Why Bills, Brandon Beane trading out of 1st round entirely was brilliant 3-trade maneuver, and what picks Buffalo has now originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Bills Mafia may not be happy that they stayed up late Thursday night to see the Buffalo Bills make a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Bills didn't pick anyone, because they traded out of the first round entirely.

But it's actually brilliant by GM Brandon Beane. Maybe you lost a little sleep, but it'll work out in the long run.

2026 NFL DRAFT HQ:Live tracker | Pick-by-pick grades | Best players still available

Explaining Bills' 3 NFL Draft 1st-round trades

The Bills started the night with the No. 26 overall pick -- and it's worth noting that they didn't have a second-round pick, because they traded that to the Chicago Bears for wide receiver DJ Moore.

Buffalo ended the night without making a pick.

The first move was a deal with the Houston Texans. The Bills sent picks 26 and 91 to Houston for 28, 69 and 167.

Then, the Bills swung a deal with the New England Patriots: 28 to the Pats for 31 and 125.

Finally, the Bills traded the 1st pick to the Tennessee Titans.

In return for pick 31, 69 and 165, the Bills got 35, 66 and 101.

So the final slate for the Bills looks like this:

• They started the night with picks 26, 91 and 165.

• They ended the night with picks 35, 66, 101, 125 and 167.

BEST DRAFT NAMES: Ephesians Prysock | R Mason Thomas | DeVonta Smith | Zxavian Harris

That feels like a win for Buffalo.

The one potential mishap is that the Bills lose the chance at a fifth-year option that only comes with a first-round pick. But that's only of value if they feel they could get a sure thing somewhere late in the first round.

They obviously didn't have anyone high enough left on their draft board to stay there.

Instead, they come away with two more bites at the apple with two additional picks.

Get a good night's sleep and tune in Friday night. The Bills will start making noise in the draft in rounds two and three.

More NFL Draft news:

• Chiefs make a shocking draft trade

• Commanders get Sonny Styles after historic NFL Draft Combine

• Steelers' 1st-round pick didn't play football until college

• Eagles and Cowboys have made a trade like this before

• Browns' pick is really about Shedeur Sanders' replacement