The Buffalo Bills still have a little roster work to do before they line up against the Houston Texans on Sunday, September 13 at 1:00 pm, and one of the biggest areas under the microscope is the defensive front. On Thursday, the Bills worked out seven players, according to Jon Scott of WGRZ, with six of them coming on defense. The lone offensive tryout didn’t meet expectations, but four of the defensive names stood out as possible fits for Buffalo’s aggressive 3-4 multiple scheme.
That front is exactly where the Bills could use some help, especially at nose tackle and along the interior. The group brought in Thursday offers size, versatility, and in a few cases, real experience in similar systems. Here are four defenders who could make sense for Buffalo moving forward.
Jay Toia is the clearest plug-and-play option if the Bills want a true body at nose tackle. The 6-foot-2, 340-pound run stuffer was previously drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, and his frame alone makes him an obvious candidate for the role. In a 3-4 multiple defense, he could give Buffalo the kind of presence that lets Deone Walker slide to an outside defensive tackle spot.
He also comes cheap, which matters. And if the Bills went that direction, it would at least soften the blow a bit after passing on Kayden McDonald, who is now starting with the Houston Texans.
Earnest Brown brings a different kind of value. At 6-foot-5 and 295 pounds, he has the length and burst to fit multiple spots, and he’s already been around the league enough to know what he’s doing. A fifth-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, Brown has played in 15 career games and recorded 14 tackles, including one tackle for loss.
What makes him interesting for Buffalo is the versatility. He has experience in an aggressive 3-4 multiple scheme from his time with the Rams, and he can line up inside in a four-man front or outside as a defensive end in a three-man front. That kind of flexibility gives a coaching staff options.
Fatorma Mulbah has yet to appear in a regular-season game, but the physical tools are there. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 314 pounds, he looks the part of a run-stuffing interior lineman, whether that’s in a 4-3 alignment or at nose tackle in a 3-4. Even if his role is limited, he could still give the Bills help where they need it most.
His college résumé is solid, too. Mulbah played in 45 games and made 14 starts across Penn State and West Virginia.
He finished with 79 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. His best season came as a senior at West Virginia, when he lined up at nose tackle in a 3-3-5 defense and posted 50 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and one sack.
Then there’s Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi, whose path is as unusual as it is interesting. He came through the NFL’s International Pathway Program and stands 6-foot-6 and 298 pounds, with quick feet and a real feel for tracking the ball. He started out as an offensive tackle, but scouts noticed that his movement skills might translate better on defense.
Ndubuisi can work inside in a four-man front or outside as a nose tackle in a three-man front. He also had a brief run as a starter for the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas, and before that spent time on the practice squads of the Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, and Washington Commanders.
In Other News...
Bills Bring Back A Fan Favorite For New Stadium Opener
The first regular-season game at the new Highmark Stadium is shaping up as more than just another early-season date on the calendar. Buffalo will open its new home against the Detroit Lions, and the Bills are also bringing back a familiar look that many fans have missed: red end zones, a design touch that has long carried extra meaning in Orchard Park.
The setting adds even more weight to a night that already feels like a milestone for the franchise. It lands in primetime on Amazon Prime Video as the seasons first Thursday Night Football game, giving the Bills a national stage for their new building and a return to some old-school visual flair. [Read more 🡒]
Former Bills Receiver Finds Himself At Another Career Crossroads
Ray-Ray McClouds latest NFL stop ended quickly in Chicago, where the Bears officially released the former Bills receiver from injured reserve with a settlement. It is the latest turn for a player who has spent much of his career moving from one opportunity to the next since being drafted in 2018, trying to stick long enough to carve out a stable role.
McCloud had appeared in six games for the Falcons in 2025 before joining the Bears in August, giving him another chance to extend a journeyman path that has already taken several twists. For Buffalo fans, it is another reminder of how rarely the leagues fringe wideouts get a clean runway, and how quickly a fresh start can turn into another crossroads. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Still Face One Brutal Doubt Despite Super Bowl Hype
The Bills offseason has brought the kind of optimism that usually fuels winter chatter in Buffalo, from organizational changes to the addition of wide receiver D.J. Moore. Even so, the early national conversation has not been entirely flattering. Three NFL analysts have already gone on record projecting the Bills to reach the Super Bowl, but not to win it, which is the sort of verdict that keeps the hype alive while also leaving a real bruise on the whole exercise.
Two of those forecasts have Buffalo falling to the Los Angeles Rams, while another has the season ending against the Philadelphia Eagles. It is only opinion, of course, not a result stamped into the schedule, but it does capture the lingering doubt that hangs over a team trying to turn momentum into something bigger. Promoting Joe Brady to head coach was meant to sharpen the direction, yet the Super Bowl talk still comes with an asterisk until the Bills prove they can finish the job. [Read more 🡒]