Predicting the Buffalo Bills depth chart on defense after free agency

Linebackers

Starters: Tremaine Edmunds, Matt Milano

Backups: Tyrel Dodson, Tyler Matakevich, Andre Smith, Joe Giles-Harris, Marquel Lee

The linebacker position is one that Buffalo approaches very differently than the defensive line in that they spend a majority of their snaps in nickel formation, so only two linebackers are on the field at a time. Those two players, Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano see a majority of the snaps and typically only come off the field for injury.

This shouldn’t change for this coming season but there will be plenty of questions about the depth chart behind those two. The Bills will be looking for someone to step into the role that A.J. Klein has played as that primary backup with him being released this offseason.

The team will have plenty of options with Tyrel Dodson likely the favorite but it wouldn’t be surprising to see Andre Smith or even Joe Giles-Harris earn that spot. The biggest question is whether or not Marquel Lee can earn a spot on the 53-man roster this year. He was with the Bills during training camp last year but was released prior to the start of the season.