One of the big trends Joe Brady recognized in recent years during his time as an offensive coordinator, and something he tried to do when calling plays for the Buffalo Bills, was scheming to get opposing linebackers into unfavorable situations.
If there was a linebacker on the field who could be exploited in pass coverage, attack him. Ditto for a linebacker who struggled against the run, go right at him.
For instance, former Bills linebacker Tyrel Dodson, who has played for the Dolphins since mid-2024, has always been terrible in coverage so, not surprisingly, in the two games against Miami last season, Josh Allen went after him. According to Pro Football Focus he completed 10 of 13 attempts into Dodson’s coverage area for 112 yards.
Thus, when Brady was asked at the NFL owners’ meetings in late March about what he and new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard were focusing on during their linebacker draft evaluations, versatility jumped to the forefront.
“The offensive minds are doing too good of a job of trying to get your linebackers in matchups, so gone are the days where it’s just a linebacker who is strictly a downhill run stopper, because depending on the coverage that you play, they’ll get in matchups,” Brady said. “You’ve got to have that versatility, that athleticism to be able to do both. We’ve got to be able to stop the run. You’ve got to find that happy medium of, can’t be too small, or you can’t fit the run, but you also can’t be too stiff that you can’t cover in the pass game. Hard to find.”
Terrel Bernard and Dorian Williams, who right now would line up as the Bills’ inside linebackers in Leonhard’s 3-4 scheme, did not provide effective versatility on a consistent basis over the past two seasons. It’s why the Bills really need to draft a linebacker this week who, if they can’t earn a starting job this season, can at the very least provide depth and become a starter in 2027 when Williams could be leaving via free agency.
Just about anyone the Bills would want - outside of Ohio State’s Sonny Styles who will be long gone - should be available when they pick 26th in the first round, though they may not believe the value in an off ball linebacker is worth it that high.
Unfortunately, they don’t have a second-round pick where several viable candidates will surely come off the board. Barring a trade, and assuming they stay put in the third round with pick No. 91, here are five players who could be available who could help the defense.
It’s probably a stretch to think Golday will still be sitting there late on Friday night, but if he is, and linebacker is the target at this spot, Brandon Beane should not hesitate. Golday brings the type of versatility Leonhard would crave as someone who did a little bit of everything at both Central Arkansas for two years and Cincinnati for two more.
At various points he operated as an outside linebacker, a middle linebacker, an edge rusher, and even a slot defender. He’s the type of chess piece that Leonhard could have fun with because he’s got the size at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, plus the speed that saw him run the 40-yard dash in a decent for that size 4.62 seconds at the combine.
“Golday is still unrefined in several areas, but his size, speed and ascending skill set are reasons to be encouraged,” said The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. “He projects as an immediate special teamer who can compete for defensive snaps during his rookie year.”
Trotter is another player like Golday who could certainly find his way into the second round and be out of reach for the Bills. You can’t ignore the bloodlines as his father, Jeremiah, was an All-Pro linebacker for the Eagles, and his brother, Jeremiah Jr., currently plays primarily as a special teamer for the Eagles.
The 6-foot-1, 240-pounder is the quintessential thumper in the run game but he needs to make notable progress in pass coverage, meaning he’s pretty much a carbon copy of Williams, only younger. Until he cleans that up he’s probably going to be an early-down player who comes off the field in passing situations.
“Trotter needs to be protected in coverage and he may not start as a rookie, but he’s an effective run defender with enough natural ability to develop into a starter,” said Todd McShay of The Ringer. “His game has shades of another Missouri linebacker, Nick Bolton (Chiefs). Trotter isn’t as instinctive as Bolton in coverage, but they are aggressive run defenders who show flashes rushing the passer.”
Born in Berkeley, California, he didn’t start playing football until high school and wasn’t a full-time linebacker until 2023, his third season playing in his backyard at Cal. He led the team with 92 tackles and then transferred to TCU where he was a reserve in 2024 and then a starter in 2025 when he took a huge leap with 130 tackles, 11 for lost yardage including four sacks.
He’s still growing into the position, but his athleticism at 6-foot-2 and 234 pounds is going to entice teams in the draft because he will be a force on special teams with the chance to compete for defensive snaps as a rookie. His 4.47 in the 40 at the combine was second-best behind only Styles among linebackers, and his 10-yard split of 1.59 seconds was fifth-best.
“Elarms-Orr is a well-built linebacker with above-average athleticism but problematic instincts,” said Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. “He has the speed and athleticism to get to the football from sideline to sideline. However, he frequently struggles with recognizing blocking schemes and too often loses track of play development. He will need improved processing but should dial in as a backup with a full-time role on special teams.”
He began his college career playing baseball for the Ducks and walked on to the football team in 2022 and immediately saw action in 12 games as a special teamer. He stuck with both sports through 2024 and became a 13th-round draft pick of the Houston Astros in 2024, but he decided to return to Oregon to play football in 2025 and football will be his full-time sport now.
In his last two seasons he started 28 of 29 games and was a second-team All-Big 10 selection who totaled 230 tackles, 13.5 for lost yardage. He’s another player who is a force against the run, even though he doesn’t have great size at 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds.
In a fun note from Brugler, Boettcher played quarterback and safety for his Pop Warner team which was named the Buffalo Bills.