SPORTSApril 23, 2026

When Buffalo Bills Will Make Their Pick in First Round

The NFL Draft is here, and Buffalo Bills fans are eager to find out when their team will be on the clock. With the 26th overall pick in the first round, the Bills are positioned in the middle-to-late portion of Thursday night's action.

This year, teams will have eight minutes to make each first-round selection, a change from the previous ten-minute window. The league says the shortened clock is designed to keep the broadcast moving and maintain viewer engagement throughout a long night of picks. For teams, it means less time to negotiate trades or second-guess decisions once they're on the clock.

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For the Bills, the 26th pick presents both opportunity and challenge. The team has clear roster needs, and the quality of available prospects at that position will depend heavily on how the first 25 picks unfold. A run on a particular position — quarterbacks, edge rushers, or cornerbacks, for example — could push unexpected talent to Buffalo or force the front office to pivot.

The draft's first round begins Thursday night in Green Bay, Wisconsin. With 32 picks and eight minutes per selection, fans can expect a broadcast lasting well into the evening. The Bills' pick, assuming no trades, should come roughly three to four hours after the draft begins.

Buffalo's front office has been active in pre-draft evaluations, hosting numerous prospects on official visits and attending pro days across the country. The team has also been linked to potential trade-up scenarios, though general manager Brandon Beane has historically been willing to move both up and down the board depending on value.

What This Means For You: If you're a Bills fan, clear your Thursday evening and temper your expectations for an early pick. The 26th selection likely means a wait of several hours. But the shorter draft clock means less dead air, and if the Bills make a trade, things could get interesting fast. Grab some wings and settle in — draft night is a marathon, not a sprint.

By Core News Daily Staff

Originally sourced from Rochester Democrat and Chronicle