The Buffalo Bills have most of their training camp roster intact as they prepare to take time off, as the NFL has once minicamp is over. Head coach Joe Brady and general manager Brandon Beane have most of their linebacking room filled, but there may be room for one more.
That one extra player at the linebacker position could be and should be a fan favorite of the Bills, who is out there unsigned after a solid one-year performance for the team last season. He would also fit perfectly in Jim Leonhard's 3-4 multiple-aggressive scheme.
Let's take a look at free agent linebacker Shaq Thompson, possibly reuniting with the Bills in 2026.
Do Bills have room for one more player on their roster in 2026?
Shaq Thompson can rejoin the Bills should they offer him a one-year contract. The 32-year-old veteran was productive, playing a great amount of snaps on defense across six starts and 12 games.
After suffering past injuries with the Carolina Panthers, he bounced back very well last season, making 56 tackles, recording a sack, and forcing a fumble. If the Bills' desire to re-sign him to a cost-friendly contract, he can be a useful piece to rotate in their revamped linebacking corps.
The former Panther was, and can once again be, a valuable character player and a positive locker room presence, as he has shown before. He also brings an ideal size at 6-foot, 230 pounds, which makes him a dependable gap protector in run defense and provides perimeter speed to drop into coverage.
He would also get to reunite with head coach Joe Brady, who was the Carolina Panthers' offensive coordinator from 2020-21 under head coach Matt Rhule.
Thompson's experience playing in a 3-4 defense under Coach Rhule demonstrates his versatility, ability to force turnovers, and contribution to team success. In fact, Leonhard's version of the 3-4 stems from Rhule's version, where Thompson could be more aggressive in creating turnovers than the defenses the Bills ran under Sean McDermott.
While Thompson doesn't have any previous experience playing for Jim Leonhard, he will at least be reuniting with Joe Brady, especially after rekindling their professional relationship last season, when Brady was the offensive coordinator.
Who will start at linebacker position in 2026?
With Terrel Bernard and Dorian Williams, both looking to start in 2026, Williams has been sidelined with lan injury and his return is unknown.
Last season with the Bills, Williams played in 16 games, tallying 63 total tackles (29 solo) and 2 passes defensed.
With the starting linebacker position up in the air for the 2026 season, Thompson could have a good chance of starting if he gets the chance to sign a deal before training camp.
The Bills could really benefit from veteran leadership to build up their young linebacking corps led by Kaleb Elarms-Orr and Terrel Bernard, who could fit well in this defense. Needing a veteran presence like Thompson, whom Bernard is already familiar with, could mentor Elarms-Orr as he begins his NFL career with the Bills.
Given Brandon Beane's history of re-signing players who had a previous stint with the Bills, there's a very high chance that Thompson will be signed just days before the start of training camp.
This hypothetical signing would make Bills Mafia very excited and make them wanna "Shout" in excitement for football season again.
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