Getty

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 28: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills warms up prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Highmark Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

The Buffalo Bills have shifted their focus to the NFL offseason, and they’ll be able to start making major moves beginning in March.

Buffalo needs to sign a few free agents to address roster gaps before shifting its focus to the NFL Draft, where it can target standout players.

Bills Urged to Trade Up in NFL Draft

The Bills need to be aggressive during the NFL Draft, and Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport believes they should consider trading up in the first round.

Buffalo currently has the No. 26 pick, and Davenport believes it should consider trading up to secure a top wide receiver.

“There may not be a general manager under more pressure to nail the 2026 draft than Brandon Beane of the Buffalo Bills,” Davenport wrote on Thursday. “When the Bills fired head coach Sean McDermott, it sent a clear message: close won’t cut it anymore. Anything less than a trip to the Super Bowl isn’t going to cut it. And while the Bills have multiple needs just like any other NFL team (edge-rusher and the offensive line among them), one stands above all others. The Bills need a No. 1 wide receiver.”

The Bills have faced some challenges in the first round of the NFL Draft over the past few years, starting in 2022. They selected cornerback Kaiir Elam that year, but he didn’t quite make the impact they hoped for, leading the team to part ways with him last offseason.

In the 2023 draft, Buffalo selected tight end Dalton Kincaid and cornerback Maxwell Hairston in 2025. Kincaid has performed well, showing promise on the field, while Hairston had a limited role in his rookie season due to an injury he suffered during training camp.

The Bills need to make a big splash in the first round, and bringing in an elite wide receiver for Josh Allen could be the key to propelling Buffalo to the Super Bowl.

Buffalo Could Target a Few WRs

Davenport thinks the Bills should part ways with a few Day 2 picks to get up in the first round to draft a receiver.

“Buffalo’s need at the position is so great, in fact, that Beane should give serious thought to leveraging a Day 2 pick to draft an even higher-ranked prospect at the position,” Davenport added.

Buffalo may not have the chance to move up the board to draft Ohio State’s star wide receiver, Carnell Tate, but it might be in a position to snag USC’s wide receiver, Makai Lemon.

“Ohio State’s Carnell Tate may be too pricey, but it’s possible 2025 Biletnikoff Award winner Makai Lemon, who may be the most NFL-ready receiver in the class, could be in play,” Davenport wrote. “The Bills need a pass-catcher who is ready to contribute now.”

If the Bills don’t make a significant move during the first round of the draft, they might face a serious setback that could hinder their chances of reaching the Super Bowl. In fact, they could miss the playoffs altogether, which would be even worse.

Buffalo already dropped the AFC East title to the Patriots this past season, and it can’t afford to let New England pull ahead even further.

Danny Fisher Is a football journalist covering the Buffalo Bills for Heavy.com. He has covered the NFL for Gridiron Heroics, focusing on the AFC and Penn State football for Nittany Central. More about Danny Fisher

More Heavy on Bills

Loading more stories