The Bills will unequivocally be one of the premier offensive teams in the sport next season led by Josh Allen who is likely the best overall QB in the game, an offensive minded head coach, and strong personnel on offense. However, their prowess on the defensive side of the ball will loom large and will likely be the biggest determining factor as to how far they advance next season. Here I will go into detail assessing the front seven of the team heading into the 2026 season.
At the first of the two starting edge rusher positions is 2025 second round pick T.J Sanders who really struggled as a rookie in limited snaps grading among the worst players at his position. However, given his high draft selection and limited time on the field, he will be in line to improve, heading into year 2 in the league. The first of the two edge rusher positions remains a big concern for Buffalo as of now as the Bills do not know what they will get from Sanders. He could be a star given how high he was taken, but as of now he has not yet even proven to be an NFL caliber player.
Set to start at nose tackle is 2025 fourth rounder Deone Walker who had a solid rookie season. Walker ranked near the middle of the pack in terms of a defense grade among players at his position as a rookie. Walker was drafted relatively high and had a solid rookie season. Walker could prove to be a strong starter in the middle of the defensive front for the Bills or at least a high-end backup, but likely not a star.
At the other defensive end spot former first round pick Ed Oliver is set to start for the Bills and is among the better if not the best overall defensive lineman in the sport. Oliver consistently grades in the above average range in terms of an overall defense grade according to Pro Football Focus. Oliver graded 3rd in that same department in 2025 albeit in just 105 snaps.
At the first of the starting linebacker spots is former 1st rounder Gregory Rousseau who is a very good to a great player. Rousseau has graded in or around the top ten in terms of an overall defense grade among players at his position in every season outside of his rookie year, where he still graded above average.
At the second of the starting linebacker spots, former third round pick Dorian Williams is set to start for the Bills. Williams has unfortunately underwhelmed in the NFL thus far grading below average according to Pro Football Focus in every season he has played in thus far. However, Williams has never had the chance yet to put together a full season of starter snaps. If Williams can show strong improvement as he gains more snaps and live up to his high draft billing, he can be a solid starter if not more than that for the Bills.
At the third of the starting linebacker spots is former third round pick Terrel Bernard who is in a similar boat to Williams. Bernard has consistently graded as a below average player thus far in the NFL but has had the chance to play extended snaps. Unless Bernard can suddenly show substantial improvement and live up to his high draft billing, he will be a prime candidate to be replaced in the Bills’ starting front seven. As he is likely better suited as a backup in today’s NFL.
Newly acquired former Dolphins’ and Broncos’ standout Bradley Chubb rounds out the starting linebacking core and the starting front seven for the Bills. Chubb has made multiple pro bowls as a former first round pick but struggles with consistency and has never shown a truly elite ceiling either. Chubb will play next season at thirty years old after having the worst season of his career in 2025 with Miami. If Chubb can be on his A game, then he is a strong option in the Bills’ front seven, however as of now he might be better suited in a reserve role. A full analysis of the Bills’ currently listed starting front seven can be found below with me assigning each player a grade with some footnotes.
LDE – T.J Sanders – 2025 2nd rounder, poor as rookie in limited snaps
NT – Deone Walker – 2025 4th rounder, C to C+ as a rookie
RDE – Ed Oliver – B+ as former first round pick
WLB – Gregory Rousseau – B+ to A-
LILB – Dorian Williams – C as former third round pick in 2023
RILB – Terrel Bernard – C to C+ as former third round pick in 2022
SLB – Bradley Chubb – C+ to B- as former first round pick
As you can see above, the Bills have question marks all over their front seven and even the high-level proven players in the unit in Ed Oliver and Gregory Rousseau feel good but not special. The Bills have many notable names in the reserve unit of their front seven which could loom large as they could compete for starting jobs given the Bills’ question marks in their starting front seven as of now. Below I will go into detail assessing some noteworthy names in the Bills’ reserve front seven unit and the impact they could have.
Former 2022 second round pick Phidarian Mathis at edge rusher has looked poor thus far in the NFL but has never had a chance to put together a season of extended snaps. If Mathis can show tremendous improvement and live up to his high draft billing, he will be a very strong reserve option in the Bills’ front seven who could also compete for a starting job.
2024 third round pick defensive lineman DeWayne Carter looked poor as a rookie and did not see the field in year 2. Rookie struggles are understandable as nearly every high-level player in the NFL struggled as a rookie. If Carter can pull it together and live up to his high draft billing, then the Bills can have a very strong reserve player who could compete for a starting role as well.
The Bills drafted edge rusher T.J Parker in the 2nd round of the 2026 NFL Draft and given his high draft billing he will be in line to produce for the Bills next season. Parker, the Bills’ 2026 2nd round pick, could replace TJ Sanders on the starting defensive front who was the Bills’ 2nd round pick at the same position a year ago.
Former undrafted linebacker Joe Andreessen perhaps is the most crucial current Bills’ reserve defensive player. Andreessen in limited NFL snaps has consistently been graded as above average and given the Bills’ question marks at linebacker, could certainly threaten for a starting job.
2025 third round pick Landon Jackson looked solid as a rookie in very few snaps. Given his high draft selection and decent play in year 1, he could prove to be a solid player for Buffalo going forward as well.
A similar analysis of the key reserve players in the Bills’ front seven can be found below.
ED – TJ Parker – 2nd round pick 2026
ED – Phidarian Mathis – D- so far as former second round pick, yet to play full season of snaps
ED – DeWayne Carter– 3rd rd 2024 – poor as rookie, DNP in 2025
LB – Joe Andreessen – Former UDFA – consistently above average in limited snaps
LB/ED – Landon Jackson – 2025 third rounder, decent in very limited rookie snaps
-Remaining Bills’ front seven reserves are average to mediocre caliber players or less
The Bills’ front seven has many question marks and as of now their starting front seven is among the weaker ones in the sport. They will need talented but unproven players to step up and/or for inconsistent players to be on their A game for Buffalo to have a front seven capable of carrying a contender.
