The Buffalo Bills enter this week prepping for the start of their training camp at St. John Fisher University. Multiple players will look to camp and preseason games to make that first impression on new head coach Joe Brady and the rest of the Bills coaching staff to show that they belong on the Bills' opening-day roster in 2026.
Some players on the defensive line group want to prove they can thrive in Jim Leonhard's new aggressive 3-4 multiple scheme. They also want to show Bills Mafia that sometimes scheme and attitude mean more than just talent on defense. And one player on the tight end group aims to finally break 1,000 yards receiving while continuing to improve on his blocking in 12 and 13-personnel groupings.
4 Bills players showcasing their talents before 2026 season begins
1.) DL T.J. Sanders
T.J. Sanders, on paper, could be one of the best young defensive linemen in the league or at least on the Bills if he stays healthy. The 2025 second-round draft pick out of South Carolina is still 23 years old, with a great motor and athleticism to make splash plays on defense.
He also has a nice size at 6-foot-4, 297 pounds, making him a better fit as either a 1 or 5-technique in Leonhard's 3-4 scheme. Last year, despite his injury factor, he may have been playing out of position as a 4-2-5 defensive tackle under Sean McDermott. If he is 100% healthy this season, he may be able to collect a few more sacks as a bigger power rusher than as a smaller interior defensive lineman.
2.) DL Ed Oliver
Ed Oliver was on his way to a career-best year last season, but he was injured for most of the season, which kept him out in all but three games last year.
Similar to Sanders, Oliver has a chance to become one of the best interior defensive linemen in the league while still in his prime. The 6-foot-1, 287-pound athlete may also have been playing out of position as a 4-2-5 defensive tackle under McDermott's defense.
Much like how Sanders will be able to play with more control, this 3-4 scheme allows Oliver to play the correct position while giving him more freedom to use his speed to sack opposing quarterbacks.
An ideal 3-man front of Sanders, Deone Walker, and Oliver, plus the occasional role for Landon Jackson as a 4i defensive tackle, should allow Leonhard to utilize these players' pass-rushing ability to put opposing offenses into second- or third-and-long situations at key points in any game.
3.) DT Phidarian Mathis
Phidarian Mathis was a late-season acquisition who only played in six games for the team last year. This year, with a full training camp to impress the new defensive coaching staff, the 6-foot-4, 312-pound athlete wants to prove he has earned his spot on the 53-man roster instead of starting the year on the practice squad.
Mathis is a big, athletic defensive tackle who can shoot the gap to stop the run. He is versatile enough to rotate either as a nose tackle or with Jackson as a 4i defensive tackle in their 3-4 scheme.
4.) TE Dalton Kincaid
Looking to finally break the 1,000-yard receiving mark as a mismatch tight end, Dalton Kincaid is looking to get back to his rookie form, when he caught a rookie-high 73 catches for 673 yards.
When his injured knee allows him to remain on the field, Kincaid is tough to defend against and could be one of the game's next generation of superstar tight ends.
The one transition that can be hard to make from college to the NFL is learning how to block in the run game in 12 and 13-personnel sets when the offense isn't in the shotgun, just looking to throw the tight end the ball, similar to how a superstar wideout does.
Kincaid has grown tremendously and adapted to the more physical style of the pro game, not just the playmaking college game. Now, if he can finally play all 17 games this year, he could have his best season yet as a pro and earn his second straight Pro Bowl selection.
All four of these players know the sky's the limit for them, and that the time to make a first impression on the new coaching staff is now.
Add us as a preferred source on Google