Fernando Schmude goes no-holds barred for 1st 2026 Bills mock draft ...Middle East

The 2026 NFL Draft is quickly approaching, Bills Mafia. President of football operations/general manager Brandon Beane will have another opportunity to add talent to Buffalo’s 2026 roster, this time trying to help new head coach Joe Brady and new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard build a new identity in Orchard Park, NY.

For this exercise, I used the Stick to the Model tool to put myself in Beane’s shoes and bring some talent to the squad in several positions where the team may count on them becoming huge contributors early on, and even starters from the get-go. I climbed and slid through five separate trades to maximize value, and I walked away with an A- grade (based on pick value and team needs). Starting from Buffalo’s original 26th-overall slot, I swapped picks with the Las Vegas Raiders, New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, and others — netting premium Day 2 capital while preserving future assets.

The current draft class is tailor-made for Brady’s vision, and for Leonhard’s (predicted) aggressive 3-4 scheme. Every pick directly addresses a roster need without sacrificing the “Best Player Available” mindset, while fitting the new defensive philosophy that emphasizes length, athleticism, and gap discipline up front.

Without further ado, here’s my first Bills’ seven-round 2026 NFL Mock Draft.

Round 1, pick 26: Trade!

Las Vegas sends picks 2.36, 3.67, and 5.134 for Buffalo’s 1.26 and 4.126

With several options of similar value on the board, and missing the second-round pick traded for wide receiver DJ Moore, Beane trades down with the Raiders, securing an extra third, and moving down from late in the first to early in the second, and from late in the fourth to early in the fifth.

Round 2, pick 36: Trade Down

New Orleans sends picks 2.42 and 3.73 for Buffalo’s 2.36

No exclamation mark on the trade alert anymore, since, as fans, you’re probably mad at me at this point. I get you, it’s not sexy to wait that long for your team’s first pick, but the Saints called offering an extra third to move up six spots, and with the value on my board still very similar, it was a no-brainer.

Round 2, pick 42: Malachi Lawrence, EDGE (UCF)

Here it is, my first addition to Leonhard’s new defense. Malachi Lawrence is a fast-rising edge prospect among this year’s draft scene, projected as a high-upside early second-round pick. His combination of elite athletic testing and a refined pass-rush arsenal makes him a premier fit for Buffalo’s transition to an attacking 3-4 defense.

Lawrence recorded a 1.59-second 10-yard split (89th percentile) and a 40” vertical jump, demonstrating the elite “get-off” needed to win the outside shoulder of NFL tackles. Unlike many “traits-only” prospects, he possesses a deep “bag” of moves, including a signature cross-chop, speed-to-power, and active hand usage that allows for frequent secondary rush wins. He finished his UCF career 10th on the school’s all-time list with 20.0 sacks, including a 2025 season where he earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors.

At 6’4″ and 253 pounds, Lawrence is a prototypical stand-up outside linebacker. He has already met with the Bills and is viewed as an ideal rotational piece who can eventually push for a starting role in this new alignment. Leonhard intends to prioritize an “attacking defense” that speeds up quarterbacks. Lawrence’s 19.2% pass-rush win rate (via Pro Football Focus/PFF) is among the best in the 2026 class, suggesting he can immediately contribute as a sub-package specialist, complementing Bradley Chubb, Greg Rousseau, and Michael Hoecht in the room.

Round 2, pick 56 — Trade Up and draft Chris Bell, WR (Louisville)

Buffalo sends picks 3.67 and 5.134 for Jacksonville’s 2.56

With Chris Bell falling in Round 2, it’s time to take a calculated risk and move up for him — and the assets acquired in the previous two trades allow me to do so. At this point, he’s the best player on my board, and there’s space for more competition for playing time.

Originally a fringe first-round prospect, a late-season ACL tear suffered in November 2025 has created a “buying opportunity” for teams willing to wait on his medical recovery. For the Bills, Bell represents the prototypical big-bodied “X” receiver they have lacked to complement Josh Allen’s elite arm strength. His rare combination of size (6’2″, 222 pounds) and speed (was projected to run a 4.40–4.44 40-yard dash at the 2026 Combine) has had scouts often compare him to A.J. Brown due to his “bully” mentality at the catch point and elite yards-after-catch ability. I can see some Eric Moulds in his game.

Before his injury, Bell was a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist in 2025, recording 72 receptions for 917 yards and six touchdowns in just 11 games. Bell is the kind of player who, when healthy, has the potential to become a true WR1, allowing DJ Moore to slide to a more suitable WR2 role as he ages.

Round 3, pick 73: Domonique Orange, DT (Iowa State)

Make #95 great again! No one better than “Big Citrus” to replace a Bills legend and become a new fan favorite, wearing the same jersey. Having accumulated mid-round picks from the Jacksonville deal allowed the Bills to land Orange without sacrificing future capital.

Orange is a premier value pick for the early third round. The 6’4″, 325-pound defender is the quintessential zero-technique nose tackle. While his box score stats are modest, his value as a space-eater makes him a foundational piece for Buffalo’s transition to a 3-4 defense under Leonhard, even though he doesn’t necessarily need a true zero-technique to run his fronts.

Orange provides a high floor as a day one run-stuffer, offering unrivaled play strength — he boasts elite weight room numbers, including a 650-pound squat and 450-pound bench press, which translate to an immovable anchor against NFL-caliber double teams. Despite his massive frame, Orange made the 2025 Feldman Freaks List thanks to a shocking 34” vertical jump, highlighting the lower-body explosiveness needed to reset the line of scrimmage.

In 50 career games at Iowa State, Orange proved to be a force multiplier, consistently commanding double teams that freed up linebackers to flow to the ball (music to Terrel Bernard’s ears). While he had only 1.0 career sack, Orange recorded 13 pressures in 2025 — ranking third on his team — showing he can collapse the pocket even when not designated as a primary rusher. With 33 5/8″ arms and 10 1/4″ hands, he can lock out blockers and maintain gap integrity, making everybody around him better.

Round 3, pick 91: Trade Down

Los Angeles Rams send picks 3.93 and 7.207 for Buffalo’s 3.91

Moving down two spots to add a seventh made sense to me here.

Round 3, pick 93: Bud Clark, S (TCU)

A highly productive four-year starter and three-time team captain, Clark is one of the premier ballhawks in this class, offering elite ball skills and alignment versatility that could see him contribute immediately in sub-packages and eventually become Cole Bishop’s long-term partner. His draft stock sits in the late Day 2 to early Day 3 range primarily due to a slender frame and age (24-year-old rookie), allowing the Bills to snag an elite playmaker at a discount.

Clark finished his TCU career with 15 interceptions and 21 pass breakups over 61 games. At the 2026 NFL Combine, Clark posted an impressive 4.41-second 40-yard dash and a 38” vertical jump, confirming the range seen on tape. He allowed a meager 59.9 passer rating when targeted over his final two seasons, earning a massive 90.1 PFF coverage grade in 2024.

Leonhard values safeties who can “wear different hats.” Clark has over 500 career snaps each at free safety, box safety, and slot corner, making him a perfect “chess piece” for Leonhard’s modular system.

Round 5, pick 134: Trade Up/draft Harold Perkins Jr., LB (LSU)

Buffalo sends picks 6.165 and 6.168 for Jacksonville’s 5.134

Buffalo still had to select a promising linebacker capable of, at minimum, offering some potential and athletic ability behind Terrel Bernard (whose health is a big question mark going forward). Enter Harold Perkins Jr., via LSU. After the last pick, the Bills sat out of the entire fourth round, but called up Jacksonville again to strike on another trade, moving up from early in the sixth to early in the fifth instead, and securing Harold Perkins Jr. there.

The LSU product’s stock settled into the Day 3 (Round 4–5) range due to an undersized frame (6-0 5/8”, 220 pounds) and a 2024 ACL injury. Despite these concerns, he remains an elite “boom-or-bust” value pick because of his rare athletic traits and proven ability to create havoc in the backfield.

Landing the former five-star recruit and freshman All-American in the fifth round is exceptional value here, based on untapped ceiling, athletic testing, and impressive college production. At his 2026 Pro Day, Perkins clocked a blazing 4.38-second 40-yard dash, proving his explosive speed returned after his 2024 knee injury. He’s also one of the few players in college history with 30-plus tackles for loss (35.5) and 5-plus interceptions (5), showcasing a rare “defensive weapon” profile. With over 600 snaps at EDGE, off-ball linebacker, and slot defender, Perkins offers multiple paths to the field that most fifth-round picks lack.

While Perkins may struggle as a full-time 3-4 interior linebacker due to his smaller frame, Leonhard’s “concept-based” defense can hide the incoming rookie’s size by using him as a roving “joker” in passing downs. Leonhard’s history at Wisconsin suggests a heavy use of a “Star” or “Big Nickel” defender. Perkins played this exact role at LSU in 2025, specializing in blitzing from the slot and range in space. His best trait is his pass-rush productivity, posting a 90.9 PFF pass-rush grade at his peak, making him an ideal situational blitzer in an aggressive scheme.

Round 7, pick 207: Jadon Canady, CB (Oregon)

After trading up using the pair of sixth-round picks, Buffalo’s last two are in the seventh. With that, one of them was used to select Jadon Canady from Oregon. He’s a potential steal this late in this draft. While his smaller frame (5’10”, 181 pounds) and past injury history have pushed him down draft boards, his elite coverage efficiency and positional flexibility make him a high-floor prospect who can contribute immediately on special teams while developing into a specialized defensive role.

Despite his draft projection, Canady was the 10th highest-graded cornerback in the country by PFF College in 2025, finishing the season with an 85.3 overall defensive grade. Across 50 career games, he recorded 154 tackles, four interceptions, and 23 passes defended, showing a consistent ability to find the football across stops at Tulane, Ole Miss, and Oregon. Also, evaluators often describe Canady as a “make-it guy” — a player whose “jitterbug” energy and relentless competitive drive make him an ideal candidate for gunner roles on special teams.

Canady’s ability to transition seamlessly between boundary corner, slot, and safety across three different high-level collegiate programs demonstrates the mental processing Leonhard values. He might be a nickel candidate/special teamer early on, but don’t write him off in other roles.

Round 7, pick 220: Jaeden Roberts, G (Alabama)

Closing out this draft class with one last selection late in Round 7, the Bills add Jaeden Roberts, the big guard from Alabama. He is a massive, powerhouse interior lineman who represents a diamond in the rough in the late seventh. While his lack of elite lateral agility and “lumbering” frame (6’5″, 316 pounds) have pushed him down draft boards, his raw displacement power makes him a high-value developmental prospect for a team that prioritizes a physical run game.

Roberts is a base-block specialist. In 2024 and 2025, he was statistically one of the most efficient gap-scheme blockers in the SEC, consistently moving 300-pound defensive tackles off their spots. He played over 1,200 snaps at right guard for the Crimson Tide against elite interior talent, providing a level of “battle-tested” experience rarely found at the end of Day 3. Even if he never becomes a full-time starter, his 34” arms and massive wingspan make him an ideal “heavy” guard for goal-line and short-yardage packages.

Roberts’ best trait is his run blocking, which creates the massive lanes Josh Allen and James Cook need to reach the second level. He also provides a stout anchor in the passing game, though. His anchor strength is elite; he rarely gets pushed back into the quarterback’s lap by bull-rushers.

Roberts fits the mold of a power-first backup (like Alec Anderson initially was) who aligns with the team’s identity of being a physical, blue-collar unit. He can play the sixth offensive lineman role on heavier packages as he develops as a guard prospect.

Final Thoughts

Overall Grade by Stick to the model’s tool: A-. Scheme-Perfect and Need-Complete.

The Bills entered the 2026 draft needing edge rusher depth, interior run defense help, linebacker athleticism, secondary play makers, and offensive weapons — every box checked while perfectly aligning with Jim Leonhard’s 3-4 front and attacking style. The five trades preserved future picks and delivered high-floor, high-ceiling talent, with four picks in the top 100, maximizing the talent acquired.

Lawrence and Orange give the front seven much-needed reinforcements; Perkins and Clark add the athleticism and coverage the scheme craves; Bell and Roberts bolster Allen’s supporting cast; Canady rounds out the depth. This is exactly the kind of draft that positions Buffalo for sustained contention in the new coaching era.

All the trades were made respecting the tool and the general draft chart’s values. No trades were forced. I expect Beane to work hard to maximize value in this draft and, as opportunities appeared, I didn’t hesitate. I expect the same from him. What are your thoughts, fellow Rumblers? Let me know what you think about this one!

Catch up on all this and more with the latest edition of Leading the Charge!

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