Why Bills picked sliding Jalon Kilgore, then traded draft pick after to Lions

TL;DR

The Buffalo Bills selected safety Jalon Kilgore from South Carolina at pick 168 in the NFL Draft, then traded their next pick to the Lions. Kilgore was recognized as a second-team All-SEC player.

Key points

Buffalo Bills selected Jalon Kilgore at pick 168
Kilgore is a second-team All-SEC safety
Bills traded their next pick to the Lions

Jalon KilgoreSouth CarolinaBuffalo BillsDetroit Lions

Why Bills picked sliding Jalon Kilgore, then traded draft pick after to Lions originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Buffalo Bills set up for a particularly entertaining Saturday at the NFL Draft for a goofy reason: Twice, they had back-to-back picks.

At 125 and 126, they went with WR Skyler Bell and LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr.

Then at 167 and 168, they selected safety Jalon Kilgore out of South Carolina -- but then they traded down out of 168 to the Lions, so it was just one pick that time around.

Kilgore was a second-team All-SEC safety for the Gamecocks.

"He's just got to translate this athletic ability to more production," ESPN's Louis Riddick said on the draft broadcast.

2026 NFL DRAFT HQ:Live tracker | Pick-by-pick grades | Best players still available

The NFL Draft broadcast on ESPN captured an amazing reaction of hugs and tears for Kilgore with his family in Atlanta.

He's a versatile player, having worked at both safety and linebacker while at South Carolina.

Buffalo will have more picks to make, but Kilgore is the next guy coming to Buffalo.

BEST DRAFT NAMES:Ephesians Prysock | | |

Q&A

Why did the Buffalo Bills choose Jalon Kilgore in the NFL Draft?

The Buffalo Bills selected Jalon Kilgore due to his performance as a second-team All-SEC safety at South Carolina.

What picks did the Buffalo Bills have during the NFL Draft?

The Bills had back-to-back picks at 125 and 126, and later selected Jalon Kilgore at pick 168 before trading that pick to the Lions.