ClutchPoints
There’s no question that the Buffalo Bills remain a perennial AFC contender. However, after yet another postseason heartbreak, the clock is ticking on the current core. With Josh Allen still playing like one of the league’s elite quarterbacks, the pressure is on the front office to reload, not rebuild. That means hitting on their next few drafts. As the team prepares for 2025 training camp, two glaring questions hover over the roster: long-term interior offensive line stability and the health of a key defensive leader. Enter two collegiate prospects who could answer those questions in a big way come 2026.
In 2024, the Bills paired a top-three aerial attack with one of the league’s most efficient ground games. Add in a defense that once again ranked top-12 in scoring, and it genuinely felt like this Josh Allen-led squad had all the pieces to finally break through in the postseason. Unfortunately, that dream ended the same way it has so many times before. They had Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs sending them packing. That’s now four playoff eliminations at the hands of Kansas City in the past five years. And honestly, even for non-Bills-fans, that still stings to think about.
Still, the heartbreak of last season doesn’t erase the reality that this remains one of the most complete rosters in football. Over the last five years, Buffalo has led the NFL in points scored per game while also allowing the fewest. Even without a Super Bowl appearance to show for it, this team has consistently been among the league’s elite. It wouldn’t be shocking at all if they finally manage to topple the Mahomes mountain sometime soon.
Here we’ll try to look at two players who are way-too-early 2026 NFL Draft prospects the Buffalo Bills must monitor.
There’s no sugarcoating it: Buffalo’s offensive line has been good, but not great, during Allen’s prime. The team has made do with serviceable veterans and a few draft hits. However, they’ve yet to invest in a truly elite interior offensive lineman to anchor the unit. Jake Slaughter might be the solution they’ve been waiting for.
At 6’5″ and 308 pounds, Slaughter already looks like a pro. He didn’t allow a sack in 2024 and was penalized only twice despite playing every snap at center for the Florida Gators. What sets him apart, though, is his combination of functional strength, smooth footwork, and next-level awareness. He has the athleticism to slide over to guard if needed. That would give the Bills flexibility on the interior.
Florida’s coaching staff has praised Slaughter as the best center in the nation. That’s a sentiment echoed by many draft analysts. Sure, the Bills don’t necessarily need to draft a center in the first round. Still, this is about long-term planning. Mitch Morse’s departure left a void, and while Buffalo has shuffled the pieces decently well, locking in a foundational piece to protect Allen should be a top priority....
