The Bills are making a real defensive shift this year, and that change could open the door for an overlooked linebacker to stick on the 53-man roster.
With Jim Leonhard taking over as defensive coordinator, Buffalo is moving away from the 4-3 look it used for the past nine years under Sean McDermott and into a 3-4 multiple defense. The idea is a more aggressive, tougher unit - one that plays with edge and makes life harder on opposing offenses.
That kind of scheme asks for a certain kind of player, and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles fits the description in a few important ways.
General manager Brandon Beane signed the hard-hitting linebacker on May 27 to a one-year prove-it contract, a move that signals Buffalo’s interest in adding depth and building out a defense with more bite. The 6-foot-2, 223-pound linebacker has experience in aggressive systems and has worked as an off-ball linebacker, where his job has been to shoot gaps and help shut down the run.
For now, Flannigan-Fowles enters camp as a roster bubble player, but he has a path to a rotational inside linebacker role and a bigger special teams workload. That special teams value matters, especially with younger players like Javon Solomon in the mix. Solomon is more of a situational pass rusher, while Flannigan-Fowles brings the kind of versatility coaches tend to trust on the third phase.
He also looks like a natural fit for Leonhard’s style because of his downhill approach and willingness to do the dirty work. He’s the kind of player fans usually gravitate toward: tough, active, and relentless.
There are still concerns. Last season, Flannigan-Fowles started three games but appeared in just 10, a career low, because of multiple injuries. He has built a reputation as a reliable special teams force, but Buffalo may have to manage the injury risk if he earns a spot at linebacker too.
There’s also the question of size. He’s fast and has a quick burst, but he remains undersized for a 3-4 front, which could make it tougher for him to consistently hold up in the gaps.
And because he’s on a one-year deal, the Bills won’t have much long-term control unless they offer him low compensation. If they don’t, Beane could let him walk and Buffalo would get nothing back.
Still, the special teams piece gives him a real chance. Beane and the previous staff have valued reserve players who can help there, and Joe Brady is no exception.
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