Buffalo Bills Select Toriano Pride Jr. in Seventh Round of NFL Draft

The Buffalo Bills continued their heavy investment in the secondary, selecting Missouri cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft — making him the fourth defensive back the team has selected in this year's draft class.

The selection underscores Buffalo's clear strategic priority: bolstering the back end of a defense that has been among the NFL's best in recent seasons. By adding four defensive backs across the draft, the Bills are signaling that they view depth and competition in the secondary as essential to sustaining their defensive excellence.

Pride Jr. brings a combination of college production and athletic profile that made him an intriguing late-round option. At Missouri, he developed a reputation for competitive coverage and willingness to contribute in run support — traits that align with what the Bills typically look for in their defensive backs.

The challenge for any seventh-round pick is making the 53-man roster, but Buffalo's track record of developing late-round and undrafted defensive backs into contributors gives Pride Jr. a legitimate pathway. The Bills have consistently found value in the later rounds of the draft, turning overlooked prospects into reliable rotational players and special teams contributors.

For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, the strategy is clear: you can never have too many defensive backs in a league that demands them more than ever.

What This Means For You: Bills fans should be excited about the secondary depth — four DBs in one draft is a statement. If you're tracking Missouri football, Pride Jr. gets a shot in one of the NFL's best defensive environments. And for NFL observers, Buffalo's approach is a reminder that building through the draft isn't just about first-round picks; it's about finding contributors wherever they fall on the board.