RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesThe Buffalo Bills kick off training camp on July 29 at St. John Fisher . This moves the team into the next major phase of the offseason ahead of the 2026 NFL season.
Ahead of then, Bills Wire will examine every position group ahead of this pivotal time on the football calendar.
This edition will focus on the Bills' defensive line.
At the top
Buffalo moves into a new world with Jim Leonhard as the defensive coordinator. The Bills leave Sean McDermott's 4-3 scheme, meaning the team will see massive changes along the defensive front.
The Bills will most likely start with Deone Walker as the nose tackle. Ed Oliver and TJ Sanders will slot in on either side of Walker. There is still quite a bit that needs to be sorted out, as Walker and Sanders do not have a great deal of experience in the NFL thus far. This could lead to some challenges for their positions.
Depth chart
The Bills have used a rotation on the defensive line under McDermott. It stands to reason that this will continue on the defensive line under Leonhard.
At the nose tackle spot, DeWayne Carter, Phidarian Mathis, and Zion Logue have the skill set to fill in.
The Bills have several options who can play at the defensive tackle/defensive end position. Landon Jackson and Zane Durant will be the next players to come in.
Buffalo has several players who will battle for the final spots on the roster. Mike Danna, Travis Clayton, Tommy Akingbesote, and Kody Huisman will vie for a spot on the final roster.
Battles to watch
The only spot on the line that seems to be safe is Ed Oliver's position.
Walker should be the starting nose tackle, but even that's a bit tenuous. Carter is returning from an Achilles injury last season. A healthy Carter will push Walker to be part of the interior line rotation.
Expect Jackson and Durant to be the best players to challenge for Sanders' snaps.
Who needs a great camp?
There are a few candidates for who needs a strong camp, but we'll name Sanders at this point. Sanders was a second-round pick in 2025. He suffered a knee injury and missed most of his rookie season. Buffalo traded up in the draft for the South Carolina product, so a strong camp will alleviate some of the concerns regarding this pick.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: 2026 Buffalo Bills training camp preview: Defensive line
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