Buffalo Bills Depth Chart: Update on the linebackers

With one week of OTA’s now complete, the Buffalo Bills are getting a feel for how their depth chart should look. Here’s an update on the linebackers.

The Buffalo Bills are going to have quite the interesting battle at linebacker as the team prepares for training camp. Currently, no linebacker on the team is slated into a spot and much like the rest of the roster, linebackers are stuck fighting for a starting role — all of them. Right now, the depth chart is rather open.

This is a good thing for Sean McDermott to keep it an open race for everyone. It allows him the ability to move them around and see where they play best. This will better help the defense when Week 1 rolls around and McDermott is happy/confident with the depth chart.

With the first week of OTA’s complete, we have several observations at the linebacker position that show how the battle could end. Before we get into that, it’s important to note that Reggie Ragland has been cleared for practice, although he can only participate in individual drills — not team drills (7-on-7, 11-on-11). He’s using this time to freshen up on the new 4-3 scheme, which he has never played in before.

Before we get into the battles, let’s take a quick look at the linebackers included:

Lorenzo Alexander
Reggie Ragland
Preston Brown
Matt Milano
Tanner Vallejo
Ramon Humber
Carl Bradford
Anthony Harrell
Jacob Lindsey
Abner Logan
Eddie Yarbrough

When Ragland finally returns to the team, he will battle for the starting middle (mike) linebacker along with Preston Brown. Brown has been a starter on this defense for the past three years and finished last season with 139 tackles (second on team).

For OTA’s, with Ragland out, Preston Brown has been in that middle spot with Jacob Lindsey getting second-team reps at the position. Lindsey is a name to keep a close tab on, as he is making a lot of early progress and could land a depth role.

More from BuffaLowDown

As for the weak side (will) linebacker, McDermott and Leslie Frazier had Ramon Humber take first-team duties and rookie Matt Milano take second-team. For strong side (sam) linebacker, there was Lorenzo Alexander at first-team and rookie Tanner Vallejo at second-team.

Of the six linebackers mentioned right there, half are rookies and one was a non-starter last season. As it stands right now, it looks like all three of those rookies could see valuable time on the field this season. Coaches like what they’ve seen from Lindsey and they’ve already had faith in Milano/Vallejo, using two draft picks on them this year.

The linebacker group is young, but they’re looking good and should be better slated for success under a 4-3 scheme. It’ll rely on a perfect balance of pass rush, run stop and coverage, which the Buffalo Bills should get a healthy mix of from Lorenzo (pass-rush), Reggie Ragland (run-stop) and Preston Brown (mix).

If Ragland can prove to be valuable in coverage, he will definitely secure a spot at middle linebacker and push Preston Brown to the outside.

Either way, I would expect a Alexander-Ragland-Brown trio unless anything changes from now until Week 1. I’d be happy with that.

Next: 5 players that should be on McDermott's leadership council

What do you think will happen with the linebacker position? Leave your thoughts below!

Home/Buffalo Bills News