The Buffalo Bills made waves at the 2026 NFL Draft, walking away with 10 selections thanks to a series of trades. But as any football fan knows, a draft haul doesn't automatically fill every hole on the roster—especially when you're installing a brand-new defensive system.

Enter new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, whose scheme shift has put a spotlight on the nose tackle position. Despite having plenty of picks to work with, the Bills opted not to use a top selection on that specific spot. So what's the game plan now? General Manager Brandon Beane recently offered some clarity during an appearance on WGR-550 radio.

"If we trotted the ball out right now, Deone Walker is going to start at nose for us," Beane said, making it clear that the big-bodied defender is the early favorite for the job.

Walker isn't the only option in the room, though. The Bills also have Phidarian Mathis and Zion Logue on the roster, both of whom could factor into the competition as training camp approaches.

But Beane isn't closing the door on outside help. As is often the case in the post-draft landscape, a wave of free agent signings typically follows. The Bills could still look to add a veteran who better fits Leonhard's vision for the position.

Of course, with the 2026 regular season still months away, there's plenty of time for the depth chart to evolve. For now, the nose tackle battle is one to keep an eye on in Buffalo.