Bills Weigh Trade-Up From No. 26 for Immediate Edge Help

Overview

• Jason La Canfora has reported Buffalo could try to move up from No. 26 to draft an instant-impact edge rusher, with the Bears, Steelers, Lions or Chargers viewed as realistic trade-down partners.
• The push comes even after the three-year, $43.5 million signing of Bradley Chubb, as evaluators say the group still lacks bite and last season's defense ranked 20th in sacks and 27th in pass-rush win rate.
• A move to new coach Joe Brady and coordinator Jim Leonhard brings a 3-4 scheme that prizes stand-up edge rushers, and depth has been thinned by Michael Hoecht's Achilles tear.
• The calculus is tighter after the D.J. Moore trade, with only seven total picks and two inside the top 91 limiting Buffalo's ability to pay to climb the board.
• Analysts call this draft especially deep at edge, which could either justify spending to reach a top-tier pass rusher or allow a quality option to fall to No. 26.