Before the 2018 NFL Draft, each team was allowed 30 official pre-draft visits and only 24 of them were made known for the Buffalo Bills. The 16th overall and the second first-round pick for the Bills, Tremaine Edmunds was not one of the known players on the Bills list until Sean McDermott confirmed he was after they made the pick.
The Bills met with four other linebackers that we know; Roquan Smith, Rashaan Evans, Leighton Vander Esch, and Fred Warner. Smith, who was selected by the Chicago Bears, was the only linebacker selected before Edmunds.
The Bills moved up to 16 in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens from 22, a pick the acquired from the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2017 NFL Draft, to make sure they got their MIKE backer of the future. They also gave up their 65th overall pick in which they received for the trade with the Cleveland Browns that sent Tyrod Taylor off.
After the departure of Preston Brown in free agency, there was a gaping hole in the middle of the defense. Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott ensured that spot was filled.