The Buffalo Bills must find a way to address their need for another linebacker to play in their new multiple 3-4 defensive scheme. With the 2026 NFL Draft nearing, there is still time to check out the unrestricted free agent linebackers available.
With Greg Rosseau and Bradley Chubb running the show on the edge, now's the time for the team to bring in a more explosive and powerful body type to shore up their new "core four" at the linebacker position.
Three impactful players to help Bills' defense in 2026
1. Devin White
At the beginning of his career, Devin White was a menace on the field for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he earned his first Pro Bowl bid. Since then, he's lost a little of that toughness in him that once made him a nightmare to play against.
With that being said, he's still a consistent and reliable tackler, as he made 174 of them in 2025 with the Raiders, a franchise record for him, while adding 2.5 sacks.
The Super Bowl LV Champion with the Buccaneers still has plenty of time left in his career to return to the 2020 version of himself. What better place to do it than in Orchard Park, with the Bills playing in a brand-new stadium with a strong defense that's tailor-made for him to showcase his abilities.
2. Bobby Okereke
This would be a full-circle moment if the Bills were able to grab Okereke, who was just replaced by the signing of former Bills linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. Giants head coach Jim Harbaugh is also transitioning to a 3-4 defense, so it was surprising that Okereke was released even though he fits the bill well for a 3-4 linebacker.
Luckily, the Bills are running the same defense, and if the Bills signed Okereke, he would be reuniting with new Bills inside linebackers coach John Egorugwu, when both were with the Giants.
Besides the connection there, Okereke also had a solid 2025 under former head coach Brian Daboll, as he made two picks and had six passes batted down. The dynamic athlete has the physical tools and is tough and instinctive in stopping the run, which the Bills need to make a consistent jump forward this year.
The fact that he's a veteran with plenty of football left in his career shows that the 29-year-old may have a chance to compete for a Super Bowl ring with superstar quarterback Josh Allen if he were to sign in Orchard Park.
3. Germaine Pratt
If the Bills want a big and consistent tackler at the linebacker position, Germaine Pratt would be your guy.
The 6-foot-3, 250-pound thumper enjoyed six productive seasons with the Bengals from 2019 to 2024. He never missed more than three games while producing a career high 143 total tackles in 17 games played with the Bengals in 2024.
But in June 2025, Pratt requested a trade, and the Bengals released him after six successful and healthy seasons.
After signing and struggling with the Raiders, Pratt needed to go where he could return to form, so he signed a contract with the Indianapolis Colts and recorded a total of 126 tackles, while playing for two teams in 2025.
While he always seemed to bring durability and consistency to his career, Pratt has learned to be resilient and deal with the adversity he faced during his one year in Vegas. Bills head coach Joe Brady also had to learn to fail to get where he is today, and now he has a reputation for being tight and having close relationships with the players he has coached.
Pratt would be a great linebacker in Buffalo while sharing his talents with Rosseau and Chubb.