NFL Analyst Advises Bills to Trade Back in NFL Draft

ESPN's Ben Solak says the Bills should look to move back from No. 26 overall to address depth needs across the roster.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 12:00pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting in shades of blue, red, and white, capturing the complex decisions facing the Buffalo Bills as they navigate the upcoming NFL Draft.The Bills' draft strategy is deconstructed into a cubist masterpiece, reflecting the team's need to approach the 2026 NFL Draft creatively.Buffalo Today

The Buffalo Bills face a tricky situation heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, as they don't have a second-round pick after trading it to acquire wide receiver D.J. Moore. ESPN analyst Ben Solak believes the Bills should look to trade back from their first-round selection at No. 26 overall in order to address depth needs at linebacker, cornerback, and wide receiver.

Why it matters

The Bills are undergoing significant changes this offseason, including a new head coach in Joe Brady and a shift to a 3-4 defensive scheme under new coordinator Jim Leonhard. With holes to fill across the roster, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, the Bills could benefit from trading back in the draft to acquire more picks and address their depth needs.

The details

With the Bills' first pick not coming until No. 91 overall, Solak believes the team should look to trade back from No. 26 to acquire additional selections. The Bills have needs at linebacker, cornerback, and wide receiver that they'll need to address through the draft, and trading back could allow them to add more talent across the board.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 24-26.

The players

Ben Solak

An ESPN NFL analyst who has advised the Buffalo Bills to trade back in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Joe Brady

The new head coach of the Buffalo Bills, who was promoted from within the organization after the team parted ways with Sean McDermott.

Jim Leonhard

The new defensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills, who will be implementing a 3-4 defensive scheme after the team previously ran a 4-3 under McDermott.

D.J. Moore

The wide receiver the Bills acquired in a trade with the Chicago Bears, giving up their second-round pick in the process.

Greg Rousseau

A Bills defensive lineman who is transitioning to outside linebacker as the team shifts to a 3-4 defense.

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What they’re saying

“The bottom line: Have to move back. There are depth needs everywhere, but the biggest ones are at linebacker, cornerback and wide receiver.”

— Ben Solak, ESPN NFL Analyst

What’s next

The Bills will look to address their roster needs through the 2026 NFL Draft, which begins on April 24.

The takeaway

The Bills face a challenging offseason as they look to rebuild their roster and transition to a new coaching staff and defensive scheme. Trading back in the draft could allow them to add more depth across the board, particularly at key positions of need like linebacker, cornerback, and wide receiver.