The Buffalo Bills are changing their defense, and general manager Brandon Beane believes it will benefit multiple players.
Buffalo is changing from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defense under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard. With the new system, linebackers and edge rushers will be key in the system, and Javon Solomon could see his role increase.
Solomon was selected in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but with the Bills, he hasn’t been given a ton of playing time. Instead, he’s been more of a special teams player.
Yet, in this new system, Beane believes Solomon will benefit and should see an uptick in snaps and production.
“In our old defense, you would kind of call him like a DPR, designated pass rusher,” Beane said about Solomon before the NFL Draft. “Javon really found a nice niche on special teams his first two years, had some opportunities, but not a lot in some third-down packages or a variety of things like that. I think he fits more of a 3-4 standup outside backer than a hand in the dirt, defensive end, when we selected him.”
Solomon recorded just 17 tackles and 1 sack last season. In his NFL career so far, he’s recorded just 30 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery, but he hasn’t had a huge impact so far.
Yet, Beane believes Solomon will make an impact on the Bills’ defense in 2026 under Leonhard’s system.
Bills GM Looking For Wins at NFL Draft
Although Beane believes Solomon could be in line for a breakout season, the Bills are expected to be defensive-heavy in the NFL Draft.
With the NFL Draft just days away, Beane spoke to the media and said the goal is to find impact players regardless of where they are selected.
“There are areas in this draft where you can find players to help your team,” Beane said. “… You don’t have to hit homers; hit singles, doubles, triple, whatever it is. If a homer falls to you, great. But just continue to find ways to incrementally help our roster, whether it’s depth, starter, special teams or whatever it may be.”
Beane said the Bills are looking for players who are smart, love football, and can come in right away and make an impact.
The Bills have seven total picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Buffalo Changing Its Defense
The Bills fired Sean McDermott and hired Joe Brady as the head coach, and Leonhard has taken over as defensive coordinator.
In free agency, Buffalo focused on improving its defense, and Leonhard said the team wants them to be aggressive.
“We’re going to be an attacking defense up front and in the back end,” Leonhard said. “We’re going to attack the football. The biggest stat in football is turnovers, so we’re going to be aggressive, we’re going to fly around, we’re going to communicate, we’re going to play well together, but we’re going to cause issues for offense, and we’re going to force them to react to us.”
If the Bills’ defense can be better than years past, it will make them a legit Super Bowl contender.
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