The Bills didn’t exactly get a soft landing with their 2026 schedule, and that’s especially true for a secondary that’s still sorting itself out under a new defensive coordinator.
Buffalo spent the offseason adding pieces on the back end, bringing in C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Geno Stone, Dee Alford, Davison Igbinosun, Toriano Pride Jr. and Jalon Kilgore.
The Bills also brought Damar Hamlin back on a one-year deal. Even with all that movement, Christian Benford and Maxwell Hairston still look like the likely starters at corner, though Igbinosun could make life interesting for Hairston once training camp opens.
The bigger story is the change on the sideline. Jim Leonhard is now running the defense, and that gives Buffalo a fresh voice with a strong background.
He spent the last two seasons working with the Denver Broncos’ defense, and before that he was a safety during his playing days. The Bills clearly saw enough in him to make him part of the new coaching regime, and there’s real upside in what he could bring.
But the schedule is not waiting around for anybody.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN put together a list of receivers voted on by executives, coaches and scouts around the league, and Buffalo is set to run into a brutal collection of them. Six of the top names on that list are on the Bills’ schedule: Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings in Week 9 on Monday Night Football, Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5 on Monday Night Football, Amon-Ra St.
Brown of the Detroit Lions in Week 2 on Thursday Night Football, Nico Collins of the Houston Texans in Week 1, A.J. Brown of the New England Patriots in Weeks 4 and 13, and Davante Adams of the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5 on Monday Night Football.
There’s more, too. Zay Flowers of the Ravens and Jameson Williams of the Lions both earned honorable mention, while Garrett Wilson of the Jets, Ladd McConkey of the Chargers and Jaylen Waddle of the Broncos also received votes.
That’s a gauntlet, plain and simple. Each of those receivers has already proven what he can do, and there’s no need to dress it up beyond that.
Buffalo’s pass defense has been steady under Sean McDermott for years, but the move to Leonhard changes the picture. The talent is there, the coaching is new, and the questions won’t stop until the Bills show how this group handles the league’s best wideouts in a new scheme.
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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 🡒]