Bills selected South Carolina S Jalon Kilgore with the No. 167 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Kilgore (6’1/210) is a high-variance nickel defender whose production and playmaking jump off the page, tallying 53 tackles with 14 havoc plays and two INTs plus 11 PBUs in 2025. In coverage, he allowed just 19 receptions on 50 targets (38.0%) for 248 yards, good for 0.72 yards per coverage snap and a stellar 15.4 passer rating allowed while producing an elite 24.0 percent forced incompletion rate. Kilgore’s aggressive play style shows up both positively and negatively, as he attacks throwing windows and plays through the catch point but can be manipulated by tempo and route detail, surrendering occasional leverage. His 9.60 RAS reflects an explosive, long-framed athlete with high-end speed (4.40 40, 99th percentile) and vertical juice, though his transitions and pedal efficiency remain inconsistent relative to his tools. Against the run, he contributes with physicality (46.2 percent run tackle share, 85.5 percent tackle rate) and flashes downhill urgency, but his angles and control can waver in space. Kilgore projects as a traits-driven nickel/safety hybrid whose ball production and athletic ceiling give him upside in a matchup-oriented role, though refinement in technique and discipline will determine whether he develops into a reliable starter.
