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The Bills' 12-5 2025 campaign ended short of their Super Bowl goals by two wins, and the front office responded by reshaping the staff and roster, aiming to improve and get over the hump.
That included letting Sean McDermott go after nine seasons, hiring OC Joe Brady as their new head coach, and adding Jim Leonhard as a defensive coordinator with a new scheme.
DE Bradley Chubb signed with Buffalo in free agency, and another group of NFL Draft selections joins a mix of vets and last spring's draft picks on that side of the ball. Still, questions remain.
Here are five questions the Bills must answer on defense:
The Bills struggled during McDermott's tenure with getting crucial stops and defending the run on both defense and special teams. The glare of that weakness only grew as the third phase, Buffalo's offense, became elite under Josh Allen and routinely put them in position to win games. Leonhard's Wisconsin and NFL experience created buzz around his hire, but the real story will be what the installation of his hybrid front will look like.
And whether it will be successful. Early OTA reports show more simulated pressures and more disguised two-high than Bobby Babich's group ran a year ago. Whether the position shifts of some of the Bills' defensive backs to linebacker, the adjustment of Terrel Bernard and the secondary, and the lack of a nose-tackle addition will factor into that success remains to be seen.
Fixing their defensive woes that have been costly in key moments could be a game-changer in more ways than one.
Bernard is the signal-caller, and Dorian Williams has earned his snaps next to him, but the room thins out fast with veteran starter Matt Milano still a free agent.
Kaleb Elarms-Orr was selected out of TCU by Beane in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, and adds pop to the rotation, but a rookie in meaningful coverage snaps against a contender's offense might not get them very far in January.
Leonhard needs more veteran play, and the post-June 1 market will be one to keep an eye on.
Ed Oliver isn't a true zero-tech, Deone Walker has had buzz as a solution, and DeWayne Carter as an alternative as he returns from a torn Achilles and is noticeably bigger this spring. The Bills were beaten by running backs often under McDermott, and run defense in Leonhard's system requires a nose tackle for two-gap plays on early downs.
The new coaching regime's emphasis on maximizing existing talent and positional versatility, along with the buzz around Walker if he can handle the snap consistency, along with Beane not addressing the nose-tackle position elsewhere thus far, suggests it's Walker's opportunity to lose, which means the position is still a question mark.
Christian Benford is now the team's CB1, 2025 first-rounder Maxwell Hairston projects as a long-term answer opposite him, and free agent addition Dee Alford, and second-round rookie Davison Igbinosun join them on the depth chart.
IGB has length, but also a penalty problem that Leonhard's match-zone concepts can either mask or expose. Memories of another long corner prospect who struggled with penalties, former Bill Kaiir Elam, are fresh in the memories of fans and coaches alike.
With veterans available like Tre White, who returned to form back in a Bills uniform last season, while providing culture and mentorship to Hairston and the cornerbacks, the group could still see additions this offseason.
Bradley Chubb's addition is one that signals that Buffalo's front office is looking to improve the defensive roster. Pairing Chubb with Greg Rousseau, a bulked-up Landon Jackson, and rookie T.J. Parker out of Clemson, the pass rush group is looking deeper and more talented and positionally flexible than in the past.
The question that remains is whether this is the defense that can finally close out games for Buffalo.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: 5 questions the Buffalo Bills must still answer on defense
Continue reading...
That included letting Sean McDermott go after nine seasons, hiring OC Joe Brady as their new head coach, and adding Jim Leonhard as a defensive coordinator with a new scheme.
DE Bradley Chubb signed with Buffalo in free agency, and another group of NFL Draft selections joins a mix of vets and last spring's draft picks on that side of the ball. Still, questions remain.
Here are five questions the Bills must answer on defense:
How will Jim Leonhard's scheme translate?
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The Bills struggled during McDermott's tenure with getting crucial stops and defending the run on both defense and special teams. The glare of that weakness only grew as the third phase, Buffalo's offense, became elite under Josh Allen and routinely put them in position to win games. Leonhard's Wisconsin and NFL experience created buzz around his hire, but the real story will be what the installation of his hybrid front will look like.
And whether it will be successful. Early OTA reports show more simulated pressures and more disguised two-high than Bobby Babich's group ran a year ago. Whether the position shifts of some of the Bills' defensive backs to linebacker, the adjustment of Terrel Bernard and the secondary, and the lack of a nose-tackle addition will factor into that success remains to be seen.
Fixing their defensive woes that have been costly in key moments could be a game-changer in more ways than one.
Has the inside linebacker room improved?
You must be registered for see images attach
Bernard is the signal-caller, and Dorian Williams has earned his snaps next to him, but the room thins out fast with veteran starter Matt Milano still a free agent.
Kaleb Elarms-Orr was selected out of TCU by Beane in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, and adds pop to the rotation, but a rookie in meaningful coverage snaps against a contender's offense might not get them very far in January.
Leonhard needs more veteran play, and the post-June 1 market will be one to keep an eye on.
Who plays nose in a Leonhard front?
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Ed Oliver isn't a true zero-tech, Deone Walker has had buzz as a solution, and DeWayne Carter as an alternative as he returns from a torn Achilles and is noticeably bigger this spring. The Bills were beaten by running backs often under McDermott, and run defense in Leonhard's system requires a nose tackle for two-gap plays on early downs.
The new coaching regime's emphasis on maximizing existing talent and positional versatility, along with the buzz around Walker if he can handle the snap consistency, along with Beane not addressing the nose-tackle position elsewhere thus far, suggests it's Walker's opportunity to lose, which means the position is still a question mark.
Is the corner room fortified?
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Christian Benford is now the team's CB1, 2025 first-rounder Maxwell Hairston projects as a long-term answer opposite him, and free agent addition Dee Alford, and second-round rookie Davison Igbinosun join them on the depth chart.
IGB has length, but also a penalty problem that Leonhard's match-zone concepts can either mask or expose. Memories of another long corner prospect who struggled with penalties, former Bill Kaiir Elam, are fresh in the memories of fans and coaches alike.
With veterans available like Tre White, who returned to form back in a Bills uniform last season, while providing culture and mentorship to Hairston and the cornerbacks, the group could still see additions this offseason.
Will the pass rush finally close games?
You must be registered for see images attach
Bradley Chubb's addition is one that signals that Buffalo's front office is looking to improve the defensive roster. Pairing Chubb with Greg Rousseau, a bulked-up Landon Jackson, and rookie T.J. Parker out of Clemson, the pass rush group is looking deeper and more talented and positionally flexible than in the past.
The question that remains is whether this is the defense that can finally close out games for Buffalo.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: 5 questions the Buffalo Bills must still answer on defense
Continue reading...
