Fans of the Buffalo Bills are counting down the days to the new league year, wondering exactly what their team is going to do to improve enough to finally get back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1993.
One of the biggest question marks has to do with the future of the linebacker group. In this series, we will take a look at each position group: the known entities, the pending free agents, and who we would love to see added. With so many uncertainties at linebacker, this may be one of the most open groups heading into the offseason.
The Buffalo Bills 2026 offseason playbook for the linebacker position
The known quantities
Terrel Bernard is back, no matter how fans feel about him, because of the four-year, $50 million contract he signed last March. He had an underwhelming 2025, often battling injuries. He has the kind of range and playmaking ability to be a valuable inside linebacker in the new scheme, and both coaches and fans hope that last season was just an aberration.
Dorian Williams may be the most intriguing option of those guaranteed to return. In the final year of his rookie deal, Williams has been a solid special teams player and has the speed needed to be a sideline-to-sideline inside linebacker in a 3-4 base defense.
The final “known” quantity is Joe Andreessen, affectionately known as “Buffalo Joe.” An undrafted free agent, Andreessen seemed to get stronger as the season progressed, in addition to taking on special teams duties. His skills make him a possibility at outside linebacker, though more in a coverage role than edge rusher.
Free Agents who could come back
The free agent whose name comes up most is Matt Milano. The veteran linebacker has quietly been one of the best in the league during his tenure in Buffalo, though injuries have largely hampered his abilities the past few seasons.
Milano looked strong again down the stretch in 2025, but the question is whether he would be willing to come back at a discounted rate. He has the experience and intelligence to be valuable at inside linebacker, but the Bills are facing a cap crunch.
Veteran Shaq Thompson came on late in 2025, but it isn’t an ideal solution. The only way he comes back is if the Bills can get him on a sweetheart deal. He has experience in a 3-4 base, having done so with the Carolina Panthers in 2019.
Preferred moves
Some of the preferred moves may come from within. The hole at edge rusher looks glaring, but there are some potential solutions already on the roster. Greg Rousseau has the size and skill to come off the edge if the Bills can find no better options. The same can be said of Michael Hoecht, though he is coming back from a torn ACL.
One of the best moves the Bills could make is to take an edge rusher in the first round of a stacked defensive draft class. The trio of Rousseau, Hoecht, and a first-round pick would give the Bills a solid set of edge rushers to work with, and they wouldn’t need to take a swing in free agency.
If Milano can be brought back on a team-friendly deal, it would help to have his knowledge and experience available. The Bills will likely be looking for a big leap from Dorian Williams and Joel Andreessen, plus a return to form from Bernard, rather than making a big move at inside linebacker.
Bills Linebackers Outlook for 2026
The Bills have pieces that they can plug in at every spot, but very few that seem like they can be an A+ option anywhere. With all the pressure on addressing the receiver position, the team may opt to go with a more conservative approach in the offseason.
Playing in multiple base sets will give Leonhard more options, but it will likely be a couple of seasons before he has every piece he wants for this iteration of the defense. For now, he will have to make do with some of the current pieces and hope that Beane can find a gem or two in the draft.