Bills Draft Picks 2026: Combine Standouts Push Buffalo’s Draft Board as New Coach Shapes Targets
The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis injected fresh data into conversations about Bills Draft Picks 2026. With 319 prospects invited and a new head coach in place, several top performers — especially wide receivers and athletic defenders — have emerged as clear fits for Buffalo's needs, even as final roster moves in free agency remain unresolved.
Bills Draft Picks 2026: Which combine performers match Buffalo’s priorities
Combine metrics and positional tape from Indianapolis highlight multiple names that line up with the Bills’ roster priorities. Edge defenders posted standout Relative Athletic Scores (RAS) and explosive testing, while several wide receivers underscored size, speed, and route versatility that attract attention when considering Bills Draft Picks 2026.
- Malachi Lawrence, EDGE (Central Florida) — RAS 9. 90; elite marks across the 40-yard dash, splits, broad jump and vertical; arm length listed at 33. 63 inches. His movement testing suggests a Day 2 rusher with developmental upside.
- Mason Reiger, EDGE (Wisconsin) — RAS 9. 53; tall, explosive profile with high-percentile marks in the 10-yard split, broad jump and vertical. Arm length listed at 32. 63 inches; a scheme fit note is his connection to the same collegiate environment as Buffalo’s new defensive play-caller, though their tenures did not overlap.
- Bryce Lance, WR (North Dakota State) — RAS 9. 95; top-percentile 40/20/10 times and jumps, plus above-average agility numbers in shuttle and three-cone for his size. Two seasons of 1, 000-yard receiving production were noted for the player during the previous two years.
- Bernard, WR — posted 80th-percentile or better marks in the 40, 10-yard split, broad jump and three-cone; described as a high-floor prospect with a full route tree and inside/outside versatility, projected around early Day 2 selection territory.
Wide receiver prospects weighing in on Buffalo and the Bills Draft Picks 2026 conversation
Multiple wide receiver prospects at the combine spoke about their interest in Buffalo and how their skill sets would match the team’s offensive profile. Washington’s Denzel Boston surfaced repeatedly in mock drafts as a frequent choice for Buffalo’s pick at No. 26, with a notable cluster of mock selections identifying him for the team. Boston’s testing and production — including 62 receptions for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns in the most recent season and a career total of 20 touchdowns in 43 games — underline why he is frequently linked to the Bills.
Tennessee’s Chris Brazzell also entered the discussion as a size-speed option. Listed at 6'5", 200 pounds, Brazzell led the SEC in receiving yards in the most recent season with 1, 017 and compiled 91 receptions for 1, 350 yards and 11 touchdowns across two seasons. Evaluators noted his ability to play both inside and outside, blending size with the speed to be a big-play threat.
Implications and what’s next for Buffalo’s draft approach
These combine results create clearer paths for how Buffalo might prioritize picks: athletic edge rushers with high RAS scores and big, versatile receivers who demonstrated production and advanced testing. The team’s ultimate decisions on Bills Draft Picks 2026 will hinge on how free agency reshapes immediate needs and how Buffalo’s new coaching staff chooses to deploy draft capital during the weekend of the draft.
Recent combine testing offers a refined list of targets, but the picture is still developing as front offices integrate interviews, medicals and pro day follow-ups. The players highlighted at Indianapolis provide a snapshot of the athletic archetypes Buffalo is likely tracking as the franchise prepares for the draft.