The Bills’ offense has plenty to prove in 2026, but the unit isn’t walking into the season as the biggest question on the roster. With Josh Allen steering the ship, Buffalo has usually had enough firepower to stay dangerous, even in the games where things get messy. Last year’s Divisional Round against the Denver Broncos was a good example: Allen had four turnovers, and the offense still put 30 points on the board.
Now Buffalo is hoping the pieces around him give that attack even more punch. The additions of DJ Moore and Skyler Bell at wide receiver, plus the return of James Cook and the rushing game, have the Bills looking like a group that expects to keep forcing the issue.
But the road won’t be soft. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, executives, coaches and scouts recently voted on the league’s top off-ball linebackers, and Buffalo is scheduled to run into a pile of them this season.
Six of the Top 10 linebackers in Fowler’s rankings are on the Bills’ schedule:
Roquan Smith - Baltimore Ravens (Week 8)
Jack Campbell - Detroit Lions (Week 2: Thursday Night Football)
Azeez Al-Shaair - Houston Texans (Week 1)
Jordyn Brooks - Miami Dolphins (Weeks 11 & 17)
Nick Bolton - Kansas City Chiefs (Week 12: Thanksgiving Day)
Edgerrin Cooper - Green Bay Packers (Week 14: Sunday Night Football)
Smith and Brooks are the headliners in that group. Smith is the centerpiece of Baltimore’s defense, while Brooks gives Miami a linebacker who can make Buffalo’s life miserable twice in the same season.
There are more familiar names waiting beyond that top tier, too. Quay Walker of the Las Vegas Raiders, Demario Davis of the New York Jets and T.J. Edwards of the Chicago Bears all either landed honorable mentions or picked up votes in the same process.
Linebacker doesn’t always get the spotlight it deserves, unless you’re talking about names like Fred Warner or Bobby Wagner. But the position can wreck an offense in a hurry, and Buffalo is set to see plenty of that kind of resistance all season long.
In Other News...
Bills Rookie Suddenly Feels Important In Buffalos New Defense
The Bills are in the middle of a defensive reset under coordinator Jim Leonhard, moving from an even-front look to an odd-front scheme, and that kind of change tends to create opportunity for young players who can process quickly. One of the early names to emerge is rookie linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr, a fourth-round pick in 2026 who has already drawn notice in offseason work for the way he handles the mental side of the game and moves around the field.
Elarms-Orr is still fighting for his place in a crowded linebacker room, with roster spots and snaps far from settled as Buffalo sorts out its new front. But the path is there if he keeps stacking good days, especially with the Bills needing answers behind the established options and a rookie who can absorb the scheme quickly suddenly looking a lot more relevant than a typical late-spring depth piece. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Best Offseason Move Was Keeping Connor McGovern Home
The Bills spent part of their offseason reworking the roster after coaching changes, but one of Brandon Beanes quietest wins was keeping Connor McGovern in Buffalo. The center was rewarded with a four-year, $52 million deal with $32 million guaranteed, a move that locked in a player who had become a stabilizing presence in the middle of the offensive line and earned a Pro Bowl invite in 2024.
What makes the deal stand out is that McGovern could have chased a richer market elsewhere, yet chose to stay put on a hometown-friendly number. For a team trying to maintain continuity up front while reshaping other parts of the roster, that kind of commitment matters, and it gives Buffalo a little more certainty at a spot where stability is never a bad thing. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Linked To Veteran Fix For Lingering Run Defense Problem
Buffalos run defense was a sore spot last season, and the offseason did not bring a major overhaul up front even with the switch to a 3-4 look. The Bills did make some limited additions along the defensive line, but the middle of the defense still looks like an area where more help could make sense as the team tries to firm up a problem that lingered for too long.
One idea floated in a recent trade proposal would send a veteran defensive lineman from Baltimore to Buffalo, giving the Bills another body with experience in the middle and some insurance as Deone Walker settles into the nose tackle role in his second season. The suggested move would not be a blockbuster, but it would give Buffalo a sturdier run-defense option and a little more flexibility if the current plan needs reinforcement. [Read more 🡒]