Bills Target 3 Red-Hot Players for 26th Pick

With the draft approaching, here are the top prospects the Bills should target in the first round.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The Buffalo Bills are set to make their first-round selection at pick No. 26 in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. As they prepare, experts have highlighted three top prospects the team should target - Missouri EDGE Zion Young, Cincinnati LB Jake Golday, and Clemson DT Peter Woods. The Bills have needs at pass rusher, linebacker, and interior defensive line that these players could help address.

Why it matters

The Bills are coming off a strong 2025 season but have some key free agent losses looming, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Finding the right players at these positions of need in the draft will be crucial for the Bills to maintain their status as a top contender in the AFC.

The details

Missouri's Zion Young is a 6'6", 262-pound pass rusher who had 6.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss in his senior season. He could fill the void left by the expected departures of Joey Bosa and A.J. Epenesa. Cincinnati's Jake Golday is a 6'4", 240-pound linebacker who had 105 tackles, 6 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks in 2025. He could help shore up the Bills' linebacker corps. Clemson's Peter Woods is a powerful 3-technique defensive tackle who had 30 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, and 2 sacks last season. He could improve the Bills' interior pass rush and run defense.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft will take place on April 23-25.
  • The NFL Scouting Combine is currently underway in Indianapolis.

The players

Zion Young

A 6'6", 262-pound EDGE rusher from the University of Missouri who had a dominant senior season with 6.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss.

Jake Golday

A 6'4", 240-pound linebacker from the University of Cincinnati who recorded 105 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks in 2025.

Peter Woods

A powerful 3-technique defensive tackle from Clemson University who had 30 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks last season.

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What they’re saying

“Woods is a polarizing evaluation for scouts—he's an explosive, twitchy, powerful defensive tackle with natural disruption skills. But there's a worry about his shorter frame/arms, and his skill set did not often lead to production [only five sacks in three college seasons].”

— Field Yates, ESPN Analyst (ESPN)

“Golday could be a nice fit for the Bills, particularly in run support, where they allowed their opponents to gain the third-highest yards per carry average (5.1) in 2025.”

— Justin Melo, Draft Analyst (The Draft Network)

What’s next

The Bills will have the opportunity to evaluate these prospects further at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis before making their selection at pick No. 26 on April 23.

The takeaway

The Bills have clear needs to address on defense, and these three prospects - Zion Young, Jake Golday, and Peter Woods - represent high-upside options that could help the team maintain its status as a top contender in the AFC.