Buffalo Bills Training Camp Battles: Who Starts Alongside Ed Oliver?

After hitting on the LB batter in Part I, the CB2 competition in Part II, and Cole Bishop’s running mate in Part III. Part IV looks at who will be the starting three in Jim Leonhard’s 3-4 defense. Ed Oliver is atop the depth chart written in Sharpie; Deone Walker is right below him, filled in with pen. Who will make their case to be penciled in behind them during training camp?

Leonhard sounds excited to have Oliver and talked about the need to get him 1-on-1 opportunities, so defenses identify where he is and don't throw double teams at him every snap. That sounds great conceptually, but it’s going to require the other players on the defensive front to do their part. Will it be returning players who didn’t look great in their roles in McDermott’s 4-3 defense? Is there a rookie that could step up, or is there a player on the market that the Bills could bring in to make this a formidable group?

The Obvious Competition

T.J. Sanders, DeWayne Carter, and Landon Jackson are all returning players who have struggled since being drafted by the Bills and need a fresh start in the new defense. Carter and Jackson have both bulked up in their offseason recoveries from injury as they have been asked to change their body profiles to fit different roles in Leonhard’s 3-4 defense.

Early reports out of Training Camp have Sanders leading the group of younger players as of now, but veteran Phidarian Mathis is another name to keep an eye on.  The Bills were quick to retain Mathis in February before Free Agency, and after the coaching hirings, there is something the organization and Leonhard must like in his play to bring him back, even if the contract is minimal in guarantee and figure. Sanders and Mathis are the two names that should be the frontrunners for the final starting spot.

The Dark Horse Opportunity

Rookie Zane Durant is my dark-horse rostered candidate because of his playstyle and what he could bring while playing alongside Oliver and Walker. Durant is around the same size as Oliver, standing at 6’1” and 290 lbs, and has a quick first step and burst that allows him to disrupt the play before it gets started. Leonhard mentioned getting Oliver 1-on-1 opportunities, and the best way to do that is by having someone else who can be a similar disruptor. I am not trying to put that pressure on Durant, but I have seen reports that this could have been another late-round steal of the draft for the Bills, and if Durant’s abilities can be tapped into, he will be seeing the field sooner than expected in Buffalo.

A trade for Vita Vea is my non-rostered candidate here. Is it likely? Not really; my guess is this is around a <5% chance of happening. This would be an instant upgrade and a starter that made the front 3 one of the top units in the NFL. Vea is a space eater who wants out of Tampa Bay, and the price tag should be doable for the Bills given his age (31) and the fact that he wants a new contract (last year of his current deal, getting $17 million). This is a bit of a dream but would be a perfect addition to the defense.

My Prediction

T.J. Sanders wins the job, but I believe there will be a pretty heavy rotation outside of Walker and Oliver with this unit, so it may not always seem like he’s getting starting reps. As much as I would like to see a trade happen for a player like Vea, it just does not seem realistic. Whenever a big-name player hits the trading block, and the Bills' name is mentioned, fans are usually left disappointed, so I am not going to get my hopes up.

In reality, Sanders, along with Carter and Jackson, finding roles in this defense is what we want and need to see happen. The change of scheme and new coaching staff need to develop the untapped potential that made these players 2nd- and 3rd-round selections in the 2024 and 2025 drafts. That will be a big step in the right direction of seeing the roster turnover needed to cut payroll and get the defense back where it belongs.