Buffalo's pass rush was flat-out embarrassing last season, finishing 27th in win rate, and now their defensive line is a ghost town. Joey Bosa, A.J. Epenesa, Matt Milano, and Shaq Thompson? All gone, unsigned, leaving a massive hole. What's left is a rebuilt 3-4 front, and the camp battles along this defensive line are some of the most crucial on their entire roster. We're talking about three starting spots on the line, two locked up, and one absolutely wide open.
Oliver's Redemption and Walker's Rise: The Locked-In Core
Can you believe Ed Oliver played only three games in 2025? Three! That's it, thanks to a biceps tear, an ankle issue, and a knee injury. Here's the kicker: he recorded a sack in every single one of those appearances before landing on IR. When the scheme changed, everyone assumed his hefty $24 million cap hit made him toast. But nope, the front office restructured his deal, dropping his 2026 cap number to $13.6 million. That move speaks volumes, telling you exactly how Coach Leonhard sees him as a starting interior lineman in this new 3-4 setup. This guy is pivotal if he can stay healthy. Then there's Deone Walker, the best story on that defense, period. This fourth-round rookie in 2025 stepped in immediately, becoming the one constant through every injury the position faced. He even landed on ESPN’s All-Rookie first-team. A 6’7″, 330-plus-pound nose tackle, Walker is entering his second year in a scheme tailor-made for his skills. He could be the X-Factor who unlocks the entire defense around him. What a monster.The Fight for the Third Spot: Three Young Guns Go Head-to-Head
With a 3-4 front putting three linemen on the field, that last starting spot is a complete free-for-all. TJ Sanders currently enters camp ahead, carrying some serious pedigree. Buffalo traded up to No. 41 in the 2025 draft for him, but his rookie year was tragically wiped out by a knee injury that put him on IR in October. This is effectively his second rookie camp, and there's real hope inside the building he grows into at least an above-average starter. But he absolutely cannot get comfortable. Landon Jackson, a 2025 third-rounder, is coming for that job from an angle no one saw coming. He was drafted as an edge rusher in the previous scheme, but he’s bulked up and is now moving inside to a 4i-technique. Honestly, he might even be a better fit at his new position than the one he was drafted for. And don't forget Zane Durant, the fifth-round rookie from Penn State. He's an Ed Oliver clone: undersized, explosive, and built to bring that same athletic disruption. On paper, he’s the immediate backup at that spot, but nothing feels settled yet. This isn't just about who gets to start; it's about rebuilding an entire defensive identity after all those departures. The battles for that third starting DL spot and the backup nose tackle role with Phidarian Mathis and DeWayne Carter are going to shape this defense for the whole season. What we see emerge from these camp showdowns will tell us everything about whether this revamped front can actually pressure the quarterback and make some noise.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.