
36 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
2007 - RB Marshawn Lynch: The 12th overall pick in the 2007 draft was selected to five Pro Bowl teams. But Lynch's best years were with the Seattle Seahawks.
37 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
2012 - Stephon Gilmore: The 10th overall pick was a stellar cornerback for the Buffalo Bills in four of his five seasons in the Nickel City. He got better after signing with the Patriots, much to the chagrin of Bills fans. He retired in April 2026.
38 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
2016 - DE Shaq Lawson: The 19th overall pick by the Bills spent six season with Buffalo in two stints. He hasn't played in a game since the 2024 season.
39 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
2017 - CB Tre'Davious White: The 27th overall pick's first four seasons with Buffalo were outstanding. But injuries took a huge toll over his next four seasons. Tre mounted a serious bid for comeback player of year in 2025 with in his return to the Bills. The 31-year-old is an unsigned free agent in 2026.
40 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
2018 - QB Josh Allen: The player who turned the franchise around, and when his career over, the 2024 NFL MVP will likely hold every Bills QB record.
41 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
2018 - LB Tremaine Edmunds: After selecting Josh Allen with the 7th overall pick, the Buffalo Bills picked up Tremaine Edmunds with the 16th pick in the first round of the 2018 draft. He has 900 tackles and 8.5 sacks over his eight-year career, five of which were in Buffalo. Edmunds signed with the New York Giants in March.
42 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
2019 - DT Ed Oliver: At No. 9 overall, he probably hasn’t lived up to that status, but he has been a consistent producer who is now on his second contract. After seven seasons, Oliver has 243 total tackles, nine forced fumbles and 30 sacks.
43 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
2021 - DE/OLB Greg Rousseau: Since being selected No. 30 in the 2021 draft, he's racked up 228 total tackles, seven forced fumbles and 32 sacks.
44 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
2022 - CB Kaiir Elam: The Bills actually traded up in the first round to make sure they got him, but he struggled all three years he was here, never became a starter, and was traded to the Cowboys in March 2025. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in April 2026, and unless he pulls it together, could be another NFL bust.
45 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
2023 - TE Dalton Kincaid: As a rookie he set the team record for most catches (73) and yards (673) by a tight end. But his starts have declined each year since then due to injuries.
46 / 46
See Buffalo Bills first-round pick, from O.J. Simpson to Max Hairston
2025- CB Maxwell Hairston: The 30th overall pick played in 11 games but started just three of them in 2025 due to injuries and the resurgence of Tre'Davious White.
