NFL Draft Buzz: Bills seek WR talent and Jesse Minter's top priority with Ravens

As the 2025 NFL season wraps up, teams are holding end-of-year press conferences and hiring new head coaches, and that activity is already shaping the 2026 NFL Draft narrative. The Bills’ struggles at wide receiver, highlighted by their public critique of Keon Coleman, point to a major offseason need. Meanwhile, new Ravens head coach Jesse Minter has a top priority that could be addressed in the draft, and the Bears are facing a potential left tackle hole heading into next season.

This week’s NFL Draft Buzz breaks down those storylines, highlighting a wide receiver who needs a big Senior Bowl, a potential late-round draft steal, and the pressing roster needs of several NFL teams as they prepare for the draft.

Denzel Boston is a fit in Buffalo

The Buffalo Bills saw their season end earlier than expected again, which has become far too common. That disappointment led to the firing of head coach Sean McDermott after a 33–30 loss to the Denver Broncos. Coaching changes aside, none of it matters if the Bills fail to fix the wide receiver room this offseason.

Despite having a top-three quarterback in Josh Allen, the receiving corps underperformed once again. The unit ranked 26th in the NFL according to PFF, and outside of Khalil Shakir, there isn’t a true quality starter on the roster. That reality leaves Buffalo with two real options. Swing big with a trade for a proven star like A.J. Brown or use their first-round pick on a wide receiver.

One player who makes sense for the Bills late in the first round is Washington wideout Denzel Boston. Boston fits Buffalo for several reasons. First, he’s a big, physical receiver who would complement Shakir well. He thrives in traffic, catching 10 of 13 targets in tight coverage this season, according to PFF. That kind of reliability is something the Bills have lacked.

Boston also brings consistency as a pass catcher, dropping just two passes all season and routinely finishing plays by securing the football. On top of that, he’s a strong and willing blocker, which would be a real asset in Buffalo’s offense and could help James Cook III generate even more explosive runs.

If the Bills are serious about maximizing Josh Allen’s prime, adding a difference-maker at wide receiver is non-negotiable. Whether it’s a move for someone like A.J. Brown or drafting a player like Denzel Boston, standing pat isn’t an option. Anything less risks another early playoff exit.

Needs a big Senior Bowl

Senior Bowl week is one of the most important stops on the NFL Draft calendar. Every year, players either help themselves or hurt themselves based on how they perform in practices. LSU wide receiver Aaron Anderson is a player who badly needs this week to go right.

Anderson is coming off an injury-plagued season that significantly hurt his production. He was limited to nine games because of a hip injury along with several smaller issues, and it clearly impacted his effectiveness. He finished the year with just 398 receiving yards, a noticeable drop that works out to roughly 24 fewer yards per game than last season. This week is his chance to show scouts that he is fully healthy and back to his 2024 form.

He also needs to answer questions about his value on special teams. Kick returning was a role he was limited in at LSU because of ball security issues. At the NFL level, that margin for error disappears. Anderson has the quickness, vision, and elusiveness to be a dangerous returner, but none of that matters if he cannot consistently hold onto the football. The Senior Bowl gives him a chance to prove he can be trusted.

Where Anderson should help himself is as a slot receiver. His short-area quickness should stand out in one-on-one drills, where defensive backs will struggle to stay in phase. He has the ability to create separation consistently, which will impress NFL scouts.

If Anderson checks these boxes, he can push his draft stock into the fourth- or fifth-round range. If he does not, the reality is simple: he risks going undrafted.

Left tackle concerns for Chicago 

News out of Chicago regarding the left tackle position is not what Bears fans wanted to hear. Starting left tackle Ozzy Trapilo is expected to miss a large portion, if not all, of next season after tearing his patellar tendon in the team’s win over Green Bay in the first round of the playoffs.

This is a major issue for the Bears. Theo Benedet and Braxton Jones have both shown they are not the answer at left tackle, leaving the position in a bad spot. Chicago could look to sign a bargain free agent such as D.J. Humphries or Fred Jones, but any option at that price point would be a questionable starter at best. The Bears are also unlikely to have the cap space needed to pursue a top-tier left tackle, especially with multiple needs on the defensive side of the ball.

Another option is addressing the position again in the NFL Draft. This time, the Bears could target the need early on Day Three with Florida left tackle Austin Barber. Barber makes sense for Chicago due to his experience, having started three seasons at left tackle for the Gators. He is also a physical run blocker and earned an impressive 90 PFF run-blocking grade this past season.

Barber does need to clean up his hand usage after being flagged for 16 penalties over the past two seasons. That said, Bears offensive line coach Dan Roushar has a strong track record of improving player fundamentals. Better hand usage would also go a long way toward improving Barber’s pass protection.

Another plus with Barber is his versatility. He saw significant playing time at right tackle in 2022, which would allow him to compete for the starting left tackle job in training camp. When Trapilo returns, Barber could slide into a swing tackle role, providing depth at both left and right tackle.

NFL Draft sleeper

A big-school sleeper in the 2026 NFL Draft could be Penn State’s Trebor Peña. The main reason he qualifies as a sleeper is that his production dropped sharply this season after transferring from Syracuse to Penn State. He finished with 35 fewer receptions, 389 fewer yards, and seven fewer touchdowns than he had the previous season.

Much of that decline can be attributed to playing in a less potent passing offense with the Nittany Lions. When you turn on his 2024 film, it’s clear he has the traits to be a solid NFL slot receiver. That makes his current projection as an undrafted player on NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus board stand out as real value.

Peña’s biggest strength is his ability to consistently get open. He has the quickness to create separation and is a crisp route runner, which is a major reason he led the ACC with 84 receptions in 2024. He also brings real value after the catch. This season, he averaged 6.6 yards after the catch, and in 2024 he totaled 475 yards after the catch. On top of that, he has proven he can win in traffic, catching 78 percent of targets in tight coverage in 2024 according to PFF.

He can also contribute on special teams. Peña averaged 8.9 yards per punt return this season. While he has not returned kickoffs since 2022, he averaged 26.7 yards per kickoff return that year and took one back for a touchdown.

There are flaws in his game. He lacks elite top-end speed, is not a particularly physical receiver, and his production this past season was average. Still, if a team lands him late in the draft or as an undrafted free agent, they could be getting a legitimate steal.

Jesse Minter’s top task in Baltimore

The Baltimore Ravens named former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as their head coach this week. One of the main reasons for the hire was his football IQ, with a Ravens source telling ESPN that Minter is “a legitimate genius.” That reputation comes from how quickly he turned around the Chargers defense, which had been one of the worst units in the NFL under Brandon Staley. Before Minter, the Chargers ranked 30th in yards allowed per play at 5.7, points allowed at 24.8 per game, and rushing yards allowed at 134 per game. Over two seasons with Minter, they jumped to second in QBR allowed at 50.0, third in points allowed at 18.9, and seventh in yards per play at 5.2.

For Baltimore to see a similar turnaround, the biggest issue that must be addressed is pass rush. The Ravens ranked 30th in the NFL in sacks this past season, totaling just 30. Because of that, expect the team to target an edge rusher in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, where they currently hold the 14th overall pick.

One player likely to be strongly considered is Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell. Howell was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year, led the conference with 11.5 sacks, and finished fourth with 14 tackles for loss.

Howell also fits cleanly into Minter’s preferred 3–4 scheme, which is the same system he played in at Texas A&M. He has the athleticism to consistently turn the corner as a pass rusher and enough movement skills to hold up if asked to drop into coverage. He also shows good hand usage, allowing him to disengage from blockers effectively.

The main concern scouts have with Howell is that he is somewhat of a tweener for a 4–3 defense. At 245 pounds, he is too small to play defensive end and not quite built like a traditional off-ball linebacker in that scheme. In a 3–4 defense, however, this is not an issue, as his natural position is outside linebacker. Another concern is his awareness in coverage, but in a 3–4 system he would be used primarily as a stand-up pass rusher and asked to drop only occasionally.

For those reasons, Howell would be a strong fit in Baltimore.