Login
Login

List of Buffalo Bills first-round draft picks

{{Short description|none}}

{{Featured list}}

{{Use American English|date=March 2024}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

File:Josh Allen SEPT2021 (cropped2).jpg to select quarterback Josh Allen with the 7th overall pick.{{cite web |last1=Rodak |first1=Mike |title=Bills trade up to 7th, snag 'emotional' QB Allen |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2018/story/_/id/23329290/buffalo-bills-select-josh-allen-getting-seventh-pick-tampa-bay-buccaneers |website=ESPN |access-date=December 15, 2023 |language=en |date=April 27, 2018 |archive-date=September 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917235127/https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2018/story/_/id/23329290/buffalo-bills-select-josh-allen-getting-seventh-pick-tampa-bay-buccaneers |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=2018 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2018/draft.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525203807/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2018/draft.htm |archive-date=May 25, 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=December 14, 2023 |language=en }}]]

The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the East Division of the American Football Conference.{{cite web |title=Buffalo Bills |url=https://operations.nfl.com/learn-the-game/nfl-basics/team-histories/american-football-conference/east/buffalo-bills/ |website=National Football League |access-date=December 14, 2023 |archive-date=June 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610133752/https://operations.nfl.com/learn-the-game/nfl-basics/team-histories/american-football-conference/east/buffalo-bills/ |url-status=live }} Founded in 1959 by Ralph Wilson, they were a charter member of the American Football League (AFL) and joined the NFL in 1970 following the AFL–NFL merger.{{cite web |title=Other football leagues of the past |url=https://www.espn.com/extra/afl/news/story?id=3764806 |website=ESPN |access-date=December 14, 2023 |language=en |date=December 12, 2008 |archive-date=April 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410035024/http://www.espn.com/extra/afl/news/story?id=3764806 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Team Facts |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/teams/buffalo-bills/team-facts-36554d2899f43d1f49cd905e062fa8f8/ |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=December 14, 2023 |archive-date=May 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527231244/https://www.profootballhof.com/teams/buffalo-bills/team-facts-36554d2899f43d1f49cd905e062fa8f8/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Carter |first=Bob |title=Rozelle made NFL what it is today |url=https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/Rozelle_Pete.html |access-date=December 14, 2023 |website=ESPN |archive-date=April 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402025947/https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/rozelle_pete.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Important Dates in Bills History: Oct. 28, 1959. Buffalo granted AFL franchise |url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/important-dates-in-bills-history-oct-28-1959-buffalo-granted-afl-franch-17973051 |website=Buffalo Bills |access-date=February 14, 2024 |date=October 28, 2016 |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206151352/https://www.buffalobills.com/news/important-dates-in-bills-history-oct-28-1959-buffalo-granted-afl-franch-17973051 |url-status=live }} The Bills' name is derived from an All-America Football Conference franchise from Buffalo that was in turn named after western frontiersman Buffalo Bill.{{Cite web |date=November 30, 2015 |title=Important dates in Bills history: How the Bills got their name |website=Buffalo Bills |url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/important-dates-in-bills-history-how-the-bills-got-their-name-16401977 |access-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114215921/https://www.buffalobills.com/news/important-dates-in-bills-history-how-the-bills-got-their-name-16401977 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Important Dates in Bills History: Nov. 30, 1959. Bills team name adopted |url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/important-dates-in-bills-history-nov-30-1959-bills-team-name-adopted-18177340 |website=Buffalo Bills |access-date=February 14, 2024 |date=November 29, 2016 |archive-date=December 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203104312/https://www.buffalobills.com/news/important-dates-in-bills-history-nov-30-1959-bills-team-name-adopted-18177340 |url-status=live }} Since 1973 they have played their home games at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.

The NFL draft, officially known as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting",{{cite web |title=NFL Draft Profile – NFL Draft |url=http://www.espn.com/nfldraft/research/event/profile?eventId=0 |website=ESPN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231217031316/http://www.espn.com/nfldraft/research/event/profile?eventId=0 |archive-date=December 17, 2023 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 7, 2024}}{{cite news |first=Sam |last=Farmer |title=What makes them tick |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-apr-26-sp-nfl26-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=February 7, 2024 |date=April 26, 2008 |archive-date=February 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207135240/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-apr-26-sp-nfl26-story.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |first=Chad |last=Reuter |title=Who will be the best pro RB? Martin vs. Miller vs. Wilson |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/who-will-be-the-best-pro-rb-martin-vs-miller-vs-wilson-09000d5d8284a7d0 |website=National Football League |access-date=February 7, 2024 |date=April 13, 2012 |archive-date=June 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610122157/https://www.nfl.com/news/who-will-be-the-best-pro-rb-martin-vs-miller-vs-wilson-09000d5d8284a7d0 |url-status=live }} is an annual event which serves as the league's most common source of player recruitment.{{cite web |title=NFL 2021 Draft date: when and where is it taking place? |url=https://en.as.com/en/2021/02/18/nfl/1613653757_815367.html |website=Diario AS |language=en-us |date=February 18, 2021 |access-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-date=January 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129070037/https://en.as.com/en/2021/02/18/nfl/1613653757_815367.html |url-status=live }} The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings; the teams with the worst win–loss records receive the earliest picks. Teams that qualified for the NFL playoffs select after non-qualifiers, and their order depends on how far they advanced, using their regular season record as a tie-breaker. The final two selections in the first round are reserved for the Super Bowl runner-up and champion. Draft picks are tradable and players or other picks can be acquired with them.{{cite web |title=The rules of the NFL Draft |url=https://operations.nfl.com/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-draft/the-rules-of-the-draft/ |website=National Football League |access-date=November 14, 2023 |archive-date=November 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101040705/https://operations.nfl.com/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-draft/the-rules-of-the-draft/ |url-status=live }}

Before the merger agreements in 1966, the AFL directly competed with the NFL and held a separate draft. This led to a bidding war over top prospects between the two leagues, along with the subsequent drafting of the same player in each draft. As part of the merger agreement on June 8, 1966, the two leagues began holding a multiple round "common draft". Once the AFL officially merged with the NFL in 1970, the "common draft" simply became the NFL draft.{{cite magazine|title=The AFL: A Football Legacy |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/news/2001/01/22/afl_history_2/ |date=January 22, 2001 |access-date=June 9, 2010 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |author=Cross, B. Duane |archive-date=December 17, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091217064300/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/news/2001/01/22/afl_history_2/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/history/chronology/1961-1970 |title=NFL History by Decade: 1961–1970 |access-date=June 9, 2010 |website=National Football League |archive-date=February 5, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205052436/http://www.nfl.com/history/chronology/1961-1970 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/story?id=09000d5d807e6d6a&template=with-video&confirm=true |title=Time Changes for 2008 NFL Draft |date=April 22, 2008 |access-date=June 9, 2010 |website=National Football League |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026144408/http://www.nfl.com/draft/story?id=09000d5d807e6d6a&template=with-video&confirm=true |archive-date=October 26, 2012 }} The first AFL draft was held prior to the start of the 1960 season. The first round of the 1960 AFL draft was territorial selections. Each team received a "territorial pick" which allowed them to select a single player within a pre-agreed upon designated region (the team's "territory"). Teams then agreed on the top eight players at each position, who were subsequently assigned to teams by random draw, with each of the eight teams receiving one of those players. This process was repeated until all 53 roster spots were filled.{{Cite web |date=October 28, 2009 |title=The AFL's first draft |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2009/10/news-the-afl-s-first-draft/ |access-date=December 14, 2023 |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame |language=en |archive-date=August 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803001231/https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2009/10/news-the-afl-s-first-draft/ |url-status=live }} Beginning in the 1961 draft, the AFL, using the same system as the NFL, began to assign picks based on the previous season's standings.{{Cite news |date=November 22, 1960 |title=Auburn Ace First AFL Draft Pick |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-californian-auburn-ace-first-afl-dra/136809605/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203033247/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-californian-auburn-ace-first-afl-dra/136809605/ |archive-date=February 3, 2024 |access-date=December 14, 2023 |work=The Californian |pages=15 |type=clipping |via=Newspapers.com |agency=United Press International}}

Since the team's first draft, the Bills have selected 68 players in the first round.{{Cite web |date=April 26, 2011 |title=Buffalo Bills All-Time Draft History |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/draft.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007160520/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/draft.htm |archive-date=October 7, 2023 |access-date=November 28, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} The team's first-round pick in the inaugural AFL draft was Richie Lucas, a quarterback out of Penn State; he was the team's territorial selection.{{Cite web |date=April 26, 2011 |title=Backdraft: Buffalo Bills |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2011/04/news-backdraft-buffalo-bills/ |access-date=December 14, 2023 |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame |language=en |archive-date=February 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213194901/https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2011/04/news-backdraft-buffalo-bills/ |url-status=live }} The Bills have held the first overall pick five times, four times in the NFL draft and once in the AFL draft. They selected Ken Rice in 1961, O. J. Simpson in 1969, Walt Patulski in 1972, Tom Cousineau in 1979, and Bruce Smith in 1985. In the most recent draft, held in 2025, the Bills selected Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston.{{cite web |last1=Brooks |first1=Bucky |title=2025 NFL Draft: Bucky Brooks' pick-by-pick analysis for Round 1 |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/2025-nfl-draft-bucky-brooks-pick-by-pick-analysis-for-round-1 |website=National Football League |access-date=25 April 2025 |date=April 24, 2025}}

The Bills did not draft a player in the first round on seven occasions. Five of the team's first-round picks—Joe DeLamielleure, Carl Eller, Jim Kelly, O. J. Simpson, and Bruce Smith—have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame;{{cite web |title=Hall of Famers by Draft Round |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/hall-of-famers/hall-of-famers-by-draft-round/ |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=December 13, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=April 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425164300/https://www.profootballhof.com/hall-of-famers/hall-of-famers-by-draft-round/ |url-status=live }} one of these, Carl Eller, chose not to play for the Bills and joined the NFL instead.{{cite web |title=Carl Eller |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/carl-eller/ |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=November 28, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=January 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117162237/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/carl-eller/ |url-status=live }} The Bills used an additional two first-round picks in the 1960s to select players—Ernie Davis and Mike Dennis—who also chose to sign with the NFL instead.{{cite news |title=SU All-America Explains Decision to Sign With Browns |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-standard-su-all-america-explain/145000122/ |access-date=April 8, 2024 |newspaper=The Post-Standard |agency=Associated Press |date=December 23, 1961 |pages=9 |via=Newspapers.com |type=clipping |archive-date=April 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426203016/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-standard-su-all-america-explain/145000122/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Matthews |first=Bob |date=May 4, 2003 |title=Mets, Blazer: How not to build rosters |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-mets-blazer-how/142939919/ |access-date=March 8, 2024 |work=Democrat and Chronicle |pages=53 |via=Newspapers.com |type=clipping |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308161532/https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-mets-blazer-how/142939919/ |url-status=live }}

Player selections

Image:Bruce Smith Pro Bowl cropped.jpg, drafted by the Bills first overall in the 1985 NFL draft, spent 15 seasons with the Bills and is the NFL's all-time leader in career sacks. During his time with the Bills he was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, 9-time first-team All-Pro, and 11-time Pro Bowler. He was selected for the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.{{cite web |title=NFL Sacks Career Leaders (since 1960) |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/sacks_career.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610005013/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/sacks_career.htm |archive-date=June 10, 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=December 14, 2023 |language=en }}{{cite web |title=Bruce Smith |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/bruce-smith |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=December 14, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=October 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030195155/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/bruce-smith/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Battista |first1=Judy |author1-link=Judy Battista |title=NFL's All-Time Team: Lawrence Taylor headlines defensive front |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-s-all-time-team-lawrence-taylor-headlines-defensive-front-0ap3000001081870 |website=National Football League |access-date=February 13, 2024 |date=November 29, 2019 |archive-date=October 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008075127/https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-s-all-time-team-lawrence-taylor-headlines-defensive-front-0ap3000001081870 |url-status=live }}]]

File:Jim Kelly 2010.jpg was drafted with the 14th pick in the 1983 NFL draft and spent 11 seasons with the team. A five-time Pro Bowler, Kelly was the franchise leader in most major passing stats at the time of his retirement. The Bills retired the number 12 jersey in his honor.{{cite web |title=Jim Kelly Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KellJi00.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |access-date=February 13, 2024 |language=en |archive-date=May 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516221315/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KellJi00.htm |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Jim Kelly |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/jim-kelly |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=February 13, 2024 |language=en |archive-date=November 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107070336/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/jim-kelly |url-status=live }}]]

File:O.J. Simpson 1990 · DN-ST-91-03444 crop.JPEG was selected first overall in the 1969 draft.{{cite web |title=O.J. Simpson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SimpO.00.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240509204635/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SimpO.00.htm |archive-date=May 9, 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=February 14, 2024 |language=en }} Simpson spent nine seasons with the team, during which he was a five-time first-team All-Pro, six-time Pro Bowler, 1973 MVP, led the league in rushing touchdowns twice, and led the league in rushing yards four times.{{cite web |title=O.J. Simpson |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/oj-simpson |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=February 14, 2024 |language=en |archive-date=November 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128170829/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/oj-simpson |url-status=live }} He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985 and was selected to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.{{cite web |last1=Battista |first1=Judy |author1-link=Judy Battista |title=NFL's All-Time Team: Jim Brown tops RBs; Bill Belichick a coach |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-s-all-time-team-jim-brown-tops-rbs-bill-belichick-a-coach-0ap3000001079453 |website=National Football League |access-date=February 14, 2024 |date=November 22, 2019 |archive-date=October 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008101731/https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-s-all-time-team-jim-brown-tops-rbs-bill-belichick-a-coach-0ap3000001079453 |url-status=live }}]]

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" border="1"

|+ Key

scope="col" | Symbol

! scope="col" | Meaning

scope="row" style="text-align:center; background:#FFFF99;" | {{dagger}}

| Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame

scope="row" style="text-align:center; background:#DDFFDD;" | *

| Selected number one overall

scope="row" style="text-align:center; background:#E0FFFF;" | {{double dagger}}

| Selected number one overall and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame

class="wikitable sortable"

|+Buffalo Bills first-round draft picks by season

! scope="col" | Season

! scope="col" | Pick

! scope="col" | Player

! scope="col" | Position

! scope="col" | College

! scope="col" class= "unsortable"| Notes

scope="row" | 1960

| align="center" | Territorial

| {{sortname|Richie|Lucas}}

| align="center" | QB

| Penn State

| First round was territorial selections{{efn-ua|The first round of the 1960 AFL draft was territorial selections. Teams were allowed to select a single player from a designated region (their "territory").}}

scope="row" | 1961

| align="center" | 1

| style="background-color:#DDFFDD" | {{Sortname|Ken|Rice|Ken Rice (American football)}}*

| align="center" | T

| Auburn

|

scope="row" | 1962

| align="center" | 4

| {{Sortname|Ernie|Davis}}

| align="center" | HB

| Syracuse

| Signed for the NFL's Cleveland Browns instead

scope="row" | 1963

| align="center" | 4

| {{Sortname|Dave|Behrman}}

| align="center" | C

| Michigan State

|

scope="row" | 1964

| align="center" | 5

| style="background-color:#FFFF99" | {{Sortname|Carl|Eller}}{{dagger}}

| align="center" | DE

| Minnesota

| Signed for the NFL's Minnesota Vikings instead

scope="row" | 1965

| align="center" | 8

| {{Sortname|Jim|Davidson|Jim Davidson (American football)}}

| align="center" | T

| Ohio State

|

scope="row" | 1966

| align="center" | 8

| {{Sortname|Mike|Dennis|Mike Dennis (running back)}}

| align="center" | RB

| Ole Miss

| Signed for the NFL's Los Angeles Rams instead

scope="row" | 1967

| align="center" | 22

| {{Sortname|John|Pitts|John Pitts (American football)}}

| align="center" | S

| Arizona State

|

scope="row" | 1968

| align="center" | 9

| {{Sortname|Haven|Moses}}

| align="center" | WR

| San Diego State

|

scope="row" | 1969

| align="center" | 1

| style="background-color:#E0FFFF"|{{Sortname|O. J.|Simpson}}{{double dagger}}

| align="center" | RB

| USC

|

scope="row" | 1970

| align="center" | 5

| {{Sortname|Al|Cowlings}}

| align="center" | DT

| USC

|

scope="row" | 1971

| align="center" | 4

| {{Sortname|J. D.|Hill}}

| align="center" | WR

| Arizona State

|

scope="row" | 1972

| align="center" | 1

| style="background-color:#DDFFDD"| {{Sortname|Walt|Patulski}}*

| align="center" | DE

| Notre Dame

|

scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2"| 1973

| align="center" | 7

| {{Sortname|Paul|Seymour|Paul Seymour (American football)}}

| align="center" | TE

| Michigan

|

align="center" | 26

| style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{Sortname|Joe|DeLamielleure}}{{dagger}}

| align="center" | G

| Michigan State

| Pick received from Miami Dolphins{{efn-ua|Buffalo traded wide receiver Marlin Briscoe to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for their 1973 first-round selection (No. 26 overall).{{Cite news |last=Wallace |first=William N. |date=June 8, 1972 |title=Birscoe Accepts Dolphins' Terms |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/06/08/archives/briscoe-accepts-dolphins-terms-bills-get-no-1-draft-pick-as.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204163407/https://www.nytimes.com/1972/06/08/archives/briscoe-accepts-dolphins-terms-bills-get-no-1-draft-pick-as.html |archive-date=December 4, 2023 |access-date=November 29, 2023 |newspaper=The New York Times |page=63}}{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Chris |date=June 27, 2022 |title=Bills former WR Marlin Briscoe passes at 76 |url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-former-wr-marlin-briscoe-passes-at-76 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326033542/https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-former-wr-marlin-briscoe-passes-at-76 |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |access-date=November 29, 2023 |website=Buffalo Bills}}}}

scope="row" | 1974

| align="center" | 18

| {{Sortname|Reuben|Gant}}

| align="center" | TE

| Oklahoma State

|

scope="row" | 1975

| align="center" | 19

| {{Sortname|Tom|Ruud}}

| align="center" | LB

| Nebraska

|

scope="row" | 1976

| align="center" | 18

| {{Sortname|Mario|Clark}}

| align="center" | DB

| Oregon

|

scope="row" | 1977

| align="center" | 12

| {{Sortname|Phil|Dokes}}

| align="center" | DT

| Oklahoma State

| Pick received from Detroit Lions.{{efn-ua|Buffalo traded wide receiver J. D. Hill to the Detroit Lions in exchange for their 1977 first-round selection (No. 12 overall).{{Cite news |last=Pierson |first=Don |date=May 1, 1977 |title=NFL draft Tuesday: Can poor strike gold? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-nfl-draft-tuesday-can-p/135137523/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113203936/https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-nfl-draft-tuesday-can-p/135137523/ |archive-date=November 13, 2023 |access-date=November 13, 2023 |pages=84 |via=Newspapers.com |type=clipping |newspaper=Chicago Tribune}}}} Original pick traded to Cincinnati Bengals.{{efn-ua|Buffalo traded their 1977 first-round selection (No. 3 overall) to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for defensive end Sherman White.}}

scope="row" | 1978

| align="center" | 5

| {{sortname|Terry|Miller|Terry Miller (running back)}}

| align="center" | RB

| Oklahoma State

|

scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2"| 1979

| align="center" | 1

| style="background-color:#DDFFDD"| {{Sortname|Tom|Cousineau}}*

| align="center" | LB

| Ohio State

| Pick received from San Francisco 49ers{{efn-ua|Buffalo traded running back O. J. Simpson to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for their 1978 second- and third-round selections (Nos. 38 and 65 overall), 1979 first- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 1 and 83 overall), and 1980 second-round selection (No. 29 overall).{{Cite news |last=Brady |first=Dave |date=March 25, 1978 |title=Simpson Goes To 49ers for 5 Draft Picks |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1978/03/25/simpson-goes-to-49ers-for-5-draft-picks/2e74e1d1-4de0-47a7-b844-ac31887a3052/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818141132/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1978/03/25/simpson-goes-to-49ers-for-5-draft-picks/2e74e1d1-4de0-47a7-b844-ac31887a3052/ |archive-date=August 18, 2018 |access-date=November 29, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}}}

align="center" | 5

| {{Sortname|Jerry|Butler|Jerry Butler (American football)}}

| align="center" | WR

| Clemson

|

scope="row" | 1980

| align="center" | 16

| {{Sortname|Jim|Ritcher}}

| align="center" | C

| N.C. State

| Moved down draft order in trade with Seattle Seahawks{{efn-ua|Buffalo traded their 1980 first-round selection (No. 10 overall) to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for their 1980 first- and third-round selections (Nos. 16 and 71 overall).{{cite web |title=Seahawks All-Time Trade History |url=https://www.seahawks.com/team/all-time-trades |website=Seattle Seahawks |access-date=November 29, 2023 |archive-date=June 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605125906/https://www.seahawks.com/team/all-time-trades |url-status=live }}}}

scope="row" | 1981

| align="center" | 28

| {{Sortname|Booker|Moore}}

| align="center" | RB

| Penn State

| Moved down draft order in trade with Los Angeles Raiders{{efn-ua|Buffalo traded their 1981 first-round selection (No. 23 overall) to the Los Angeles Raiders in exchange for their 1981 first- and third-round selections (Nos. 28 and 83 overall).{{Cite news |last=Dodd |first=Mike |date=April 29, 1981 |title=Bills Pass Up The 'Big' Guys |pages=15 |newspaper=The Buffalo News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-bills-pass-up-the-big/136075933/ |access-date=December 1, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com |type=clipping |archive-date=December 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204163655/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-bills-pass-up-the-big/136075933/ |url-status=live }}}}

scope="row" | 1982

| align="center" | 19

| {{Sortname|Perry|Tuttle}}

| align="center" | WR

| Clemson

| Moved up draft order in trade with Denver Broncos{{efn-ua|Buffalo traded their 1982 first- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 21 and 106 overall) to the Denver Broncos in exchange for their 1982 first-round selection (No. 19 overall).{{Cite news |date=April 28, 1982 |title=Bert Jones deal highlights flurry of trades |url=https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=prre19820428-01.1.20&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN---------- |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204162854/https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=prre19820428-01.1.20&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN---------- |archive-date=December 4, 2023 |access-date=December 1, 2023 |work=Press-Republican |pages=20 |via=New York State Historic Newspapers |agency=United Press International}}{{cite news |title=NFL Draft Round-By-Round |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/santa-cruz-sentinel-nfl-draft-round-by-r/142940313/ |access-date=March 8, 2024 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |date=April 28, 1982 |pages=17 |via=Newspapers.com |type=clipping |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308162312/https://www.newspapers.com/article/santa-cruz-sentinel-nfl-draft-round-by-r/142940313/ |url-status=live }}}}

scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2"| 1983

| align="center" | 12

| {{Sortname|Tony|Hunter|dab=tight end}}

| align="center" | TE

| Notre Dame

|

align="center" | 14

| style="background-color:#FFFF99"|{{Sortname|Jim|Kelly}}{{dagger}}

| align="center" | QB

| Miami (FL)

| Picked received from Cleveland Browns.{{efn-ua|Buffalo traded linebacker Tom Cousineau to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for their 1983 first-round selection (No. 14 overall), 1984 third-round selection (No. 77 overall), and 1985 fifth-round selection (No. 119 overall).{{Cite news |date=April 25, 1982 |title=Sports People; Browns Get Cousineau |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/25/sports/sports-people-browns-get-cousineau.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828234316/https://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/25/sports/sports-people-browns-get-cousineau.html |archive-date=August 28, 2020 |access-date=December 7, 2023 |work=The New York Times |at=sec. 5, p. 9}}{{Cite news |date=April 27, 1983 |title=NFL Draft By Round |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-nfl-draft-by-round/136824037/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215173040/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-nfl-draft-by-round/136824037/ |archive-date=December 15, 2023 |access-date=December 14, 2023 |work=The Times |location=Shreveport |pages=24 |type=clipping |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}{{cite news |title=NFL draft round-by-round |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-nfl-draft-round-by-r/136824427/ |access-date=December 14, 2023 |newspaper=The Greenville News |date=May 2, 1984 |pages=41 |via=Newspapers.com |type=clipping |archive-date=December 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215173042/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-nfl-draft-round-by-r/136824427/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=May 1, 1985 |title=NFL Draft Round-by-Round |url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-lincoln-star-nfl-draft-round-by-roun/136824614/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215173042/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lincoln-star-nfl-draft-round-by-roun/136824614/ |archive-date=December 15, 2023 |access-date=December 14, 2023 |work=The Lincoln Star |pages=33 |type=clipping |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}}} Signed for the USFL's Houston Gamblers instead.{{efn-ua|Jim Kelly signed for the Houston Gamblers of the United States Football League (USFL). Kelly played for the Gamblers for two seasons until the USFL folded prior to the 1986 USFL season. The Bills had retained the rights to Kelly and, after the USFL folded, signed him to a record contract.{{cite news |title=USFL Votes Not to Play This Year |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1986/08/05/usfl-votes-not-to-play-this-year/22ac0bdc-702a-4ce7-9a56-543471b3e8bc/ |date=August 5, 1986 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241225223802/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1986/08/05/usfl-votes-not-to-play-this-year/22ac0bdc-702a-4ce7-9a56-543471b3e8bc/ |archive-date=December 25, 2024 |url-status=live |last1=Fowler |first1=Scott |access-date=March 14, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url-access=subscription}}{{cite web |title=Buffalo Bills |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Buffalo-Bills#ref1075885 |website=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=March 14, 2024 |language=en |date=March 14, 2024 |archive-date=December 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214213149/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Buffalo-Bills#ref1075885 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Fairburn |first1=Matthew |title='It was a perfect storm': How Jim Kelly's USFL seasons changed the course of the Bills and pro football |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/838469/2019/03/06/it-was-a-perfect-storm-how-jim-kellys-usfl-seasons-changed-the-course-of-the-bills-and-pro-football/ |website=The Athletic |access-date=March 14, 2024 |language=en |date=March 6, 2019 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=November 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114141524/https://theathletic.com/838469/2019/03/06/it-was-a-perfect-storm-how-jim-kellys-usfl-seasons-changed-the-course-of-the-bills-and-pro-football/ |url-status=live }}}}

scope="row" | 1984

| align="center" | 26

| {{Sortname|Greg|Bell|Greg Bell (running back, born 1962)}}

| align="center" | RB

| Notre Dame

| Moved down draft order in trade with Miami Dolphins{{efn-ua|Buffalo traded their 1984 first-round selection (No. 14 overall) to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for their 1984 first- and two third-round selections (Nos. 26, 79, and 82 overall).{{cite magazine |last1=Poupart |first1=Alain |title=Dolphins History Lesson: Trading Up in Round 1 |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/dolphins/news/miami-dolphins-history-lesson-on-trading-up-in-the-first-round |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=December 7, 2023 |language=en |date=April 22, 2021 |archive-date=December 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214184329/https://www.si.com/nfl/dolphins/news/miami-dolphins-history-lesson-on-trading-up-in-the-first-round |url-status=live }}}}

scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2"| 1985

| align="center" | 1

| style="background-color:#E0FFFF"| {{Sortname|Bruce|Smith}}{{double dagger}}

| align="center" | DE

| Virginia Tech

|

align="center" | 14

| {{Sortname|Derrick|Burroughs}}

| align="center" | DB

| Memphis State

| Pick received from Green Bay Packers{{efn-ua|Buffalo traded a 1985 first-round selection (No. 7 overall, received from Cleveland Browns){{efn-ua|name=Chip Banks|Linebacker Chip Banks was included as part of a trade for the first overall pick in the 1985 supplemental draft.{{efn-ua|name=1985 supplemental draft trade|Buffalo traded their 1985 supplemental draft first-round pick (No. 1 overall) to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for linebacker Chip Banks,{{efn-ua|name=Chip Banks}} a 1985 third-round selection (No. 63 overall), and their 1986 first- and sixth-round selections (Nos. 16 and 154 overall).{{Cite web |last=Kosich |first=John |date=April 29, 2021 |title=The remarkable tale of how Bernie Kosar bypassed the regular NFL Draft to join the Cleveland Browns |url=https://www.news5cleveland.com/sports/2021-nfl-draft/the-remarkable-tale-of-how-bernie-kosar-bypassed-the-regular-nfl-draft-to-join-the-cleveland-browns |access-date=November 30, 2023 |website=News 5 Cleveland |language=en |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031195255/https://www.news5cleveland.com//sports/2021-nfl-draft/the-remarkable-tale-of-how-bernie-kosar-bypassed-the-regular-nfl-draft-to-join-the-cleveland-browns |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=NFL draft selections |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-nfl-draft-selection/136696370/ |access-date=December 12, 2023 |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |date=April 30, 1986 |pages=15 |via=Newspapers.com |type=clipping |archive-date=December 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212161451/https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-nfl-draft-selection/136696370/ |url-status=live }}}} Based on a provision of the trade agreement, the Cleveland Browns were forced to give Buffalo their 1985 first-round selection (No. 7 overall) because Banks did not show up for his physical with Buffalo.{{Cite web |date=April 30, 1985 |title=Pro Football Notes : Chip Banks, Where Are You? |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-04-30-sp-19991-story.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615204253/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-04-30-sp-19991-story.html |archive-date=June 15, 2021 |access-date=November 29, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times}}{{cite web |title=The Buffalo Bills finalized the obvious Tuesday at the... |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/04/30/The-Buffalo-Bills-finalized-the-obvious-Tuesday-at-the/8928483681600/ |website=United Press International |date=April 30, 1985 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241223184338/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/04/30/The-Buffalo-Bills-finalized-the-obvious-Tuesday-at-the/8928483681600/ |archive-date=December 23, 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=November 29, 2023 |language=en}}}} to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for their 1985 first- and second-round selections (Nos. 14 and 42 overall).{{cite web |title=The NFL's draft-capital kings: Most pick-heavy classes ever |url=https://www.espn.com.au/nfl/story/_/id/19037172/the-nfl-draft-capital-kings-most-pick-heavy-classes-ever |website=ESPN |access-date=December 7, 2023 |language=en |date=April 4, 2017 |archive-date=February 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190208121940/http://www.espn.com.au/nfl/story/_/id/19037172/the-nfl-draft-capital-kings-most-pick-heavy-classes-ever |url-status=live }}}}

scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2"| 1986

| align="center" | 16

| {{Sortname|Ronnie|Harmon}}

| align="center" | RB

| Iowa

| Pick received from Cleveland Browns{{efn-ua|name=1985 supplemental draft trade}}

align="center" | 20

| {{Sortname|Will|Wolford}}

| align="center" | T

| Vanderbilt

| Moved up draft order in trade with San Francisco 49ers{{efn-ua|Buffalo traded their 1986 second- and third-round selections (Nos. 29 and 56 overall) to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for their 1986 first-round selection (No. 20 overall) and 1987 tenth-round selection (No. 273 overall).{{cite news |title=Round by Round |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-round-by-round/136696836/ |access-date=December 14, 2023 |newspaper=Democrat and Chronicle |date=April 29, 1987 |pages=39 |via=Newspapers.com |type=clipping |archive-date=December 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212161449/https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-round-by-round/136696836/ |url-status=live }}}}

scope="row" | 1987

| align="center" | 8

| {{Sortname|Shane|Conlan}}

| align="center" | LB

| Penn State

| Moved down draft order in trade with Houston Oilers{{efn-ua|Buffalo traded their 1987 first-round selection (No. 3 overall) to the Houston Oilers in exchange for their 1987 first- and second-round selections (Nos. 8 and 36 overall).{{cite news |title=Cornerback, Lineman Top The Redskins' List |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1987/04/29/cornerback-lineman-top-the-redskins-list/3a8fab83-5037-41c1-b2aa-d1fd4b4a0f34/ |date=April 29, 1987 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241223183518/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1987/04/29/cornerback-lineman-top-the-redskins-list/3a8fab83-5037-41c1-b2aa-d1fd4b4a0f34/ |archive-date=December 23, 2024 |url-status=live |last1=Pomerantz |first1=Gary |url-access=subscription |access-date=November 29, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}}}

scope="row" | 1988

| colspan=4 align="center" | {{sortname|No|pick||0|nolink=1}}

| Pick traded to Los Angeles Rams{{efn-ua|name=3-way trade|Buffalo, in a 3-way trade involving the Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Rams, traded their 1988 first-round selection (No. 14 overall) and their 1989 first- and second-round selections (Nos. 26 and 53 overall) in exchange for the rights to linebacker Cornelius Bennett.{{cite web |title=Trick or Trade |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/football-history/trick-or-trade/ |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=November 28, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=October 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004054545/https://www.profootballhof.com/football-history/trick-or-trade/ |url-status=live }}}}

scope="row" | 1989

| colspan=4 align="center" | {{sortname|No|pick||0|nolink=1}}

| Pick traded to Los Angeles Rams{{efn-ua|name=3-way trade}}

scope="row" | 1990

| align="center" | 16

| {{Sortname|James|Williams|James Williams (cornerback)}}

| align="center" | DB

| Fresno State

|

scope="row" | 1991

| align="center" | 26

| {{Sortname|Henry|Jones|Henry Jones (American football)}}

| align="center" | DB

| Illinois

|

scope="row" | 1992

| align="center" | 27

| {{Sortname|John|Fina}}

| align="center" | T

| Arizona

|

scope="row" | 1993

| align="center" | 28

| {{Sortname|Thomas|Smith|Thomas Smith (cornerback)}}

| align="center" | DB

| North Carolina

|

scope="row" | 1994

| align="center" | 27

| {{Sortname|Jeff|Burris}}

| align="center" | DB

| Notre Dame

|

scope="row" | 1995

| align="center" | 14

| {{Sortname|Ruben|Brown}}

| align="center" | G

| Pittsburgh

|

scope="row" | 1996

| align="center" | 24

| {{Sortname|Eric|Moulds}}

| align="center" | WR

| Mississippi State

|

scope="row" | 1997

| align="center" | 23

| {{Sortname|Antowain|Smith}}

| align="center" | RB

| Houston

|

scope="row" | 1998

| colspan=4 align="center" | {{sortname|No|pick||0|nolink=1}}

| Pick traded to Jacksonville Jaguars{{efn-ua|Buffalo traded their 1998 first- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 9 and 101 overall) to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for quarterback Rob Johnson.{{cite web |title=1998 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1998/draft.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515130702/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1998/draft.htm |archive-date=May 15, 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=November 28, 2023 |language=en }}}}

scope="row" | 1999

| align="center" | 23

| {{Sortname|Antoine|Winfield|Antoine Winfield Sr.}}

| align="center" | DB

| Ohio State

|

scope="row" | 2000

| align="center" | 26

| {{Sortname|Erik|Flowers}}

| align="center" | DE

| Arizona State

|

scope="row" | 2001

| align="center" | 21

| {{Sortname|Nate|Clements}}

| align="center" | DB

| Ohio State

| Moved down draft order in trade with Tampa Bay Buccaneers{{efn-ua|Buffalo traded their 2001 first-round selection (No. 14 overall) to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for their 2001 first and second-round selections (Nos. 21 and 51 overall).{{cite web |title=NFL Draft Trades |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/2001/04/21/NFL-Draft-Trades/8617987825600/ |website=United Press International |date=April 21, 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527115140/https://www.upi.com/Archives/2001/04/21/NFL-Draft-Trades/8617987825600/ |archive-date=May 27, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=November 28, 2023 |language=en}}}}

scope="row" | 2002

| align="center" | 4

| {{Sortname|Mike|Williams|Mike Williams (offensive lineman)}}

| align="center" | T

| Texas

|

scope="row" | 2003

| align="center" | 23

| {{Sortname|Willis|McGahee}}

| align="center" | RB

| Miami (FL)

| Pick received from Atlanta Falcons.{{efn-ua|Buffalo traded wide receiver Peerless Price to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for their 2003 first-round selection (No. 23 overall).{{cite web |title=2003 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2003/draft.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515130756/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2003/draft.htm |archive-date=May 15, 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=November 28, 2023 |language=en }}}} Original pick traded to New England Patriots.{{efn-ua|Buffalo traded their 2003 first-round selection (No. 14 overall) to the New England Patriots in exchange for quarterback Drew Bledsoe.}}

scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2"| 2004

| align="center" | 13

| {{Sortname|Lee|Evans|Lee Evans (American football)}}

| align="center" | WR

| Wisconsin

|

align="center" | 22

| {{Sortname|J. P.|Losman}}

| align="center" | QB

| Tulane

| Moved up draft order in trade with Dallas Cowboys{{efn-ua|name=2004 Cowboys trade|Buffalo traded their 2004 second- and fifth-round selections (Nos. 43 and 144 overall) and their 2005 first-round selection (No. 20 overall) to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for their 2004 first-round selection (No. 22 overall).{{cite web |title=2005 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2005/draft.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514150502/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2005/draft.htm |archive-date=May 14, 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=November 28, 2023 |language=en }}}}

scope="row" | 2005

| colspan=4 align="center" | {{sortname|No|pick||0|nolink=1}}

| Pick traded to Dallas Cowboys{{efn-ua|name=2004 Cowboys trade}}

scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2"| 2006

| align="center" | 8

| {{Sortname|Donte|Whitner}}

| align="center" | S

| Ohio State

|

align="center" | 26

| {{Sortname|John|McCargo}}

| align="center" | DT

| N.C. State

| Moved up draft order in trade with Chicago Bears{{efn-ua|Buffalo traded their 2006 second- and third-round selections (Nos. 42 and 73 overall) to the Chicago Bears in exchange for their 2006 first-round selection (No. 26 overall).{{cite web |title=2006 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2006/draft.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610200649/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2006/draft.htm |archive-date=June 10, 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=November 28, 2023 |language=en }}}}

scope="row" | 2007

| align="center" | 12

| {{Sortname|Marshawn|Lynch}}

| align="center" | RB

| California

|

scope="row" | 2008

| align="center" | 11

| {{Sortname|Leodis|McKelvin}}

| align="center" | DB

| Troy

|

scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2"| 2009

| align="center" | 11

| {{Sortname|Aaron|Maybin}}

| align="center" | DE

| Penn State

|

align="center" | 28

| {{Sortname|Eric|Wood}}

| align="center" | C

| Louisville

|

scope="row" | 2010

| align="center" | 9

| {{Sortname|C. J.|Spiller}}

| align="center" | RB

| Clemson

|

scope="row" | 2011

| align="center" | 3

| {{Sortname|Marcell|Dareus}}

| align="center" | DT

| Alabama

|

scope="row" | 2012

| align="center" | 10

| {{Sortname|Stephon|Gilmore}}

| align="center" | CB

| South Carolina

|

scope="row" | 2013

| align="center" | 16

| {{Sortname|EJ|Manuel}}

| align="center" | QB

| Florida State

| Moved down draft order in trade with St. Louis Rams{{efn-ua|Buffalo traded their 2013 first- and third-round selections (Nos. 8 and 71 overall) to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for their 2013 first-, second-, third- and seventh-round selections (Nos. 16, 46, 67, and 222 overall).{{cite web |title=2013 NFL draft trade tracker |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2013/story/_/id/9211812/trade-tracker |website=ESPN |access-date=November 28, 2023 |language=en |date=April 25, 2013 |archive-date=September 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925205404/https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2013/story/_/id/9211812/trade-tracker |url-status=live }}}}

scope="row" | 2014

| align="center" | 4

| {{Sortname|Sammy|Watkins}}

| align="center" | WR

| Clemson

| Moved up draft order in trade with Cleveland Browns{{efn-ua|name=Watkins trade|Buffalo traded their 2014 first-round selection (No. 9 overall) and their 2015 first- and fifth-round selections (Nos. 19 and 115 overall) to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for their 2014 first-round selection (No. 4 overall).{{Cite web |last=Rodak |first=Mike |date=May 8, 2014 |title=Bills trade up to pick WR Watkins at No. 4 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2014/story/_/id/10903086/2014-nfl-draft-buffalo-bills-trade-pick-sammy-watkins-no-4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513011500/http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2014/story/_/id/10903086/2014-nfl-draft-buffalo-bills-trade-pick-sammy-watkins-no-4 |archive-date=May 13, 2019 |access-date=November 28, 2023 |website=ESPN |language=en}}}}

scope="row" | 2015

| colspan=4 align="center" | {{sortname|No|pick||0|nolink=1}}

| Pick traded to Cleveland Browns{{efn-ua|name=Watkins trade}}

scope="row" | 2016

| align="center" | 19

| {{Sortname|Shaq|Lawson}}

| align="center" | DE

| Clemson

|

scope="row" | 2017

| align="center" | 27

| {{Sortname|Tre'Davious|White}}

| align="center" | CB

| LSU

| Moved down draft order in trade with Kansas City Chiefs{{efn-ua|name=2017 KC trade|Buffalo traded their 2017 first-round selection (No. 10 overall) to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for their 2017 first- and third-round selections (Nos. 27 and 91 overall) and their 2018 first-round selection (No. 22 overall).{{cite web |title=Tracking every trade in the 2017 NFL draft |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/131457/tracking-every-trade-in-the-2017-nfl-draft |website=ESPN |access-date=November 28, 2023 |language=en |date=April 28, 2017 |archive-date=October 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008080511/https://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/131457/tracking-every-trade-in-the-2017-nfl-draft |url-status=live }}}}

scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2"| 2018

| align="center" | 7

| {{sortname|Josh|Allen}}

| align="center" | QB

| Wyoming

| Moved up draft order in trade with Tampa Bay Buccaneers{{efn-ua|Buffalo traded a 2018 first- (received from the Cincinnati Bengals){{efn-ua|Buffalo traded tackle Cordy Glenn, as well as a 2018 first- and fifth-round selection (Nos. 21 and 158 overall) to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for their 2018 first-round selection (No. 12 overall).{{cite magazine |last1=Gartland |first1=Dan |title=Bills trade Glenn to Bengals, move up in draft |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/03/12/bills-bengals-trade-cordy-glenn-first-round-draft-picks |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=November 28, 2023 |language=en-us |date=March 12, 2018 |archive-date=December 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207005006/https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/03/12/bills-bengals-trade-cordy-glenn-first-round-draft-picks |url-status=live }}}} and two second-round selections (Nos. 12, 53, and 56 overall) to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for their 2018 first- and seventh-round selections (Nos. 7 and 255 overall).{{cite web |title=Tracking every trade in the 2018 NFL draft |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/23324716/2018-nfl-draft-trade-tracker-every-move-all-32-teams |website=ESPN |access-date=November 28, 2023 |language=en |date=April 26, 2018 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001111011/https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/23324716/2018-nfl-draft-trade-tracker-every-move-all-32-teams |url-status=live }}}}

align="center" | 16

| {{Sortname|Tremaine|Edmunds}}

| align="center" | LB

| Virginia Tech

| Moved up draft order in trade with Baltimore Ravens{{efn-ua|Buffalo traded a 2018 first- (received from the Kansas City Chiefs){{efn-ua|name=2017 KC trade}} and third-round selection (Nos. 22 and 65 overall) to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for their 2018 first- and fifth-round selections (Nos. 16 and 154 overall).}}

scope="row" | 2019

| align="center" | 9

| {{Sortname|Ed|Oliver|Ed Oliver (American football)}}

| align="center" | DT

| Houston

|

scope="row" | 2020

| colspan=4 align="center" | {{sortname|No|pick||0|nolink=1}}

| Pick traded to Minnesota Vikings{{efn-ua|Buffalo traded their 2020 first-, fifth-, and sixth-round selections (Nos. 22, 155, and 201 overall), as well as a 2021 fourth-round selection (No. 134 overall) to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for wide receiver Stefon Diggs and a 2020 seventh-round selection (No. 239 overall).{{cite magazine |last1=Ragatz |first1=Will |title=The Stefon Diggs-Justin Jefferson Trade (And Others) Became Complete During The 2021 Draft |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/stefon-diggs-justin-jefferson-trade-others-became-complete-2021-draft |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=November 28, 2023 |language=en |date=May 7, 2021 |archive-date=June 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616214244/https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/stefon-diggs-justin-jefferson-trade-others-became-complete-2021-draft |url-status=live }}}}

scope="row" | 2021

| align="center" | 30

| {{Sortname|Greg|Rousseau}}

| align="center" | DE

| Miami (FL)

|

scope="row" | 2022

| align="center" | 23

| {{Sortname|Kaiir|Elam}}

| align="center" | CB

| Florida

| Moved up draft order in trade with Baltimore Ravens{{efn-ua|Buffalo traded their 2022 first- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 25 and 130 overall) to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for their 2022 first-round selection (No. 23 overall).{{cite web |title=2022 NFL draft trade tracker: Eagles trade No. 18 pick for WR A.J. Brown |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33816417/2022-nfl-draft-trade-tracker-every-deal-first-round-pick |website=ESPN |access-date=November 28, 2023 |language=en |date=April 28, 2022 |archive-date=July 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721153928/https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33816417/2022-nfl-draft-trade-tracker-every-deal-first-round-pick |url-status=live }}}}

scope="row" | 2023

| align="center" | 25

| {{sortname|Dalton|Kincaid}}

| align="center" | TE

| Utah

| Moved up draft order in trade with Jacksonville Jaguars{{efn-ua|Buffalo traded their 2023 first- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 27 and 130 overall) to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for their 2023 first-round selection (No. 25 overall).{{Cite web |last=Patra |first=Kevin |date=April 27, 2023 |title=Bills trade up with Jaguars to select Utah TE Dalton Kincaid at No. 25 overall in 2023 NFL Draft |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/bills-trade-up-with-jaguars-to-select-utah-te-dalton-kincaid-at-no-25-overall-in |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003064422/https://www.nfl.com/news/bills-trade-up-with-jaguars-to-select-utah-te-dalton-kincaid-at-no-25-overall-in |archive-date=October 3, 2023 |access-date=November 28, 2023 |website=National Football League}}}}

scope="row" | 2024

| colspan=4 align="center" | {{sortname|No|pick||0|nolink=1}}

| Moved down draft order in trades with Kansas City Chiefs{{efn-ua|name=2024 KC trade|Buffalo traded their 2024 first-, fourth-, and seventh-round selection (Nos. 28, 133, and 248 overall) to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for their 2024 first-, third-, and seventh-round selections (Nos. 32, 95, and 221 overall).{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Ryan |last2=Maiorana |first2=Sal |title=Who did the Bills draft: Tracking every Buffalo selection in 2024 NFL draft |url=https://democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/football/nfl/bills/2024/04/25/buffalo-bills-nfl-draft-picks-2024-round-by-round-selections-analysis/73440794007/ |website=Democrat and Chronicle |date=April 25, 2024 |access-date=April 26, 2024 |archive-date=April 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426194204/https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/football/nfl/bills/2024/04/25/buffalo-bills-nfl-draft-picks-2024-round-by-round-selections-analysis/73440794007/ |url-status=live }}}} and Carolina Panthers{{efn-ua|Buffalo traded a 2024 first- (received from the Kansas City Chiefs){{efn-ua|name=2024 KC trade}} and sixth-round selection (Nos. 32 and 200 overall) to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for their 2024 second- and fifth-round selections (Nos. 33 and 141 overall).}}

scope="row" | 2025

| align="center" | 30

| {{sortname|Maxwell|Hairston}}

| align="center" | CB

| Kentucky

|

See also

Notes

{{notelist|colwidth=1|group=upper-alpha}}

References

{{reflist}}

{{Buffalo Bills}}

{{BillsFirstPick}}

{{List of NFL team first-round draft picks}}

Buffalo Bills

*first-round draft picks

First round draft picks