![Buffalo Bills safety Sam Franklin Jr. (28), center, celebrates safety Cole Bishop (24), right, for grabbing a game-sealing interception, as defensive end Javon Solomon (56) looks on, in the final minute of the game during the fourth quarter of an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Bills defeated the Jaguars 27-24. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_2174,y_0,w_3316,h_1865/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ReutersImages/mmsport/16/01kwt1yvxa1wq00rn992.jpg "Buffalo Bills safety Sam Franklin Jr. (28), center, celebrates safety Cole Bishop (24), right, for grabbing a game-sealing interception, as defensive end Javon Solomon (56) looks on, in the final minute of the game during the fourth quarter of an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Bills defeated the Jaguars 27-24. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]")
When the Buffalo Bills made it official that they were hiring Jim Leonhard as their new defensive coordinator, one player that should have come to mind immediately on who could have a breakout year was safety Cole Bishop. Leonhard was a safety back in his playing days, and he was a quality player as well.
He played a few seasons for the Bills, so he knows what Orchard Park is like on gamedays. Now with him coming in to take control of the defense, he gets a rising star player in Bishop who took a huge step forward in the second half of the season last year. He finished last season with 85 total tackles, 2 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 7 pass deflections.
Now with two years under his belt, Bishop will be going into this third year looking to grow even more, and he will have a lot of help next to him as C.J. Garder-Johnson signed with the Bills in free agency. Going into 2026, Bishop has high expectations to carry as Kristopher Knox from Bleacher Report gave him recognition going into the season.
Cole Bishop expected to take another big step forward in 2026
Knox listed each team’s “most promising building block entering 2026” and Bishop was listed for the Bills, putting pressure on him for the new-look Bills defense.
"Bishop tallied 85 tackles, two sacks, seven passes defended, and three interceptions while playing 91 percent of the defensive snaps. He also allowed an opposing passer rating of only 65.6 in coverage. He also filled multiple roles on the defense, seeing time at free safety, in the slot, and in the box. If Bishop can build on his impressive sophomore campaign, he'll cement himself as a mainstay in the secondary and one of the faces of Buffalo's defense." said Knox.
Since Bishop wasn’t a first-round pick for the Bills back in 2024, he is going into a crucial year to prove to Buffalo that he deserves a long-term deal after 2026. If he can pick up where he left off and earn Pro Bowl status, or possibly even become an All-Pro player, there should be doubts on Bishop’s future with the Bills.
With the turnover in Buffalo’s defense, Bishop gets a fresh start and Leonhard’s new defense is all about playing with aggression. He could be a perfect fit and become a solidified star for the Bills moving forward.
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