Late last week we asked Rumblers to weigh in about Buffalo Bills defensive leadership for the 2026 NFL season with our most recent Reacts poll, specifically asking which Bills defender rises to lead this year. It was a fun topic, mostly because at this point all we can do is posit wild guesses and theories about why someone may or may not have the makeup to lead this coming season.
Our poll was perhaps a tricky one in that the one true defensive leader wasn’t an option: that being new, first-time
NFL defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard. Of course he’s among the key leaders, but he doesn’t play on the field these days. We wanted to know who fans believe will carry the most weight among their defensive teammates. And to do so regardless of whether or not they’re recognized with official captaincy.
Longtime Bills fans will recall that Buffalo’s official defensive leader the last couple seasons has been linebacker Terrel Bernard. He’s worn the green dot on defense — the one responsible for calling the plays and coverages on a down-to-down basis… when available. Leonhard has praised Bernard in recent days, but it’s worth reminding that with any regime change comes different operatives. It’s anyone’s guess at this point whether or not Bernard retains sole captaincy benefits.
Under former head coach Sean McDermott, the team transitioned to one captain on offense and one on defense, with additional leadership roles handed out to other players. On offense it’s been quarterback Josh Allen, for obvious reasons. Will Bernard again carry the torch as a tone-setter in 2026?
Some Rumblings readers aren’t convinced it’s true. The results of our poll reveal quite a few names of players who fans expect to lead the charge. Overall, 71% of the votes went to someone other than Bernard. Again, this doesn’t mean people necessarily seem him losing out on captaincy. It’s who fans see as the emotional leader, and a tone-setter when a big play is needed.
Leading the way with 33% of the vote is outside linebacker Bradley Chubb, who signed a free-agent contract this past offseason. Chubb has built a long and productive NFL career, with roots established as part of the Denver Broncos under the tutelage of Von Miller. Chubb could now find himself in a similar role for Buffalo’s defense.
Next up, and tied for second with 19% each of the vote, are defensive tackle Ed Oliver and safety Cole Bishop. Oliver has the traits and on-field demeanor to take over any game, and he was off to such a start last season before injuries claimed most of his campaign. If Oliver can be lucky enough to stay healthy, don’t discount his potential to have a comeback-player-of-the-year season.
Bishop is a young defender with elite physical traits. After a disappointing start to his career, Bishop amped up his play in 2025. You can be sure that Leonhard will do all possible to guide Bishop to greatness.
Finally we get to Terrel Bernard, who received just 13% of the vote. It’s pretty evident to me that Bills Mafia is asleep on Benford, but the injury woes are legit. It’s difficult (but not impossible) to lead from the sideline. If Bernard finds the right mix of health and luck, he could be set to do big things in Leonhard’s scheme.
Languishing in the bottom of our results are cornerback Christian Benford (9%) and outside linebacker Greg Rousseau. It’s possible that Benford’s legacy will forever remain one of being undersold, underappreciated, and forgotten when it comes time for accolades. Benford’s development as a 2022 NFL Draft sixth-round pick allowed One Bills Drive to give up on cornerback Kaiir Elam, who was the Buffalo’s first-round pick in the same draft as Benford.
Last but certainly never least in any real conversation is Greg Rousseau. He did fall to the bottom here with just 4% of the vote, but Rousseau could be headed toward a great season while playing in a scheme that may be a far better fit for his measurables and abilities. Rousseau may not stand out immediately as a rallying sort of leader, but keep your eyes focused on “15” this season.
Due to constraints in our new polling resource, we couldn’t take a deeper dive to include additional players like defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson. The man known affectionately as CJGJ carries a vocal history alongside his play, but it remains to be seen whether he takes on a leadership role in 2026.
Who else deserved to be included in the poll? Sound off in the comments!
We have a bonus batch of poll results to share this round, with the final tally of a question asked about the AFC East. So what team do NFL fans around the globe think will win the AFC East? Right now, 75% of votes have been cast for the Bills.
The reigning AFC Champion New England Patriots garnered just 18% of the vote, perhaps the byproduct of what most observed to be an easy 2025 schedule and their fortuitous lucky during last season’s playoff run. They didn’t have to face Josh Allen and the Bills in the playoffs, but they did manage to defeat them in the regular season to get a leg up for a more favorable outcome.
It’s shaping up to be another long season for the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets, where just a total of 7% of votes say either team wins the AFC East in 2026. Will a much tougher schedule see the Patriots playing a different sort of game in 2026? We’ll find out soon enough!
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