Strong class of linebackers provides Bills with versatile options
The Bills have some questions to answer at linebacker, and they’ll look for versatility as the defense evolves this season under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonard.
In January, Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane, fresh off a coaching hire, hadn’t had much time to look ahead to the draft. But he had an early takeaway.
“This is looking like a good draft for linebackers,” Beane said. “Yeah, I think there's depth at linebacker.”
The Bills have some questions to answer at linebacker, and they’ll look for versatility as the defense evolves this season under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonard.
Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard, left, walks in the tunnel before a game against the Eagles on Dec. 28, 2025.
Bernard had his ankle "fixed" with a medical procedure. Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News
Linebacker Matt Milano is set to become a free agent. Fellow starting linebacker Terrel Bernard had an up-and-down season as he dealt with multiple injuries. Bernard’s ankle was “fixed” after the season with a medical procedure, Beane said in January, but prior to that, it was impacting his play.
“That's gonna help him,” Beane said of Bernard. “That was one of those, he's only getting (better). And then he got the elbow (injury). … That's a tough position in there. You’re car crashing, like, every play, and when you can't always do that. … He's a tough kid. He got beat up this year.”
A few weeks later at the NFL scouting combine, Beane was getting a chance to see and meet with some of the linebacker prospects. Asked on Tuesday if he would rather address the position through the draft or the free agency, Beane said it all depends on the situation.
“I mean, listen, I'd love a $20 million player or a first-round pick, like any position,” Beane said. “I would say, at the end of the day, we'll see what's available and where. The thing we have to do in free agency, more now than ever, is be very precise with who we select and every dollar we spend. … So, we'll keep an open mind, and it may, it's really about, 'Where is the best bang for our buck?'”
Bills new head coach Joe Brady has been spending more time in defensive meetings, and he echoed Beane on evaluating through the draft or free agency.
“We’re still in the process of figuring that out,” Brady said. “Your green dot doesn’t always have to be your Mike linebacker, right? (New defensive coordinator) Jim Leonhard was a green dot guy playing safety sometimes, right? We know the type of player that TB is, and TB is going to be out on the football field. His versatility gives us a lot of different avenues.
“I think anytime that we can use the draft to build it right, you build through the draft, that makes life a lot easier. We’re approaching every different avenue.”
Brady also pointed to other options already at One Bills Drive.
“We have linebackers in Dorian (Williams) that we feel really comfortable with, but that’s stuff we’re kind of in the process of figuring that all out,” Brady said.
Still, the 2026 linebacker class is worth the look. Ohio State standout Sonny Styles headlines the strong class. Styles (6-foot-4, 238 pounds) will be gone well before the Bills pick at No. 26. But understanding his draft stock can help the team project how the class will shake out across draft boards.
Styles’ fellow Ohio State linebacker, Arvell Reese, said Wednesday that he’s been telling teams he sees himself more as an edge rusher than an off-ball linebacker. Styles, meanwhile, made the switch from safety to linebacker, and he has since ascended.
“It starts with being a versatile linebacker,” Styles said. “Think I can play the Mike, Will, Sam. Think I can do all three at a high level and I think I’m a very athletic player and it shows up in my game. I think I showed this last year I can be like a true Mike [linebacker], think I showed I can stop the run. Showed some physicality this year.
“On the upside of it, think I can be a lot more effective in zone coverages if I keep working that part of my game, I think I’ve shown I can feel routes, that type of thing. But not a lot of ball disruption, especially this past year. Think with my athleticism, if I keep working on that, I should be a real threat in zone drops.’’
Reese and Styles both ran the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds.
The linebacker class also boats CJ Allen (Georgia), Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas) and Jake Golday (Cincinnati). Allen (6-1, 230) has been a trending mock selection to the Bills after he logged 88 tackles and was a team captain for the Bulldogs. Analysts find Allen to be tough but patient in his approach. Allen said this week that there’s something special about Georgia linebackers.
“Man, when you sign that paper, you know what you're signing up for, especially as an inside linebacker,” he said. “It's a different type of commitment that you choose to play and the style of defense you play.”
Hill (6-3, 238) spent three years at Texas with 250 career tackles, including 31½ tackles for loss. He’s able to quickly diagnose opposing offenses and make an impact. Golday (6-4½, 239) uses his size to his advantage and is explosive.
Pittsburgh’s Kyle Louis is a player to watch, particularly for his versatility.
“I got a good opportunity to play a position called ‘Star,’” Louis said this week. “Star is not a position for everybody. It's not a position for pure linebackers or pure DBs. You really just got to be a mix of both of it.
“So, I feel like the position was perfectly tailored for me. And just learning the system more and more, and experience our (scheme), stay in that pit the whole time, and trusting the system, it helped me grow as a player exponentially.”