Buffalo orchestrates a draft-night masterclass, trading down three times. They accumulate assets, stockpiling picks for the rest of the draft rather than making a first-round selection.
The Buffalo Bills saw how the board fell, but, in the end, decided not to make a selection in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Instead, the team made multiple trades to fall out of the first round and add multiple draft picks.
Buffalo started the night with seven picks in the draft, including the 26th overall pick. But by the time they were on the clock late into the night, general manager Brandon Beane decided it was best to add picks to the arsenal.
So, he made not one, not two, but three trades on the night.
The first was with the Houston Texans. Buffalo traded the 26th and 91st picks to Houston for picks No. 28, No. 69, and No. 167.
After that, the Bills traded the 28th overall pick to New England for picks 31 and 125. Finally, as if that wasn't enough, Beane dealt the 31st pick to Tennessee along with pick 69 and 165 for 35, 66, and 101.
With all the trades, the Bills ended Thursday night with nine picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. As of the end of the first round, Buffalo has the following selections:
- 35th (2nd)
- 66th (3rd)
- 101st (4th)
- 125th (4th)
- 126th (4th)
- 167th (5th)
- 168th (5th)
- 182nd (6th)
- 220th (7th).
As far as where some of the new picks fall, the 35th is the third pick in the second round; the 66th is the second pick of the third; the 101st is the first pick in the fourth.
What's more is that Buffalo started the weekend with just two picks in the first 125 selections. Now, the team has three in the first 101, and five in the first 126.
If you're one to look at the moves in terms of value, the Bills turned picks 26, 91, and 165 which carry a total value of 861.4 into picks 35, 66, 101, 125, and 126 that have a value of 999. That's a value gain of 137.6.
Now all eyes focus on night two of the 2026 NFL Draft and if Buffalo will take the picks that they have, or if Beane decides to make more moves.
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