The Bills have a clear defensive issue, and it starts at linebacker.
Buffalo’s secondary has taken heat, but the problems behind it are part of the same story. The linebacker group has not held up its end, and that has made life harder for everyone else. Terrel Bernard has looked awful, Dorian Williams can stop the run but not cover at a high level, Kaleb Elarms-Orr has barely seen the field, and Joe Andreessen is more of a special teams player than a defensive regular.
With the NFL trade deadline still a couple of weeks away, Buffalo should already be looking for ways to fix that part of the roster for the stretch run. Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report pointed to several areas the Bills could upgrade, along with possible trade targets, and one name that fits is Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson.
“ The Cardinals are clearly far from a competitive window. Wilson is an eight-year veteran wrapping up a three-year contract. He's unlikely to be part of this rebuild when he turns 29 this offseason, but he'd bring plenty of physicality to Buffalo while improving the defense's ability to cover tight ends.” said Gagnon.
Wilson is no stranger to Buffalo, either. He played against the Bills while with the New England Patriots from 2022-2023, then signed with Arizona in 2024. His game brings a physical edge and the kind of coverage ability that can help in the flat or against tight ends.
That profile sounds a lot like what Matt Milano has given the Bills in the past, and Buffalo could use that kind of help right now. Arizona is in a rebuild under new head coach Mike LaFleur, and if the losses keep piling up before the deadline, the Bills should at least check whether Wilson can be had at a reasonable price.
A fifth-round pick would not be a heavy price to pay, and Buffalo might even be able to work out a deal that sends a fifth to Arizona and brings back Wilson plus a sixth-round pick.
In Other News...
Bills Just Got A Much Tougher Monday Night Problem
Aaron Donald is set to make his return for the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football against the Bills, giving Buffalo a lot more to think about up front. Donald had been out last week with a back injury, but his presence is back on the table just in time for a matchup that already looked like a serious test for Josh Allen and the Bills offense.
Sean McVay said Donald is good to go after he took part fully in Fridays practice, which changes the feel of this one for the Rams defense. Anytime Donald is on the field, the attention he draws can reshape a game plan, and Buffalo will have to prepare for that kind of disruption on a national stage. [Read more 🡒]
Deone Walker May Be The Bills' Best Hope Against The Rams
The Bills head into their matchup with the Rams trying to steady a defense that has given up an average of 372.3 yards per game over its last four contests, with most of the damage coming through the air. That makes the interior pass rush a key storyline, and it puts a spotlight on rookie defensive tackle Deone Walker, whose disruptive presence has quietly become one of Buffalos best chances to change the tenor of the game.
Walker has been one of the most active interior linemen in football this season, and the Rams offer a difficult test because Matthew Stafford has plenty of help behind the leagues second-best offense in yards per game. Still, ESPNs Seth Walder is buying the idea that Walker can break through and land a sack, a result that would go a long way toward giving Buffalo a fighting chance against one of the NFLs most efficient attacks. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Enter Rams Test With More Than One Concern
The Bills enter their Week 5 Monday night matchup with the Rams carrying more than the usual amount of intrigue, because this one is about much more than just what happens on the scoreboard. Buffalo is sorting through a handful of key matchups on both sides of the ball, with particular attention on the secondary and how the offense holds up in a game that could expose where the roster is sturdy and where it still needs help. Injury updates are part of the backdrop, and so is the constant evaluation that comes with early-season football when every snap can shape how a team is viewed moving forward.
For Buffalo, the wider concern is that the Rams game arrives at a moment when the Bills are still weighing bigger-picture questions, including potential trade discussions that could affect the defense. The matchup has drawn extra attention because it sits at the intersection of short-term game planning and longer-term roster talk, with the front office and coaching staff both watching closely. By Monday night, the Bills may learn a lot not only about how they stack up against Los Angeles, but also about what they still need to solve. [Read more 🡒]