Bills face obvious choice to fix major roster need but growing doubt remains about whether they will follow through
The Buffalo Bills need some help at middle linebacker, and the fix could be staring them right in the face. It’s simple, just bring back linebacker Matt Milano. It’d be a cheap decision for Buffalo, and one that general manager Brandon Beane should be seriously considering.
The Buffalo Bills have plenty of team needs heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, one of which is linebacker.
Buffalo doesn’t have a starting middle linebacker on its roster heading into the draft, but there’s one player in mind that I hope Buffalo brings back.
This offseason has all been about a fresh start for Buffalo. A brand new head coach in Joe Brady, new offensive and defensive coordinators, a new wide receiver No. 1 in DJ Moore, and a brand new stadium that fans are desperate to get inside of.
While there’s plenty of new things going on at One Bills Drive, fans are clamoring for more of the same when it comes to the linebacker position. While Buffalo may take one or two in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, here’s hoping they bring back linebacker Matt Milano.
Milano still has plenty of gas left in the tank after an up-and-down 2025 season.
The Buffalo Bills should bring back veteran linebacker Matt Milano
Milano is a free agent and has yet to sign with any club. After the first wave of free agency madness, things have died down. Milano is still on the board, and he knows the team well.
It would be a dream fit in Buffalo if they were to take a swing and bring him back.
Not only that, but Milano would be relatively cheap. They’d most likely be able to snag him on a veteran minimum contract and provide some meaningful depth at the position along the way.
Milano was drafted by the Bills in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, No. 163 overall. During his tenure with the Buffalo Bills, he’s played in 106 games in nine years with 10 interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, 39 passes defensed, four forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries, 14 sacks, 571 combined tackles, and 47 quarterback hits.
Even if Buffalo adds a linebacker early in the draft, bringing back Milano wouldn’t block the future; it would help stabilize the present.
He knows the system, even though it’s going to be changing under defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, and more importantly, he still knows how to make game-changing plays when it matters most. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations and a glaring hole in the middle of the defense, that’s not something you just gamble away on potential alone.
If the Bills truly want the best of both worlds, being built for tomorrow while still chasing everything in 2026, the answer might already be sitting right in front of them.
