The New Era in Buffalo: A Bills 7-Round Mock Draft to Kickstart the Joe Brady Regime

It feels strange saying it out loud, doesn’t it? The Sean McDermott era is in the rear-view mirror for the Bills. For the first time since 2017, the war room in Orchard Park has a different energy. While Brandon Beane is still pulling the trigger as General Manager, the voice in his ear has changed. This is Joe Brady’s team now.

And if we know anything about Brady, he wants an offense that hums and a defense that doesn’t break when the temperature drops. The NFL Draft creeps up on you like a linebacker on a delayed blitz.’ One minute you’re agonizing over a playoff exit, and the next, you’re parsing 40-times and wondering if a kid from the Big Ten can handle the swirling winds of Highmark Stadium.

The Bills are sitting at pick No. 26 with seven swings at the bat. We know the holes on this roster. They aren’t secrets. But in this mock, we’re doing something a little different. We’re doubling down where it counts. Let’s get into it.

Round 1, Pick 26: C.J. Allen, LB (Georgia)

Let’s be honest: the thought of a defense without Matt Milano induces a specific kind of nausea in Bills Mafia. But whether Milano returns for a swan song or not, the reality is that Father Time is undefeated. Buffalo needs the next field general. Enter C.J. Allen from Georgia. Watching his tape gives you flashbacks to prime Milano.

He’s got that sideline-to-sideline range that is absolutely non-negotiable in the modern NFL. He doesn’t just tackle; he arrives with bad intentions. He snuffs out plays before they develop, and frankly, if he’s still on the board at 26, Beane should sprint the card to the podium. This isn’t a luxury pick. It’s a heartbeat pick.

Round 2, Pick 60: Omar Cooper Jr., WR (Indiana)

We scream for wide receiver help every offseason. It’s a Buffalo Bills tradition, like breaking tables or arguing about ranch dressing. This year, Beane finally listened early. Omar Cooper Jr. has been lighting it up for the Hoosiers. We aren’t talking about dink-and-dunk stats here.

Cooper found the endzone 13 times last season and racked up nearly 1,000 yards. Sure, having Fernando Mendoza tossing him the rock helped, but Cooper has the hands and the route-running savvy to be a problem for secondaries immediately. On a rookie contract, he fits perfectly into the “keep the quarterback happy” budget.

Round 3, Pick 91: Zachariah Branch, WR (Georgia)

Here is where we go off-script. Most mock drafts have the Bills pivoting to safety or edge rusher here. Not this time. We are doubling dipping at wideout. Why? Because speed kills, and Zachariah Branch has burners.

He isn’t the same type of receiver as Cooper; he’s the lightning to Cooper’s thunder. Brady’s offense thrives on versatility and creating mismatches in space. By grabbing back-to-back receivers, Buffalo signals a complete overhaul of the passing attack. It’s a bold strategy, but fortune favors the brave and the fast.

Round 4, Pick 126: Zane Durant, DT (Penn State)

If you watched the Bills get gashed on the ground last year, look away. The run defense was, to put it mildly, porous. We drafted T.J. Sanders and Deone Walker last year, and while Walker looks like a stud, the interior rotation needs more juice.

Zane Durant fits the mold. He’s built similarly to Ed Oliver, a bit undersized but explosive off the snap. He plays with leverage and disrupts the backfield. We need guys who can get skinny through the gap and blow up a run play on 3rd and 1. Durant is that guy.

Round 5, Pick 166: Red Murdock, LB (Buffalo)

This is the pick that will make the local crowd for the Bills spill their Blue Light. We’re keeping the talent home. Red Murdock from the University of Buffalo isn’t just a feel-good story; he’s a tackling machine.

We’re talking back-to-back seasons with over 140 tackles. He had five sacks and six forced fumbles last year. That is absurd production. Even though we took a linebacker in the first round, you cannot ignore value like this in the fifth. Murdock plays with a chip on his shoulder the size of Lake Erie. He’s exactly the kind of “process” guy Beane loves.

Round 7, Pick 220: DJ Campbell, OL (Texas)

By the seventh round, you’re looking for traits and depth. With David Edwards potentially testing free agency waters, the offensive line room could get thin fast. DJ Campbell from Texas is a big body who has played high-level competition. He’s a depth piece with upside, the kind of guy you stash on the practice squad and develop into a reliable swing guard.

Round 7, Pick 228: Cole Wisniewski, S (Texas Tech)

Cole Bishop stepped up nicely when Poyer was roaming the field, but you can never have enough safety help in a league that loves to throw deep. Wisniewski is a productive player 78 tackles and a handful of pass breakups for the Red Raiders. At pick 228, you’re hoping for a special teams ace who can fill in on defense in a pinch. Wisniewski fits the bill perfectly.