Bills’ DL depth chart currently looks like Ed Oliver + hope

KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 26: Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver (91) hits Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) as he throws the ball in the third quarter of the AFC Championship game between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs on January 26, 2025 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Stop me if you’ve heard this before: the Buffalo Bills’ defensive line could look a lot different this upcoming season compared to last year. For essentially Brandon Beane’s tenure as general manager with the team, Buffalo’s defensive line has been in a state of flux.

Each offseason, new veterans and rookies have been added to the mix in an attempt to bolster the run defense and pass rush that has frequently struggled to generate appropriate pressure. A glance at the depth chart currently reveals more of the same for the Bills. Although they’ll likely spend 20-30% of their defensive snaps with only three traditional down linemen in an odd front, Buffalo is currently looking at multiple mostly or somewhat-unproven starters across the line.

The team’s defensive line rookies of 2025 — Deone Walker and T. J. Sanders — represent two of the three currently projected starters in base defense for the Bills.

While Walker flashed during his first season with the team, both are now looking at a systemic shift that could either accelerate or delay their development for the team in their sophomore seasons. As the key veteran defensive tackle, Ed Oliver’s projection within new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s system shouldn’t be highly in question. There’s enough production to look to from players of a similar build and skillset playing at a high level in 3-4 base systems across the league (Milton Williams for the New England Patriots, Kobie Tuner with the Los Angeles Rams).