The 2025 rookie class for the Buffalo Bills was extremely underwhelming, with the exception of DT Deone Walker and TE Jackson Hawes. The fact that two Day 3 players outshined the rest of the draft class can be very concerning. On a positive note, it does show that the Bills do have a good eye to find late round talent as well.
Typically, a team’s first three round players that they draft are expected to be starters sooner than later. The higher they spend the draft pick, the more the expectations are higher. Early on in the third round last year, the Bills drafted edge rusher Landon Jackson out of Arkansas.
Jackson finished his college career as a Second-Team All-SEC player with the Razorbacks. Throughout his college career, Jackson finished with 116 total tackles (26.5 tackles for a loss) and 16 sacks (with back-to-back 6.5 sack seasons from 2023-2024). He was never a sure immediate contributor, but he had great talent with a high ceiling. Obviously, Bills fans didn't see that last season.
Landon Jackson had very forgetful 2025 rookie season
Jackson started out his rookie season as a healthy scratch for the first four games of the season, then he played in back-to-back weeks in Weeks 5 and 6. Then his season came to an end down in Miami in early November with a season-ending knee injury. He didn’t record one single stat in his rookie season.
He now gets a fresh start in a new system under Jim Leonhard. Sometimes, change is needed for a player in order to be successful. We see it all the time and maybe it will work for Jackson. The good news is that Jackson said it himself that the new scheme is great for him.
Jackson spoke with the media after Monday's practice and according to Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550, Jackson "said the new defense fits him better." Hamilton also said that Jackson said "he excelled at this scheme in college", which is a promising sign for what is to come from him in his sophomore season.
Landon Jackson said the new defense fits him better. He said he excelled at this scheme in college pic.twitter.com/jtA26vZ0aE
— Paul Hamilton (@pham1717) August 10, 2026
New defensive scheme could be exactly what Landon Jackson needs
One thing about Jackson is that while he is listed as an edge rusher, it would not be surprising to see him lined up in multiple spots in the front seven. He should most likely line up at outside linebacker, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him also put his hands in the dirt coming off the ball.
With Jim Leonhard stepping in as the defensive coordinator, there is expected to be a lot more aggression and chasing after the quarterback. Jackson was never a phenomenal pass rusher who was going to rack up the sack numbers, but he does have the talent to create pressure and disrupt an offense.
Now with the 3-4 scheme coming into play, this change could very well benefit him and have him part of a consistent rotation coming off the edge.
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