The Buffalo Bills have worked to add linebacker depth over the last few seasons. It wasn’t long ago where the team had to call A.J. Klein in from his RV vacation to start in playoff games, so that strategy makes sense. Adding depth to the team’s starters is essential, and while the salary cap limits just how much the team can pour into any one positional group, the Bills have done a good job scouring the late rounds of the NFL Draft for depth pieces.
Sometimes, those pieces even slipped through the
whole draft and signed with clubs as free agents. In today’s edition of “91 players in 91 days,” we discuss a former UDFA looking to make an impact in his second stint with the Bills. _____________________________________________________________________________
Name: Otis Reese IV
Number: 30
Position: ILB
Height/Weight: 6’3” 214 lbs.
Age: 28 (29 on 7/2/2027)
Experience/Draft: 3; signed with the Tennessee Titans following the 2023 NFL Draft
College: Tennessee
Acquired: Signed with Buffalo on 8/6/2026
Financial situation (per Spotrac): Reese IV signed a one-year deal with Buffalo, and that contract is worth $1.075 million if he makes the roster this season. The Bills can release him at any point without carrying a dead cap charge, as there are no guarantees on the deal.
2025 Recap: Reese IV began the offseason with the Titans, having signed a one-year contract prior to the start of the free agency period. Reese IV did not appear in Tennessee’s first preseason game, and the Titans released him on August 13, just four days after that first exhibition contest. On September 23, he signed with Buffalo’s practice squad. He remained on the practice squad until October 7, which is when Buffalo released him. Reese IV did not appear in a game while with Buffalo. On November 17, Reese IV signed with the New England Patriots’ practice squad, and while he did not appear in a game with the Patriots, he remained with the club through the Super Bowl. He signed a reserve/futures deal on February 11, and he spent the offseason and early part of training camp with New England. The Patriots released him on July 31, just a week before he signed with Buffalo for the second time.
Positional outlook: Reese IV is one of seven players listed at inside linebacker on the current Buffalo roster. Dorian Williams, Terrel Bernard, Joe Andreessen, Keonta Jenkins, Theron Gaines, and Jimmy Ciarlo are the others. Kaleb Elarms-Orr is listed at linebacker, but he fits as an inside linebacker in Buffalo’s scheme.
2026 Offseason: Reese IV signed with the Bills a short time ago, so he’s been re-acclimating to the team. The defense is entirely different this time around. He is healthy and he has participated in practices to date.
2026 Season outlook: Barring something crazy, Reese IV is not going to make Buffalo’s 53-man roster. At best, he’s likely fighting with Theron Gaines, Keonta Jenkins, and Jimmy Ciarlo for space on the practice squad after final cuts. Frankly, I think all three of those players might have a leg up on Reese IV, though the Bills could keep him over a rookie like Gaines. Reese IV played in 20 games for Titans between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, appearing primarily on special teams. He totaled 38 tackles on 179 defensive snaps and 248 special teams snaps, so it’s possible that he could show himself to be good enough on special teams where the Bills might want to keep him around longer.
Chris Trapasso released his 53-man roster projection on Monday, and he had the Bills keeping just four inside linebackers: Bernard, Williams, Elarms-Orr, and Jenkins. I agree with him on three of the four, and I also think that the Bills are going to keep another body here just to be safe. Give me Andreessen and Ciarlo over Jenkins, as they both have the size, fight, and special teams utility to fit into what defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard wants to do while also providing depth in the game’s third phase.
However you slice it, Otis Reese IV would have to be outstanding in a short period of time to show himself worthy of a roster spot this season. Never say never, but I will say that it’s unlikely that he makes the team this season.
