Bills DC Bobby Babich - Jeffery T. Barnes/AP Photo
The Linebacker position in the NFL is considered the quarterback of the defense. We’ve already seen that from players like Micah Parsons of the Cowboys. With Bills linebacker Matt Milano returning from injury, Who Will Shine at Linebacker?
With Milano out for most of the 2023 NFL season, other linebackers were fortunately able to step in and help the Bills win their fourth straight AFC East Title.
Now is the time for others to showcase their talents and pair up with him to help the Bills linebacking core shine this season.
Who Will Shine at Linebacker?
Matt Milano
We will start with the quarterback of this defensive unit, Matt Milano.
Up until his season-ending injury in Week 5 in London in 2023, Milano was on pace to have another career year in Orchard Park.
After a full year of rehab and getting back into shape, number 58 of the Bills looks great and better than ever.
While he is in great shape, however, he will need to avoid breaking his leg again and stay healthy.
This way, he will have other players teaming up with him to help the Bills win their first Super Bowl.
Edefuan Ulofoshio
The fifth-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft could be a diamond in the rough candidate for the Bills’ 53-man roster.
At 6’1″, 236 lbs., Edefuan Ulofoshio was one of the most athletic linebackers in this year’s draft class.
Along with his 4.56 forty time, Ulofoshio has natural football speed and is instinctive as a coverage-dominant linebacker.
If he doesn’t make the initial 53-man roster, look for the former Washington Huskie product to make the practice squad.
Or he can make the roster and play special teams in which head coach Sean McDermott prefers his late-round picks to play if they don’t earn playing time at their natural position.
Dorian Williams
Dorian Williams burst onto the national scene last year, making his first NFL start on SNF against the New York Giants.
The speedy linebacker is probably the fastest athlete a linebacker in the game has ever seen.
However, with a chip on his shoulder, Williams is here to show that he isn’t going anywhere, just like Milano.
Terrel Bernard
We all want an opportunity to be successful in life. However, what we do with the opportunity matters more than headlines and instant success.
That was the mindset of Terrel Bernard.
The undersized, athletic linebacker earned the starting linebacker role for Week 1 after taking advantage of Tyrell Dodson’s absence.
He never looked away from the opportunity, using it to keep improving and become the best player he could be.
That’s even after going down with a season-ending injury in the heartbreaking playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Baylon Spector
Baylon Spector could be a solid linebacker in the NFL. His instincts and quickness allow him to stop the run and create numerous turnovers.
The problem with him is that he hasn’t taken advantage of when his name has been called. However, it’s because he hasn’t had to do so with so much depth as a linebacker.
The caveat, though, is he also needs to stay consistently healthy and work harder in practice to earn more playing time.
However, the positive is that Spector is a solid plug guy who can spare rotational minutes for guys like Milano, Bernard, and even Williams when they need to rest.
You definitely want Spector around to spare critical minutes.
With Milano finally back and ready to play again this season, who will step up and join him as the defensive quarterback on defense?
