Bills news: What we’re learning about Buffalo’s NFL Draft plans at the combine

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 26: Cashius Howell of the Texas A&M Aggies participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images This is Joe Brady’s first go-round as a hea

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This is Joe Brady’s first go-round as a head coach at the NFL’s annual scouting combine, and the Buffalo Bills’ new coach explained to the media how he is approaching his first combine as a head coach while setting out to enhance and build out Buffalo’s roster.

“We want the best football players that we can get,” Brady said. “… our systems might look different year to year, and there’s some little tweaks, but it’s not going to be – offense or defense – ‘This is what we’re doing no matter what we have.'”

With Brady and the rest of Buffalo’s front office in Indianapolis for the combine, today’s edition of Buffalo Rumblinks leads off by examining Brady’s presser and sorting through what we’re hearing from beat reporters to find out which direction the Bills could go with their first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Assessing the latest NFL mock drafts

When Joe Brady watches the top college football prospects, he wants to see their skills shine on the field, but of equal importance, Brady is looking at their personalities to see how they interact with one another and how they carry themselves following a good play or a bad result.

While the combine represents a chance to make an immediate impression, Brady says he weighs a player’s performance at the combine against their body of work during the college football season.

“I just want football players that love ball … trying to get opportunities [and] connect with them, understand that … You can test really well, and I hope these guys do that,” Brady said. “But you are what you put on tape as well and I’m going to take that way more into consideration.”

With the Bills’ brass at the combine, we sift through the latest batch of mock drafts to see where the experts think the Bills will go with their first-round pick, including their potential interest in Texas A&M edge rusher Cashius Howell (pictured below), Oklahoma edge rusher R Mason Thomas, Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston, Clemson edge rusher/outside linebacker T.J. Parker, Notre Dame WR Malachi Fields, Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman, and Georgia linebacker C.J. Allen.

Even more Bills news

Assessing how the pressure is on Joe Brady to maximize Josh Allen’s talents. Plus, what will it cost the Bills to retain their top internal free agents; how Cole Bishop’s breakout 2025 season will influence Buffalo’s plans for the safety position; why talent evaluator Daniel Jeremiah doesn’t think the Bills will struggle transitioning from a base 4-3 defense to a 3-4; and more!