Bills starting defense, some backups 2026 before fa/ draft

[billsfan89]

Bills defense has talent. Assuming you have a coach who runs a 4-3 type scheme the Bills can fit about 80-90% of the current defensive talent into most 4-3 or hybrid based schemes. Looking at the talent position group by position group. 

 

• Safety- Cole is a stud, you likely will have to find a starter opposite him and build some depth. Handcock and Hamlin aren't exactly great depth. Work to do but having Cole is a big positive. 
• Corner- Hairston and Benford are a very good duo to start with. Taron is still a capable vet if you feel he fits the scheme. Wouldn't mind seeing Tre White come back as a dimeback. But you got 2-3 good players here need for depth and development is there. 
• Linebacker- This is where a new DC is gonna do the most work. Bernard does not fit a ton of schemes as an every down LB but he certainly fits the mold as a coverage LB so any DC can use him on passing downs. Dorian Williams is a piece here I think most DC's could use but likely going to have 2 free agents and a draft pick in the mid-rounds added here.
• D-Line- Groot is a DE that fits most schemes, Oliver a penetrating pass rushing DT fits with what a lot of coaches like to do, Walker is a mountain of a man who will be a beast in any scheme, Sanders came on stronger to end last season so I think he fits in a D-line rotation in most schemes. Hoecht is insanely versatile but coming off a major injury so if he's healthy off the PUP he could be interesting in any system. 

Bills will have to overhaul the LB core and make tweaks to the D-line and secondary, but any coach should be able to take most of these pieces and make it work into most 4-3 schemes. 

[MasterStrategist]

13 hours ago, gonzo1105 said:

I keep telling everyone under the sun my # 1 guy this free agency is Kaden Elliss from the Falcons he’s a MLB but he’s more of a pass rush guy so maybe a SAM in our 4-3 if that’s what we’re playing 

Makes alot of sense if we attract Raheem as next DC

[BeyondTheProcess]

17 hours ago, oldmanfan said:

Can’t say who or what we’ll need on D till the new HC is named..  I just want someone who wants an attacking D.  I don’t want more soft zone coverage as the primary focus.

Correct.  We are in the complete unknown right now until an entirely new coaching staff is assembled.   We have no idea where this team is going schematically, so to speculate on roster composition is foolishness. 

[notpolian]

Try to sign Milano and Thompson to team friendly deals.  They are better than any other LB currently on the roster, which isn't saying a great deal.

 

We desperately need a 1T.

 

Hoecht won't be full speed for a while, if ever.

 

Here's my outside the box ideas:

- Try Bernard at safety.  I don't know if he has the speed.  He can't shed blocks but that's not so bad at safety.  He goes from undersized to an asset in the run game.

- Can Walker play edge?  His pad level is really too high at his height for the interior.  But again that's less of a problem at edge.  He has shown some pop.

Edited January 24 by notpolian

[harmonkillebrew]

We have a nice, young DT rotation. Hoecht isn't really a starting DE and probably wont' be ready for the start of the year.

Spend some capital on Hendrickson, Crosby, Jaelen Phillips, Oweh. A disruptive pass rusher is #1 need.

I'd role with Bernard and Shaq/Milano re-sign for now, but use a high pick on a LB. And hopefully he wins the training camp battle and stars

Depending on the new DC, could maybe get by with Hancock. 

 

Need some big investments in WR and G/C on the other side too

 

 

[DapperCam]

Definitely going to be an interesting offseason. Depending on the DC brought in there could be a lot of churn there. Not many schemes need small undersized LBs. Milano probably won’t be brought back. Bernard will last another season, but he’s a cut candidate starting next offseason.

 

Taron Johnson seems cooked. Obviously Poyer won’t be brought back. Rapp is probably gone. Bosa probably won’t be back. Not sure about Tre White. He’s good depth on the right contract. Epenesa probably gone (UFA).

 

I’m thinking we could have 50% new players on defense between starters and depth.

[colin]

The d is gonna be young and full of mid tier signings, and mid is being generous.

 

We can't get out of Bernard, but we are very likely to ditch taron, who has been awful for two years now.

 

We won't have the number one pass d in the NFL next season, but we likely won't have the worst run d either.

 

I think we add at least 3 DBS, maybe 5.  We add one to two lbs, unless the new staff thinks Bernard sucks and then it might be 3.

 

The DL is where it gets interesting.  We have some rookies with talent, and Carter and Jackson who are not looking great and got hurt.  We don't have a lot at de especially.

 

I could see them moving Oliver to rebuild the DL how they want it, almost certainly bigger.

[SoMAn]

On 1/23/2026 at 12:13 AM, SCBills said:

Maxx Crosby will 100% be a name tied to Buffalo.  
 

Would probably require cutting Knox and trading Dawkins for draft picks to replace what would be lost in that trade. 
 

 

Very plausible scenario. Decisions have to be made. Some fan favorites and ‘Josh guys’ may be sacrificed.

Dawkins is on the decline and Knox is expendable with Hawes and Kincaid. 

Milano, White, Poyer, Epenesa will all be gone. 
Beane has the roster in a tough cap situation, now he’s got to find a way to replace the aging vets. He’s going to be under a lot of pressure to hit on draft picks and find a way to get the much coveted # 1 WR. 
Another rebuild year. Here we go. 

[harmonkillebrew]

19 hours ago, billsfan89 said:

Bills defense has talent. Assuming you have a coach who runs a 4-3 type scheme the Bills can fit about 80-90% of the current defensive talent into most 4-3 or hybrid based schemes. Looking at the talent position group by position group. 

 

• Safety- Cole is a stud, you likely will have to find a starter opposite him and build some depth. Handcock and Hamlin aren't exactly great depth. Work to do but having Cole is a big positive. 
• Corner- Hairston and Benford are a very good duo to start with. Taron is still a capable vet if you feel he fits the scheme. Wouldn't mind seeing Tre White come back as a dimeback. But you got 2-3 good players here need for depth and development is there. 
• Linebacker- This is where a new DC is gonna do the most work. Bernard does not fit a ton of schemes as an every down LB but he certainly fits the mold as a coverage LB so any DC can use him on passing downs. Dorian Williams is a piece here I think most DC's could use but likely going to have 2 free agents and a draft pick in the mid-rounds added here.
• D-Line- Groot is a DE that fits most schemes, Oliver a penetrating pass rushing DT fits with what a lot of coaches like to do, Walker is a mountain of a man who will be a beast in any scheme, Sanders came on stronger to end last season so I think he fits in a D-line rotation in most schemes. Hoecht is insanely versatile but coming off a major injury so if he's healthy off the PUP he could be interesting in any system. 

Bills will have to overhaul the LB core and make tweaks to the D-line and secondary, but any coach should be able to take most of these pieces and make it work into most 4-3 schemes. 

Don't forget about Strong. I think he's Taron's replacement, who is past his prime and a candidate to be cut given his inflated cap hit.

Bernard probably fits better as a weak side OLB and Bills should probably draft a better MLB. Might bring back Shaq or Milano on the cheap for the other strong side OLB and for continuity. But probably depends if next DC also wants to run a nickel base (I hope not)

Edited January 24 by harmonkillebrew

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

It’s all going to depend on who comes in here to coach the defense. There are a few guys that I think are a part of it regardless moving forward. I have been saying we have a lot of talent for a while now and blamed it all on coaching. I think we are about to find that out. Hopefully we bring In the right guy to get this thing turned around. We are probably going to need to add at least 1 if not 2 starting LBs this offseason. The secondary is in pretty good shape and the Dline is probably 1 guy away. There is a lot to work with. Let’s go bring in a Wade Phillips level DC and go with this whole thing 

[MJS]

I don't care about youth.

[OldTimer1960]

On 1/23/2026 at 3:50 AM, GunnerBill said:

 

I think it is possible. The 1st round pick is going to be a linebacker, an edge or a wide receiver IMO.

Is CB out of the question?  Besides Benford, that position is a worry (at least to me) - Taron Johnson is fading and it’s unclear if Max Hairston can stay healthy.

[boyst]

The idea of Spector starting is hideous. The guy was released and didn't even go to another PS yet... He's gonna start?

[Real McCoy]

Thank OP for posting this. Whomever our new DC is at the end of the day, there is a lot to work with and youth is on their side.

 

I would like to see LB and safety tweaked for sure though. 

 

 

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

The one sneaky thing about next year is I think the natural grass helps our defense. From all I have ever seen in NFL football, a slower field seems to help the defenses quite a bit. I think that alone will help us get a little better. 

[GunnerBill]

27 minutes ago, OldTimer1960 said:

Is CB out of the question?  Besides Benford, that position is a worry (at least to me) - Taron Johnson is fading and it’s unclear if Max Hairston can stay healthy.

 

In the first? I think so. @gonzo1105's two rounder has them going there in the second though. And I don't think it is out of the question on day 2 somewhere.

[OldTimer1960]

1 minute ago, GunnerBill said:

 

In the first? I think so. @gonzo1105's two rounder has them going there in the second though. And I don't think it is out of the question on day 2 somewhere.

I guess it would be too high in round 1 with presumptive starters in Benford, Johnson and Hairston.  Beyond them it feels thin to me, but I’ll admit that I thought Tre White played better than expected this year.

[Chaos]

On 1/23/2026 at 12:13 AM, SCBills said:

Maxx Crosby will 100% be a name tied to Buffalo.  
 

Would probably require cutting Knox and trading Dawkins for draft picks to replace what would be lost in that trade. 
 

 

what do you think the market for Dawkins is? 

[SCBills]

This roster also shows McDermott’s influence in philosophy and one I hope we can move away from with some offseason changes.  
 

The DL can work but is McD’s philosophy of compression style EDGE rushers with penetrating DT’s. 
 

The hope is Landon Jackson can be functional and play the AJ Epenesa role.

 

Rousseau and Hoecht is a solid DE pairing, but ideally we find a way to get a more significant pass rusher in the mix that allows Hoecht to move around more. 
 

I actually love the potential of Oliver, Walker and Sanders.  DT’s take time and Walker looks well on his way to being a good one, while Sanders hopefully breaks out more in his second year.  Ideally the new staff brings in a run plugger to round out the room unlike McDermott.  
 

LB’s are gross.  Dorian Williams has a role as LB3 spy/mirror player but outside of him it’s crap that McDermott clearly influenced in locking down Bernard in an extension.  Work to do here.  
 

Secondary has 3/5 of great room in Benford, Bishop and Hairston.  Interested to see where they go with the other Safety spot and NCB. 
 

Theres a lot of young talent but also no real consistent difference maker on the DL and a lot of work to do in the Back 7 outside 3, maybe 4 guys.  
 

If we can get Maxx Crosby and a WR1, I’d have zero issue using Oliver and Dawkins as trade chips .. they’re probably the only two we realistically have.  We can find run pluggers to go with Walker and Sanders, along with using Hoecht and Williams inside on pass rush packages. 

2 minutes ago, Chaos said:

what do you think the market for Dawkins is? 

Spotrac guy on with Parrino said we’d likely be looking at a draft pick package of a 2, 3 and Day 3 pick swaps where we maybe move up a round. 

[GunnerBill]

15 minutes ago, Chaos said:

what do you think the market for Dawkins is? 

 

Oh teams would be interested. Value wise? The Commanders paid a 3rd, a 7th, a future 2nd and a future 4th and got one 4th back for Laremy Tunsil a year ago. He is the same age as Dion and a similar standard of player. I don't think the Bills would get close to that haul mysel... but maybe a 3rd or a 4th and a 6th... something in that sort of territory. I just wonder what the plan is at left tackle though if you do that. I like Tylan Grable a lot but he hasn't even proven he can stay healthy let alone hold down first team LT.