The Buffalo Bills’ linebacker group has become a real problem through the first four games, and it’s easy to see why attention is turning toward next offseason.
Terrel Bernard has been average at best, the depth behind him isn’t especially strong, and the 3-4 scheme hasn’t done this unit any favors. That has left Bills fans already looking ahead to what needs fixing after the 2026 season.
The defense as a whole has been shaky over the last couple of weeks. Buffalo was the reason the Bills beat the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3, but the other games have exposed the unit’s issues. Then in Week 4, the Patriots pushed 29 points across and handed Buffalo the loss.
Through four games, the Bills are allowing 372 yards per game on defense, and the latest performance only added to the concern. At linebacker, the results have been especially underwhelming.
Bernard hasn’t looked like the same player, Kaleb Elarms-Orr has been on limited snaps, and Dorian Williams is more of a run-stopper than a linebacker you want dropping into coverage in the middle of the field. Williams is also a pending free agent after this season, and it’s far from certain Buffalo would choose to keep him.
That’s why Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports has the Bills targeting Notre Dame linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa in his 2027 NFL mock draft. Wilson sees a player whose style resembles what Matt Milano once brought to Buffalo early in his career.
" Viliamu-Asa suffered a knee injury late last season, but you wouldn't know it watching him in '26. He's a terror as an off-ball LB or coming off the edge, combining high-level run-stopping instincts with smooth, safety-like coverage skills." said Wilson.
Viliamu-Asa has put together a strong statistical run at Notre Dame, with 48 total tackles last season and 13 so far this season. He’s also picked off a pass in each season with the Fighting Irish and added a couple of pass deflections.
There’s still a lot of growing to do under Jim Leonhard’s new scheme, and the growing pains may continue throughout the season. But Buffalo is clearly going to need more pieces, and a player like Viliamu-Asa would fit the need for a linebacker who can stay on the field in coverage and help unlock more of the defense.
The linebacker spot is one Bills fans should keep watching closely. Buffalo already overhauled the secondary this past offseason, and a similar reset could be coming for this unit next offseason.
In Other News...
Bills Fans Will Feel Mitch Morses Heartbreaking Family News
Mitch Morse shared heartbreaking family news this week, announcing the death of his younger brother Robbie, who passed away last week at 30. Robbie had lived with lifelong disabilities after suffering severe brain trauma as an infant, and the Morse family had long been open about his story, turning their private struggle into something many football fans came to know over the years.
The loss is one that will resonate in Buffalo, where Morse spent part of his career and built a strong connection with the fan base. Condolences poured in from across the NFL, including from former teammates and multiple teams, a reminder of how widely Robbies story was felt beyond one locker room. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Suddenly Have A Problem They May Need To Trade For
The Bills 29-26 loss to the Patriots did more than dent the standings. It also pushed a familiar concern back into the spotlight: a secondary that is being asked to hold up while the defense adjusts to Jim Leonhards system, all while injuries keep stripping away experienced options. Buffalo has had to lean on less seasoned defensive backs, and the results have made the back end look like a spot that could use help sooner rather than later.
With the trade deadline still on the horizon in 2026, the question is whether Buffalo waits for its current group to stabilize or starts looking outside the building for reinforcements. The need is obvious enough after a night like this, but the challenge is finding a move that actually fits both the Bills defense and the urgency created by a thin, banged-up secondary. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Face A Risky Tyreek Hill Decision With AFC Stakes
Tyreek Hill is expected to land with an NFL team soon after working his way back from a season-ending injury and being released by the Dolphins, and the Bills are one of the clubs that could wind up in the mix. NFL insider Albert Breer pointed to Buffalo and Kansas City as the two most obvious fits, which makes sense given how both early AFC contenders could use help at wide receiver and have enough ambition to think beyond simple depth.
For Buffalo, the appeal is obvious and the risk is just as clear. Hill would give the offense another dangerous weapon, but the Bills would also be weighing his recovery and age against the possibility that the Chiefs could get there first. In a conference where every edge matters, the decision is less about whether Hill can help and more about how much a contender wants to bet on what he still has left. [Read more 🡒]