ORCHARD PARK – The last time Jim Leonhard met with reporters, it was the day of his introductory news conference in late January after he’d been named defensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills.
At that time, Leonhard barely had a handle on the holdover players who would be returning for him to coach in 2026, and he had no idea how president/general manager Brandon Beane was going to fortify Leonhard’s new-look 3-4 defense in free agency and the draft.
It was a different situation Tuesday when he spoke prior to the Bills’ OTA session because Leonhard has banked a wealth of knowledge and intel and he now has a much clearer vision of how things will come together in the run-up to training camp.
“It’s exciting to get on the field,” Leonhard said of the OTA portion of the offseason which began last week and will continue for the next three weeks before everyone in the NFL heads out for its shortened version of summer vacation. “We’ve had a lot of meetings as coaches just putting the scheme together, big picture, and then with the players as far as just what the changes are going to be, how we want to get this thing started.”
There are a lot of eyes focused on Leonhard this season, his first as a defensive coordinator in the NFL in this, the first year of the post-Sean McDermott era. McDermott’s defenses struggled in the postseason and have taken their fair share of blame for Buffalo’s inability to get to the Super Bowl. Fair or not, expectations are lofty for Leonhard to change the Bills’ defensive fortunes.
“You get to OTAs, you finally get to see it on the field and put it together, see some of the issues and see how comfortable they are, right,” Leonhard said. “It’s easy in a meeting setting or in a walk-through setting to feel comfortable but to get on the field and really get a sense of what they understand and how fast and how well they can execute it. That’s the most exciting part right now.”
Here are a few players Leonhard discussed on Tuesday:
Big things are expected for Ed Oliver
Oliver missed all but three regular-season games in 2025 due to ankle and bicep injuries, but when he did play, he was a difference maker. Now that he’s healthy again, Leonhard will be leaning on Oliver as the most experienced interior linemen on the team.
In the base 3-4 Oliver will push out a little closer to the edge and that should be an area where he can utilize some of his quickness and penetration skills.
“I think Ed’s going to be really disruptive in this defense,” Leonhard said. “The base defense being different for him than what it’s been in the past, and in all reality, (giving him) a little bit more freedom than he’s had in the past. The sub package things are a little bit more familiar to what they’ve done here from a front structure.
“I think he’s starting to see kind of where he fits and how he’s going to fit and how we’re going to be able to utilize him and create some one-on-one situations and isolate some guards, which all defensive linemen get excited about.”
Bradley Chubb was a key and necessary signing
The Bills didn’t have many players who have been standup outside linebackers when Leonhard arrived. Michael Hoecht did that a bit when he was with the Rams, and rookie Landon Jackson played a similar position in college at Arkansas, but that was pretty much it.
The other edge rushers were 4-3 defensive ends like Greg Rousseau and Javon Solomon so Leonhard very likely had a say in the signing of Chubb given his experience as a 3-4 linebacker.
“He was drafted as a first-rounder for this defense, right?” Leonhard said, recalling Chubb being picked by the Broncos in 2018. “He’s played in very similar defenses the majority of his career, even at Miami (2022-25). So we’re excited to have him for the player that he is, the experience, the versatility he has, and the leadership.”
That last intangible was important to Leonhard because he needs someone like Chubb to lead the group.
“He knocked it out of the park when we started talking to him in free agency and just what he was going to be able to provide the team, the defense,” Leonhard said. “He’s one of those personalities that can reach to the other side of the ball. There’s a lot of times you have great leaders within your room or within a defense or an offense, and every once in a while you get special guys that can kind of hit anybody on the team and really be that leader. He’s been that. He takes a lot of pride in it, so we’re excited in all facets for what he can bring to this team.”
CJ Gardner-Johnson is another key veteran
With Oliver on board to lead the linemen, and Chubb and newly signed free agent Mike Danna adding experience and leadership to the linebacker/defensive end group, the secondary was in need of a tried and true vet and Gardner-Johnson fits the bill.
Leonhard loves the youth and talent of corners Christian Benford and Max Hairston and safety Cole Bishop, but with Jordan Poyer gone, the Bills needed a steady hand who has been through the wars.
“He’s loud. He brings energy. He loves football, right?” Leonhard said. “The day to day, the workouts, the meetings, he’s a guy who loves being in the building. He’s trying to be a leader, man. He really wants to be that, so it’s exciting to be with guys who really want to be in front of the room and talk.
“There’s a downside sometimes where people get a little bit edgy when they’re competitive like that. As a team, you have to understand who you have and the roles they need to be in, but we’re excited about his passion and energy for the game and what he brings in the building every day.”
Dorian Williams has a big opportunity
For most of his first three years with the Bills, the former third-round draft pick earned the bulk of his playing time as a replacement for injured Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard. This year, with Milano gone, Williams will get the first crack at starting next Bernard.
“First impression has been great,” Leonhard said. “He’s a guy with a fresh start, new defense. Putting him in some different positions to show his versatility and his leadership more than anything, being that every-down backer for us. I’m excited about his start and just want to continue to grow.”
Williams has all the tools to be an excellent player, but there are also some things he needs to work on, mainly his pass coverage and also his ability to read and react a little quicker. That’s what the OTAs and training camp are for, and Leonhard thinks the new defense will be a better fit for Williams.
“Dorian’s a guy that, he’s going to have an opportunity to make a huge impact in this defense,” Leonhard said. “How comfortable can they get? How fast can they get comfortable to where they’re just flying around and playing with violence, playing with physicality. That’s the big test from now to training camp.”
Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for more than four decades including 37 years as the full-time beat writer/columnist for the D&C. He has written numerous books about the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast/YouTube show. He can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com, and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Bills Leonhard offers early read on four key defenders
Reporting by Sal Maiorana, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
