One Bills Live traveled to Indianapolis, Ind. for the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.

NFL analysts joined Steve Tasker, Chris Brown and Maddy Glab, breaking down everything to know about the draft class, its depth and how Buffalo should approach the draft coming up in April.

The bigger picture | How draft class depth is beneficial for the Bills

‘It’s deep across the board’ | Emory Hunt, *CBS Sports*

Hunt credited, in-part, the depth of the 2026 NFL Draft class to eligibility and getting more collegiate level experience. In addition to that, NCAA football evolving is happening on both sides of the ball, specifically at the positions that Buffalo needs — wide receiver, edge rusher and cornerback.

"We're seeing now more sets of three, four, five wide receiver sets. So, we're seeing more wide receivers that have that time on task that they can step in right away and play right away … now you see guys hit the ground running," Hunt said.

"And on the other side of the ball, you have the byproduct of the offense … you're getting more corners and safeties that can get out there and cover. So, the depth there is evident … because guys are throwing the ball a lot more in college, you're getting guys that can get to the quarterback … It's deep across the board."

Specifically at wide receiver, Hunt said that he gave about five prospects high-end grades. That included Makai Lemon out of USC, who he has as the top slot wide receiver, Jordyn Tyson out of Arizona State as his No. 1 X receiver, former Ohio Stater Carnell Tate as the top Z receiver and Washington's Denzel Boston as his No. 1 inside receiver.

Chris Brazzell II out of Tennessee adds more depth to that position group as well as former Georgi State Panther Ted Hurst. Hunt also said he considers Bryce Lance out of North Dakota State a good day two pick. Other wide receivers adding depth to the class are Zachariah Branch out of Georgia and Brenen Thompson out of Mississippi State.

‘Third or fourth round, you feel good’ | Jordan Reid, *ESPN*

For interior defensive linemen, Reid feels comfortable through round four in terms of depth. He said players in this class run deep enough that, even as rookies, they can handle a bulk of snaps.

"Names like Dontay Corleone at Cincinnati and even Dominique Orange at Ohio State," Reid said. "… Third or fourth round, you feel good about them. Even Darrell Jackson Jr. at Florida State, he can play nose or he can play 1-technique."

While Buffalo seeks a nose tackle, there's also enough defensive depth to analyze what the best fit for the team is by the time pick 26 comes around or other early round selections. Since the Bills' defensive scheme is changing, they don't necessarily have exact, specific needs they can be picky about. They still need to figure out what pieces they have and who on the team can play what in defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard's defense (not to mention free agents).

"This linebacker class is exceptional. I think there's a lot of depth in this year's class – and it's not just in the first round," Reid said.

‘A big collection of third-round guys’ | Daniel Jeremiah, *NFL Network*

For nose tackles and linebackers, Jeremiah doesn't have many graded high. That doesn't mean there isn't talent to pick from once it drops out of the first two rounds.

"Grade-wise, I have a lot of guys that fall more into the third-round group. A big collection of third-round guys," Jeremiah said. "I've valued, personally, those plugger types, those 325-pound guys … that's a third-round pick for me. There's a collection of those guys where maybe there's six of them."

Defensive tackles Rayshaun Benny out of Michigan and Dominique Orange out of Ohio State are part of that group, as Jeremiah named. The Bills' needs go as deep as these positions' classes go, which works out in their favor when it comes to day two of the draft.

‘You have a bunch of guys that are starter quality players’ | Bucky Brooks, *NFL Network*

Talent runs deep in the 2026 NFL Draft class, and Brooks agrees.

"You're actually going to end up getting a better player in terms of preparedness, ready to play," Brooks said of older guys in the draft due to extended eligibility in the NCAA. "When it comes to this draft … maybe you have 11 to 15 guys that are true first rounders, but you have a bunch of guys that are starter quality players. And now it's a matter of being able to identify the guys that fit perfectly with your scheme, so you can plug them in."

That's beneficial for Buffalo that has the 26^th overall pick in the first round. Second, third, and fourth round talent running deep means the Bills don't need to be aggressive from the jump. The players are there for them.

‘Every draft has its own identity’ | Dane Brugler, *The Athletic*

Brugler said that the theme of the 2026 NFL Draft, rather than get caught up emphasizing certain traits or upsides, is just drafting the good players. Specifically, the lack of a star-studded quarterback class could push other positions up the draft board.

"The first round, second round, it's going to be light on quarterback, light on running back … we're going to see plenty of offensive linemen drafted, plenty of wide receivers drafted, it's a pretty deep group of tight ends," Brugler said. "But for the most part, edge rushers, linebackers, corners – those guys are going to fly off the board. Every draft has its own identity, its own theme."

‘The quality of this class probably comes then in the depth of it’ | Matt Harmon, *Yahoo! Sports*

Harmon doesn't believe there's a true tier one level out of the wide receiver class, but that doesn't mean there isn't valuable talent.

"The quality of this class probably comes then in the depth of it, which it feel like … there's too many good receivers in the league. Some of these rooms are getting really crowded and younger guys are kind of getting pushed down," Harmon said. "So, it's a very interesting class in that regard."

It's more than a first round | Piecing together a 2026 NFL Draft strategy for the Bills

‘There’s more talent outside of round one’ | Emory Hunt, *CBS Sports*

The Bills have needs, but so do the other 31 teams in the NFL – many of which can argue they have similar needs to ones in Buffalo. One of those positions is edge rusher, which Brown noted could see prospects fly off the board, leaving the Bills nearly empty-handed in that room.

"Even if the Bills don't get a guy whom they see constantly over and over again in these mock drafts in round one, don't fret," Hunt said. "In day two, you can find yourself a [Howell] of Texas A&M – a guy that's just phenomenal in terms of getting to the quarterback."

Another early round option for the Bills is linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. out of LSU.

"He looked like the next coming of Micah Parsons," Hunt said of the former Tiger. "This past season, he played more of a star position in terms of a strong safety/linebacker hybrid. But he still can get after the quarterback."

Diving into day three, Hunt said a guy like Mason Reiger is an option. The former Wisconsin linebacker had 33 tackles, six tackles for loss, five sacks and one pass defensed in 2025. Akheem Mesidor was another name Hunt mentioned.

As for selecting a wide receiver at the best time, Hunt said the depth of that room gives Buffalo some breathing room.

"There's a bunch of receiver that I have good grades on that if you don't get one in round one, you'll be more than likely fine in round two," Hunt said.

‘There’s a lot of promise there’ | Jordan Reid, *ESPN*

Names are going to fly off the board that Buffalo has interest in for the first round. With that being said, due to the depth of nose tackles and linebackers, the Bills have other options.

"You hear the names, like Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles … We know those guys are going to be well gone off the board by the time the Bills pick," Reid said. "So, now you're getting into CJ Allen out of Georgia who's a run-and-hit, two-down guy that does need to get a little bit better in pass coverage. I think there's a lot of promise there. But as far as a run-stuffer, he's one of the better ones in this year's class."

Reid also said linebacker Jake Golday out of Cincinnati is a name to keep in mind by the time pick 26 comes around in the first round. He's an under-the-radar prospect who registered 105 tackles, six tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, three passes defensed and one forced fumble in 2025.

Anthony Hill out of Texas is another prospect that has first-round potential. Dipping into the second round, however, Reid named Josiah Trotter out of Missouri.

"Only 20 years old … that young centerpiece, like what we saw when they drafted Tremaine Edmunds a few years back … That's something that they liked about his draft profile," Reid said of Trotter. "I could see them having a lot of interest in [Trotter]."

‘Win contested balls’ | Daniel Jeremiah, *NFL Network*

Buffalo has big goals: a Super Bowl championship. That means whoever the Bills draft needs to perform well in front of a crowd in the postseason in some of the biggest games of their careers. That's a factor that needs consideration.

"You watch the playoff games and to me, you better be able to win in crowds. Yeah, you're the best receivers in the world. It's still hard to create separation when you get in the postseason and you're playing with the top defenses and top cover guys," Jeremiah said. "So, I need somebody who can win and can win contested balls."

That winner who might still be available at pick No. 26 is wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. out of Indiana. Denzel Boston's skill set is also note-worthy when discussing who potentially is still on the board in the first round.

‘The 25 picks before you, you don’t know’ | Bucky Brooks, *NFL Network*

Depth and player availability go hand-in-hand in the draft.

"You have to have kind of a wide net because you just don't know what's going to take place. The 25 picks before you, you don't know," Brooks said. "… So, you have a cluster of players that are going to be there, and what you don't want to do is lock yourself into a position. We're going to take the best player. So, if there's [an] inside linebacker or wide receiver or whatever: which is the better player?

"And then what is the depth in terms of supply and demand at those positions? So, if inside linebacker is thin, let's take this guy now. We can come back and get the wide receiver because there are more guys."

Adding another layer to this puzzle is free agency. Brooks said the Bills don't have to only assess the strength of positions in the draft, but also current free agents on the market. That helps determine what Buffalo attacks first come April.

"There's not much [of a] difference between the player you pick at 26 and the player you may pick at 70 in certain positions," Brooks said.

‘I like being at 26 more than I do 6’ | Field Yates, *ESPN*

Yates handed out about 18 to 20 first round grades to prospects, which he admitted is lenient compared to other draft analyzers. Still, he thinks Buffalo is in a prime spot.

That's because there aren't many blue-chip prospects to go around. Yates said at most there are five, but the number is closer to about three or four. That means the Bills will have quality players to choose from, but it will be narrowed down by position at that point and team needs rather than picking the obviously best player available next in line.

"I like being at 26 more than I do 6 this year," Yates said. "… I'd rather be where the Bills are than a team picking 18 or 20 spots ahead of them."