Bills news: Excitement building for new-look defense

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 31: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins throws a pass while being chased by Ed Oliver #91 of the Buffalo Bills in the second quarter at Highmark Stadium on October 31, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) | Getty Images Organiz

Football Zone

SEE ALL

Discover daily

How Walter Johnson Built a Foundation for Football Success

Discover daily

How the New Orleans Saints Transformed From an NFL Underdog Into Super Bowl Champions

Trendline

Pro Football Focus Predicts Potential Setback for Denver Broncos in 2026 Due to Offensive Weaknesses

What is the story about?

Organized Team Activities are a great opportunity for new and returning members of the Buffalo Bills to make a great impression on new head coach Joe Brady and the rest of Buffalo’s coaching staff, and they’re also the perfect time for new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard to gain familiarity with the players he’ll be deploying as part of his new defensive scheme.

After nine seasons being led by former defensive minded head coach Sean McDermott, Buffalo’s defense is experiencing an overhaul this

offseason, and Leonhard, in his first year as Buffalo’s DC, is using OTAs to teach his defense’s vision and core values.

Today’s edition of Buffalo Rumblinks leads off by examining how the excitement is building at One Bills Drive as Leonhard installs his new defensive scheme.

Check out the assessments and then be sure to leave your thoughts on what you’re most looking forward to about the Bills new-look defense in the comments section.

New DC Jim Leonhard laying foundation for his scheme

This is Leonhard’s first time serving as an NFL defensive coordinator, and he has been using OTAs to gain familiarity with his players, including learning more about which players are best suited for certain roles and positions in his base 3-4 scheme.

Leonhard has already announced that Buffalo’s outside linebackers are expected to play more like defensive ends, while traditional defensive ends will shift more inside, and traditional defensive tackles will line up next to the nose tackle in his scheme.

“I had a vision for what I want it to be, and it might not totally get there in year one,” Leonhard said. “We have to be real as far as who we have, what their skill sets are, and I have to be flexible as well as them.”

One of the returning starters who is looking forward to playing in Leonhard’s defense is defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who was a difference-maker when he was on the field last year, but who also missed all but three games due to a variety of injuries.

“It’s fun, it’s different,” Oliver said of transitioning to Leonhard’s system. “Change is always hard but sometimes change is good. I don’t know, I just look at it with that kind of optimism and just let it ride.”

Leonhard has already said he expects Oliver to be “really disruptive” in 2026, and Oliver is hoping to duplicate the successes of All-Pro defensive tackle Zach Allen, who amassed 8.5 sacks in 2024 and added seven sacks with 50 QB pressures, second-most in the NFL, last year.

“If you turn on the tape, the guy they had in Denver was pretty good,” Oliver said. “He looks like he’s playing pretty free. So hopefully I can have that same success in the same system.”

“Making guys actually have to block our guys one-on-one, and I feel like that’d be tough for any opponent,” added defensive lineman T.J. Sanders. “And that’s also a strength of ours. Letting guys one-on-one go tee off on the quarterback or run game. I feel like it’ll allow us to be great at both.”

Even more Bills news

New wide receiver DJ Moore describes his transition into Buffalo’s offense. Plus, Sal Capaccio continues his State of the Bills series by previewing the defensive line; the Bills will play overseas in the NFL International Series during the 2027 season; learn why offensive lineman Alec Anderson is predicted to take a big step forward this year; and more!