Buffalo Bills fans frustrated by the team’s tendency to prioritize defence at draft time better brace themselves – it’s likely to happen again.
The difference this time is it’s more circumstantial than philosophical.
For years the Bills have been criticized for failing to invest enough draft capital in finding playmakers to help star quarterback Josh Allen to maximize his gifts.
And there’s ample evidence to support that notion, beginning with the fact the Bills have only selected a receiver (Keon Coleman in 2024) in the top three rounds of the draft once since Allen arrived in 2018. In fact, no team has spent less draft capital on offence since 2020 than Buffalo, according to Sharp Football Analysis.
That was highlighted by the 2025 draft in which the Bills spent their first five picks, and six of their first seven, on defence.
That’s why there is a popular notion that Bills general manager Brandon Beane relies too heavily on Allen’s ability to power the offence, thus allowing him to prioritize defensive talent at the draft – a narrative to which he has, at times, taken great offence.
Whether it’s true or not, what matters is that the Bills defence hasn’t been good enough, especially during the times they needed to be. That issue has been highlighted by a consistently weak ability to get to the quarterback, despite signing such proven veteran pass rushers as Von Miller and Joey Bosa.
And as anyone who has watched the past two Super Bowls knows, the ability to get to the quarterback is often what separates good teams at playoff time.
All of this helps explain why defensive-minded head coach Sean McDermott is no longer around and why the team’s new defensive co-ordinator, Jim Leonhard, is ushering in a whole new scheme in his wake.
The Bills ran a 4-3 defence under McDermott that rarely played three linebackers, utilizing corner Taron Johnson exclusively in the slot so that their base defence in most situations had just two linebackers on the field at a time.
The Bills’ new 3-4 scheme will require different kinds of players for different kinds of roles, which is why the Bills have parted ways with 11 players who played meaningful roles on their defence last season, according to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic.
Both by numbers and specific needs, the Bills are going to have to invest in their defence at the draft because that’s where the reconstruction is taking place this off-season.
Offensively, there isn’t a lot of room to usher in much change right now.
The Bills are set at running back with NFL rushing champion James Cook signed long-term and two manageable contracts for productive players behind him. The offensive line sees just one change from a year ago (starting LG David Edwards signed with the Saints) and there is plenty of depth to fill it.
There are three returning tight tends. And in trading a second-round pick to Chicago for receiver D.J. Moore, the Bills have already addressed their greatest need on the offensive side of the ball – acquiring a receiver with the potential to be a legit No. 1 target for Allen.
Fortunately for Buffalo, this appears to be a draft that’s relatively deep at the edge rusher and defensive line positions, where the Bills have the most work to do. The challenge will be doing it with just one pick in the first 90, the 26th overall.
There’s a decent chance Beane opts to trade out of the first round to a team hungry to secure a particular player, giving him a little more capital to spend, hopefully earlier than later in the draft.
The Bills need to land some key pieces for Leonhard’s new defence, players who can contribute right away because Buffalo’s Super Bowl window remains wide open and Allen is about to turn 30.
The pressure is one Beane to deliver them on time.
