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2026 NFL Draft: Listing trade-up scenarios for the Buffalo Bills
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- 2026 NFL Draft: Listing trade-up scenarios for the Buffalo Bills
The NFL Draft is almost here, and the Bills will look to improve their roster.
With 7 picks, Buffalo has their work cut out as GM Brandon Beane and company will look to turn their selections into impact players. Will some trades help them do just that?
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The team has the 26th overall pick in the 1st Round, No. 91 in Round 3, No. 126 in Round 4 via a previous trade, No. 165 via CHI, and No. 168 in Round 5, No. 182 via LV in Round 6, and No. 220 via the Jets in Round 7.
Beane hasn't been shy about moving up the board to secure a player they like and has done so often in his tenure. He may do so again this year, as he looks to add the pieces for a playoff run.
With that, here are teams that could provide early-round trade-up scenarios for the Buffalo Bills.
Bird Gang at No. 3 overall
Arizona Cardinals receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. tries to catch the ball as Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold deflects it away at State Farm Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona.
This would cost a lot. But Brandon Beane did go on record saying he would be aggressive this offseason. He did a good job in free agency, so might we see that aggressive move in the draft?
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With the drop off from the blue-chip prospects at the top of the draft, and some of the elite talent in that early crop of players, it's not outside the realm of possibility.
Given the Bills have been in on elite pass rushers and catchers in trade talks the past few seasons, it's not that crazy to imagine them doing so for a talent that would cost an asset haul but only a fraction of the cap hit that one of those veteran trade targets would.
Titan Up at No. 4 overall
General Manager of the Tennessee Titans Mike Borgonzi walks out of the tunnel before an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
If one of the top defenders is off the board for newly hired Tennessee head coach Robert Salah, might the Titans trade down? If so, how far? For Buffalo, the trade-up would have to be worth the haul as well.
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If the Bills could go up and get the type of elite player on either side of the ball that other teams have to gameplan for, a trait which Beane has notably mentioned in the past, they might seek a deal.
That being said, the logic would be similar to that with the No. 3 pick. The Titans might benefit from the move, too, by adding more picks to a team that's still building.
Big Blue at No. 5 and No. 10 overall
New Giants Head Coach John Harbaugh holds up a New York Giants helmet during a press conference welcoming Harbaugh at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2025.
The Giants figure to be one of the teams taking a top talent at the fifth spot in the draft, though there's always the possibility they could move back if the players they want are off the board.
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That might be a higher possibility at 10, as a defensive star makes sense for them with their first pick versus top RB Jeremiyah Love or a top receiver with their second selection.
With Love being a fit for Washington, who is slotted right in between the G-Men's two first-round picks, the second selection might especially be a pick that the Football Giants of New Jersey might listen to offers on.
Dawg Pound at No. 6 overall
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JANUARY 04: Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates after breaking the NFL single-season sack record during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
The Browns may be looking to add some draft capital to add talent to round out their roster, as cap-friendly rookie deals are more conducive to where they are roster and payroll-wise.
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It may be just as likely that they pick here, but if Buffalo sees the right player and makes the right offer, their neighbors to the southwest might strike up a deal.
Who Dat at No. 8 overall
Nov 9, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (12) on the field before the game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
NOLA has position needs similar to some of Buffalo's, and with DE Rueben Bain Jr. or wide receivers Carnell Tate or Jordyn Tyson potentially still on the board, they could select one.
Then again, if talent like that is on the board, Buffalo might pick up the phone to make an offer.
The Fish at No. 11 and 30 overall
Miami appeared to be reluctant to do business at the trade deadline with its division rival. And now the Bills signed away their linebacker.
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That being said, they are a franchise and roster in transition as they seek to rebuild, and to that end, could benefit from adding more picks so they can bundle and move up their earlier round selections to begin replacing the holes at key positions... Or they might draft QB Ty Simpson if he's available.
If there is a difference-maker the Bills want who is still on the board, and if the Dolphins believe their best interest is to move back, there might be a conversation worth having about the No. 11 overall selection.
Detroit Rock City at No. 17 overall
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell shakes hands with center Frank Ragnow (77) warm up before the game between Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024.
If the Bills do make a big jump up the board, this one could make the most sense for both teams. There is likely to be a run of blue-chip prospect selections in and around the top 10 of the NFL Draft, followed by a run on offensive linemen after that due to the talent dropoff at the position beyond the top prospects.
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That may put a player in range that the Bills like, who might slide in this range; Detroit could be a trade partner. They are also one spot ahead of the Minnesota Vikings, who might take elite safety prospect and potential Bills target Dillon Thieneman, out of Oregon.
Bolts at No. 22 overall
May 7, 2025; El Segundo CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh during press conference at The Bolt. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Sometimes Beane gets a little antsy and jumps ahead a few spots to secure a player the draft room wants to pick.
If that's the case this time around, a team to watch for a swap to make a short hop would be the Chargers, who are tied with the Falcons for the second-fewest picks in the draft (5).
Dirty Birds at No. 48 overall
Dec 11, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford (20) celebrates with safety Jessie Bates III (3) and cornerback Cobee Bryant (37) after intercepting a pass intended for Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (not pictured) during the fourth quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
The Falcons also don't have a first-round pick and are trying to make improvements after some organizational and roster personnel changes. They are also tied with the aforementioned for the least amount of picks in the draft and could use some more selections to improve their roster.
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They are also one of the teams with the least amount of picks in 2027, so the Bills may be an ideal trade partner.
Since the Bills gave up their second-rounder in the D.J. Moore trade, and the Falcons are perched at the 16th selection in Round 2, the two clubs could make for good trade partners to get Buffalo another pick in the top 100 to address a key positional need.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Listing trade-up scenarios for the Buffalo Bills
