Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
No one does heartbreak like the Buffalo Bills. I’ll spare you a rehash of the four consecutive Super Bowl losses. If the name Scott Norwood isn’t familiar, go watch the 30 for 30 doc “The Four Falls of Buffalo.” It’s excellent.
More recently, Josh Allen and Sean McDermott returned the franchise to contention, only to pile more heartbreak on the pitiable people of Buffalo. Every year, this team finds a new way to blow it: Porous defense surrendering a lead in the final 13 seconds at KC, the offense going cold at home, the refs making bad calls and questionable spots, and, of course, kickers missing kicks.
And whatever that was last year when Brandin Cooks seemingly made a catch in the divisional round in Denver that would have positioned the Bills for a game-winning field goal in overtime, only to lose possession of the ball and have it ruled an interception. (That was followed by a questionable pass interference call that aided the Broncos). Who are we kidding, though, even if Cooks had caught it — and I’m not totally certain it wasn’t a catch — they’d probably miss the field goal anyway.
To top it off, Bo Nix got hurt on Denver’s final drive, clearing the way for New England, of all teams, to reach the Super Bowl.
What this franchise truly needs is better karma. Since that’s not on the draft board, let’s look at the team needs we can fill.
Following last season’s disastrous end — and as they move into a new stadium — it’s a huge year for the Bills. You can feel this era of success starting to slip away. Allen turns 30 next month, going into his 9th season, and the team has yet to even reach the Super Bowl with him.
The urgency the front office feels is clear from the offseason decisions. They finally moved on from McDermott, replacing him with OC Joe Brady, signed edge Bradley Chubb, and made Christmas come early for the Bears by trading a 2nd-round pick for declining D.J. Moore and his bloated contract.
One area left largely unaddressed was their most glaring weakness — run defense. They allowed an atrocious 5.1 yards per carry, third worst in the league. The Bills’ defense was pushed around last season, especially by their rival from Foxboro. TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson will likely gash this team unless the Bills add more talent and physicality to the front seven.
So I went into this mock draft looking for BPA at defensive tackle, edge and linebacker.
The best edges and linebackers are already gone. Some experts have mocked Georgia linebacker CJ Allen to the Bills at No. 26, but, from what I’ve read, he seems to lack the elite athleticism you’d ideally want in a first-rounder.
The Bills also need help at guard, and, as ever, could use a big-play wide receiver, unless Moore bounces back at age 29. I considered Omar Cooper Jr. and KC Concepcion. But with the draft’s best interior run defender still on the board, let’s not overthink it.
The Pick:
Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
McDonald measured 6-2, 326 pounds at the combine and had a breakout year for Ohio State in 2025 at age 20. He’s a violent player on the interior. One writeup said he “rattles pads wth his initial contact,” and that’s evident on film. McDonald’s highlights are full of him destroying run plays by knocking 300-pound dudes two yards into the backfield.
He stonewalls guards and centers at the line of scrimmage, can locate the ball carrier, shed the block and make the tackle. He had 65 tackles in 14 games last season as a NT, which is impressive. McDonald won’t earn his living initially by rushing the QB, but he can push the pocket and get a few cleanup sacks (three of them last year).
McDonald started just one season in Columbus, and NFL linemen will surely expose his inexperience at times. But he’s a young, ascending player who should continue to improve.
Moreover, Buffalo needs help at nose tackle. Deone Walker, a 4th rounder in 2025, had a nice rookie campaign and certainly looks the part of a run-stuffer, at 6-7, 330 pounds. But some Bills fans have their doubts about Walker’s ability to anchor inside. That he started 16 games last year for a team with horrid run defense lends credence to those concerns.
Pairing McDonald and Walker with second-year TJ Sanders as a 3-tech, along with Greg Rousseau and Chubb gives Buffalo the makings of a pretty decent front.
The Bills return most key players from a top-five offense. With Brady still calling plays, they’ll score points. The secondary is in good shape. But this team was bullied too often last year and its top division rival employs a power running game. They really could use McDonald’s pad-rattling physicality. If he’s on the board at No. 26, he’s the pick.
2026 BGN Mock Draft Order
1) Raiders (Mailata_in_a_Miata): Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
2) Jets (Dr.MidnightGreen): Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State
3) Cardinals (grantspectations): Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
4) Titans (DrBubbles): Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
5) Giants (ablesser88): Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
6) Browns (kjb304): Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
7) Commanders (Jerry Robinson 56): Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
8) Saints (VetStadiumSection358): David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
9) Chiefs (Hoosinole): Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
10) Bengals (chuckelberryfinn): Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
11) Dolphins (phillyfan): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
12) Cowboys (ejdubya): Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
13) Rams (All_Hail_Howie): Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
14) Ravens (215T1LL1D1e): Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
15) Buccaneers (pascofljoe): Makai Lemon, WR, USC
16) Jets (Euegene11): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
17) Lions (BCHaas): Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
18) Vikings (The Player Formerly Known as Mousecop): Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
19) Panthers (jaynase): Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
20) Cowboys (Cravin’ LeBlanc): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
21) Steelers (iam4theBirdz): Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
22) Chargers (Aint1stULast): Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama
23) Eagles (Philly21): Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
24) Browns (FierceDisc65): Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
25) Bears (jazztafari): Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
26) Bills (PhillyTexan): Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
27) 49ers (granthill7)
28) Texans (CrackTheEaglesNut)
29) Chiefs (z)
30) Dolphins (Booth12)
31) Patriots (Niels Rosenquist)
32) Seahawks (J. Wil)
2026 BGN Community Consensus Mock Draft
Now it’s YOUR TURN to vote for who you think should be selected with this pick.
1) Raiders: QB Fernando Mendoza
2) Jets: EDGE Arvell Reese
3) Cardinals: OT Francis Mauigoa
4) Titans: RB Jeremiyah Love
5) Giants: LB Sonny Styles
6) Browns: WR Carnell Tate
7) Commanders: EDGE David Bailey
8) Saints: EDGE Rueben Bain Jr.
9) Chiefs: S Caleb Downs
10) Bengals: CB Mansoor Delane
11) Dolphins: WR Jordyn Tyson
12) Cowboys: CB Jermod McCoy
13) Rams: WR Makai Lemon
14) Ravens: OT Monroe Freeling
15) Buccaneers: TE Kenyon Sadiq
16) Jets: OG Olaivavega Ioane
17) Lions: OT Spencer Fano
18) Vikings: S Dillon Thieneman
19) Panthers: OT Kadyn Proctor
20) Cowboys: EDGE Akheem Mesidor
21) Steelers: EDGE Keldric Faulk
22) Chargers: OT Caleb Lomu
23) Eagles: OT Max Iheanachor
24) Browns: OT Blake Miller
25) Bears: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
26) Bills: