ORCHARD PARK - When Javon Solomon joined the Buffalo Bills as a fifth-round draft pick in 2024, he did so as a player known specifically because of his ability to get after quarterbacks.
In his final season at Troy University, Solomon led the nation with 16 sacks, giving him a career total of 33 which ranked second all-time in the Sun Belt Conference and the Bills took notice.
However, Solomon has always been convinced that he can do more than rush the passer, and in Buffalo’s new defense where he has transitioned to stand-up outside linebacker, he thinks he can prove that if he gets the chance.
“Yeah for sure,” he said recently. “Being who I am, I love that versatile aspect in terms of like dropping, rushing, playing the run. So I think this did
nothing but boost my self-esteem, my internal motivation just to keep going and stay motivated.”
Solomon saw minimal playing time on defense in his first two seasons as an edge rusher in Sean McDermott’s 4-2-5 scheme. He saw action in 31 games with one start and played 330 snaps, 208 of those being pass rush reps, and he totaled just three sacks and 22 QB pressures.
Bills see more than a pass-rushing specialist
As an undersized player at 6-foot-1 and 246 pounds, it was tough for Solomon to make an impact when he was going against offensive linemen who often outweighed him by 50 pounds or more.
Now that he’s lining up off the ball in a two-point stance, he thinks it gives him more of an opportunity to utilize his athleticism, not only as a pass rusher but as someone who can occasionally drop into coverage, and coach Joe Brady agreed.
“It's a lot more natural position for him now in the role that he's playing,” Brady said. “Being able to drop in coverage, being able to rush from the edge, being able to stand up, I think he has such a unique skill set because he can be an outside linebacker that can rush the quarterback and drop in coverage.
“Solly’s one of the strongest guys on our team to be able to set the edge for the defense. Going into this offseason there was a lot of questions about that outside linebacker room in general and the depth that we've been able to add to it, both from the draft and free agency, as we have, it’s definitely one of the strengths of our team.”
Winning a crowded roster battle
So much so that there was a bit of intrigue surrounding whether Solomon would make the team, especially after the Bills signed Bradley Chubb as a priority outside free agent to join Greg Rousseau as a starter, drafted TJ Parker in the second round, knew they were getting Michael Hoecht back from injury, and then made a late spring signing of Mike Danna.
“I love it,” Solomon said of the competition. “I think that's been the best thing about camp so far, we know it's competition within our room, but we’re always pushing each other to keep motivating each other, keep getting better, whether that’s staying out after practice improving with each other or whether that’s in the meeting room.
“We're all pushing each other, and that's the best thing about competition is that it’s gonna bring the best out of you. I feel like that's what it did to me. We got great guys in the room. We got Chubb, Hoecht, Greg, Jerry. We got Mike. You know what I am saying? We got great guys in the room. So in terms of that space is just gonna push me to go harder."
All summer, it was believed that Solomon and Danna were competing for one spot, but when the initial 53-man roster was announced, both were on the team. That could change in the coming days, and one would be safe to assume Solomon has the inside track because for the past two years he has been a core special teamer, something Danna has not been during his NFL career with the Chiefs.
“Teams is something, I just love it,” Solomon said. “It's just kind of an easy thing to go out there and just play, especially when you got the NFL logo on. You go out there on the field, you're giving your all regardless. Teams is something I've been into and I continue to grow in that day in, day out. I see myself as a player that’s very high on special teams.”
Last year Solomon was fourth on the team with 278 special teams snaps and he made 10 tackles which was sixth-best.
“He's a good special teams player, so there's so much value in that, different than when you are just playing like a defensive end position,” Brady said.
That’s probably going to be where Solomon contributes the most because unless the Bills suffer injuries, their top four of Rousseau, Chubb, Hoecht and Parker are going to be tough to break through, but he promises he’ll be ready if and when his time comes.
“Hundred percent, and that's what this league is about, though,” he said. “It doesn't matter if you’re first or you're last, there's talent everywhere, so to be able to light that spark in me to keep going, that's what I need. Anytime I put a helmet on and I'm doing something football related, it's a passion for it. Whether it's playing offense, whether it’s playing defense or special teams, I want to go out there and show myself, and being in this defense is gonna bring the best out of me, showing my versatile aspect and growth as a player.”
Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for more than four decades including 37 years as the full-time beat writer/columnist for the D&C. He has written numerous books about the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast/YouTube show. He can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com, and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: The Bills found a new role for an overlooked defender
