This one is for the nerds.
There are so many things that could happen between now and the 2026 NFL Draft.
Josh Allen could win MVP again
The Bills could win the Super Bowl.
Little green men could quit the simulation and say, “Ha! Just Kidding!”
Honestly, there is a whole season to play, other teams cutting players (cough, cough, Gabe Davis), there are contract extensions to navigate, free agents to sign, and another year of college production to assess.
It is wayyyy to early to be doing a mock draft.
But I did one anyway on NFlmockdraftdatabase.com, and here’s how it turned out. It definitely gave me some intriguing players to watch for in college games this season.
Round 1- LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
This upcoming year will likely mark the departure of Matt Milano, the longtime starter and gem 5th round draft pick. While we have some next man up possibilities, including Dorian Williams, who led the team in tackles last year, the Bills simultaneously showed that (1) they didn’t want to commit to Matt long term and need him to take a pay cut, and (2) he was far and away their preferred starter over Dorian or any of the other options on the Roster.
If Sonny Styles makes it all the way to the end of round 1, we need to do our best imitation of Sonny’s HS 40-yard dash and sprint to the podium in 4.48 seconds.
He’s somewhere between 6’4 and 6’5, 235 lbs, has versatility splitting his playing time between true strong safety and down in the box. Marvin Harrison Jr., after he was drafted, said, “Sonny is the next one.”
His father, Lorenzo Styles, played a 6-year NFL career with the Rams, and his brother plays with him now on the Buckeyes.
Sonny started as a true freshman at only 17 years old for the Buckeyes.
He’s like Tremaine Edmunds, if Tremaine Edmunds had known how to stand in the right spot on the field.
The Bills get a stud who would immediately start next to Terrel Bernard.
Round 2 – WR Denzel Boston, Washington
When your player comps are both Keon Coleman and George Pickens, you get a permanent position on the Bills’ radar. At 6’4, 204 lbs, Boston is your power forward on the boundary.
Boston has played one season as the leading WR at Washington, where he logged a season good for 8th best in team history, with 63 catches for 807 yards and 9 TDs. His QB rating when targeted was 101.2. He shines in the Red Zone and in the intermediate portion of the field, that 15-20 yard range.
But the biggest thing that stood out to me? His blocking. He is not only willing but also displays technical proficiency in the way he attacks his blocks while supporting the run game.
We all know how Brandon Beane feels about Tall football players who can block. I know we already have Keon Coleman, but that didn’t stop us from rostering Mack Hollins, too.
While WR is not a huge need in 2025, expect Brandon to refill the cupboards and continue to give Josh Allen players to work with in his prime years.
Round 3 – IOL Ar’maj Reed-Adams, Texas A+M
The Bills are likely to have trouble paying their guys in the Offensive line next year. Both Conor McGovern and David Edwards will be playing in 2025 on expiring contracts and the Bills will likely only be able to afford to pay one of them, with an extension of O’Cyrus Torrence waiting in the wings.
Speaking of O’Cyrus Torrence, he was the main comp for Ar’maj. Coming in at 6’5, 330 lbs after cutting a bunch of bad weight from high school, Reed-Adams is an athletic smasher on the offensive line. He played multiple positions across the line throughout his college career, giving him the versatility that Buffalo places a prime value on.
Aaron Kromer gets another developmental stud he can mold into yet another dominant lineman.
The Rest of the Draft
Here’s where it gets a little murky, where it is way too early to have scouting information on likely day 3 picks. Instead, we’ll fill out the draft board by selecting players based on the likely Bills’ need and not much else.
Round 4 – CB Antonio Kite, Auburn
The Bills just drafted 3 CBs, how can that be a need? Well, with Tre’Davious White and Dane Jackson on one-year deals going into 2025, and likely to only keep 6 outside corners, the Bills may want to keep adding young developmental talent into their DB room in 2026.
Round 5 -RB Jaheim White, West Virginia
I am projecting James Cook being allowed to successfully test free agency in 2026. As Beane said, when you have success as a football team and you have to pay Josh Allen, you have to sacrifice at other positions, and a top-five contract to James Cook just doesn’t align with that philosophy. Instead, the Bills add a developmental backup behind Ray Davis, and it wouldn’t hurt to add a low-cost veteran in free agency.
Round 6 – S Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa
Round 7 – CB Cormani McClain, Colorado
Two more additions to the DB room, with Darrick Forrest on a 1 year deal in 2025, I really think he’s the likeliest candidate for an extension, but until that happens, the Bills keep the cupboard well stocked with young talent who can also support the 3rd phase of the game in special teams.