DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 24: Ed Oliver #91 of the Buffalo Bills reacts after a safety against the Detroit Lions during the third quarter at Ford Field on November 24, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In the Buffalo Bills’ first game of the 2025 NFL season, the defense allowed 40 points. However, there were some positive moments, especially from their interior defensive line. One former first-round draft choice made a huge impact in that game. Another big veteran registered a tackle for loss in the contest. As the game progressed, the defense stabilized, and there was hope for better performances moving forward.

Quickly, though, an injury to that disruptive former first-rounder led to some upheaval up front, and while the shuffling allowed for one rookie to shine, further injuries caused issues at what was an exceptionally important spot on defense. The Bills shuffled through multiple defensive tackle combinations before finding their groove, but injuries kept the team’s top group from having much chance to gel.

Now, with a new scheme on deck for the 2026 NFL season, the Bills need to determine how well their current personnel fits new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s plans. Do the Bills have a true 3-4 nose tackle on the roster? How many legitimate five-technique defensive ends do they have? While the Bills view their defensive linemen as being fairly versatile, will they play to their potential in positions that aren’t necessarily the ones they were originally acquired to play?

As with so many of our questions this offseason, we have no way of answering until the games begin in September. For now, as we continue our look at the state of the Buffalo Bills roster, we’ll discuss the defensive tackles — a group that likely will see a huge shift in responsibility this year, along with a shift in personnel.
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Ed Oliver

Contract Status for 2026: Signed; third year of four-year $68 million contract ($13.66 million cap hit; $34.41 million dead-cap number)

Age: 28 (29 on 12/12/2026)

Playing Time: 3 games (3 starts), 108 defensive snaps (11% of team total)

Key Statistics: 12 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 5 QB hits, 1 forced fumble

In what was a lost year for Buffalo’s 2019 first-round draft pick, Oliver showed flashes of absolute dominance while dealing with multiple injuries. Oliver missed time with an ankle injury before he landed on Injured Reserve (IR) with a torn biceps. While ramping up his conditioning to return, Oliver then suffered a knee injury, something that required a “clean-up” before he could return for the Bills’ Divisional Round matchup with the Denver Broncos. Oliver managed to play just 16 snaps in that game, and he did not register any statistics.

Now, the Bills are switching schemes to an odd-man front. While Oliver did play some one-tech in college, he’s also played that role in the pros to less-than-ideal results. His best runs have come when he’s been able to attack next to someone who occupies space at the one-tech spot. Can Oliver play as a five-tech, which would place him just outside of the offensive tackle’s shoulder? If he lined up as a 4i, that’s just slightly wider than what he did as a three-tech in former head coach Sean McDermott’s scheme.

While it might not seem to be a perfect fit initially, perhaps we should just assume that the new defensive staff will look to utilize Oliver in whatever way is best for the defense as a whole. Oliver has the motor, and he has shown flashes of dominance throughout his career. Maybe another level is unlocked this season in a new, more aggressive scheme. The Bills have already restructured his contract to clear cap space, so now all that’s left is to see how well he fits in the new scheme.

DaQuan Jones

Contract Status for 2026: Unsigned; UFA

Age: 34 (35 on 12/27/2026)

Playing Time: 12 games (12 starts), 422 defensive snaps (42.97% of team total), 55 special teams snaps (12.67%)

Key Statistics: 22 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 8 QB hits, 2 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception

As a space-eater in the middle, it’s hard to evaluate a player like Jones by looking solely at statistics. As far as numbers go, though, Jones had a better season than he has of late, and when he was healthy, he did a fairly solid job in the middle. However, Buffalo’s run defense still wasn’t very good.

While we can debate whether that was because of scheme or personnel choices, with a new coordinator and a new scheme, it’s highly unlikely that a veteran one-tech defensive tackle who plays in an even-front formation is going to be re-signed entering his age-35 season. Jones has likely played his final downs with Buffalo.

Deone Walker

Contract Status for 2026: Signed; second year of four-year rookie contract ($1,266,760 cap hit; $785,280 dead-cap number)

Age: 21 (22 on 3/11/2026)

Playing Time: 17 games (16 starts), 464 defensive snaps (47.25% of team total), 144 special teams snaps (33.18% of team total)

Key Statistics: 39 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 4 QB hits, 1 sack, 4 pass breakups, 1 fumble recovery

Walker was an absolute steal in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and he made the most of his opportunities this past season. After slipping in the draft because of a back injury, Walker stayed healthy for all of the Bills’ games, and he was arguably the team’s most consistent defensive lineman overall. He is a massive human who can play in multiple spots up front, and while the team’s current makeup might make him seem like a natural fit at nose tackle, I’d be upset if the Bills pigeon-holed him solely in that role right now.

Just because Walker can play the nose doesn’t mean that he should exclusively play there. There are definitely going to be situations where Walker is lined up right over center, but he was at his best this past year serving as a disruptor from a three-tech alignment. Walker is good enough to play anywhere up front. Finding depth pieces at nose tackle to give Leonhard the freedom to use Walker as he sees fit should be a priority this offseason.

T.J. Sanders

Contract Status for 2026: Signed; second year of four-year rookie contract ($2,419,411 cap hit; $8,136,967 dead-cap number)

Age: 22 (23 on 7/30/2026)

Playing Time: 12 games (2 starts), 297 defensive snaps (30.24% of team total), 16 special teams snaps (3.69% of team total)

Key Statistics: 16 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 QB hit, 1 sack, 1 pass breakup

Buffalo traded up in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft to select Sanders, so it’s fair to say that the rookie came in with some high expectations. Perhaps those expectations were unfair — after all, he didn’t ask the team to move up to select him — but after Sanders struggled mightily in the first part of the season, it definitely didn’t seem like a very wise move. Sanders struggled at the point of attack, and then he suffered a knee injury that sent him to IR.

When Sanders returned to play, the Bills were using him out of position, slotting him in at defensive end rather than defensive tackle for most of his snaps. That experience may come in handy for next season, as Sanders showed improvement as the season wore on playing a more versatile role. He can really play anywhere except the nose, so he might be able to thrive in a new system. Sanders will look to build on his late-season success heading into his second pro season.

Jordan Phillips

Contract Status for 2026: Unsigned; UFA

Age: 33 (34 on 9/21/2026)

Playing Time: 11 games (1 start), 202 defensive snaps (20.57% of team total), 29 special teams...

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