The Buffalo Bills came out of the 2026 NFL Draft with ten picks after starting with seven, and that kind of maneuvering put plenty of pressure on Brandon Beane to come away with a strong rookie class. That urgency only grew after the team dealt its original second-round pick to the Chicago Bears in the trade for DJ Moore.
Buffalo leaned heavily toward defense, using six of its selections on that side of the ball. T.J. Parker and Kaleb Elarms-Orr are the names that jump out as immediate contributors, but there’s another defensive rookie who could end up being one of the better value picks in the class.
That player is Jalon Kilgore, the South Carolina safety the Bills grabbed in the fifth round.
Justin Melo of Sports Illustrated recently highlighted the “most overlooked NFL draft pick at every position,” and Kilgore made the list for Buffalo. Melo wrote, " South Carolina safety Jalon Kilgore was a versatile defensive back prospect who could play from a variety of alignments.
He's a legitimate chess-piece who could make an instant impact for the Buffalo Bills despite being a Day Three selection. Kilgore combined for 102 tackles, 15 pass breakups, and seven interceptions across 2024-25."
It was a notable slide for a player who was still available that late, and it could wind up paying off for Buffalo. Kilgore enters a room that already includes Cole Bishop, plus offseason additions C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Geno Stone, giving him a chance to soak up knowledge from a group of veterans who have been serviceable in the league.
His appeal goes beyond coverage. Kilgore’s ability to help against the run could be what sets him apart from other defensive backs, both right away and down the line. Gardner-Johnson and Stone are both on one-year deals, so there’s a path for Kilgore to push for a bigger role if he earns it.
At the start of the season, special teams would be the most likely landing spot. But if he gets real snaps and flashes enough to make the staff take notice, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him move into a starting role sooner rather than later.
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