The Buffalo Bills’ roster is pretty much set ahead of the 2025 NFL season. A vast majority of the players currently under contract will report to training camp in late summer. That said, linebacker is the one area the front office may still try to address in the final stages of free agency.
Buffalo only uses two linebackers in its base defense. Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano are one of the league’s best duos at the position when healthy. The last part of that statement—”when healthy”—is a massive part of the equation, though. Milano has played just nine games over the past two seasons, while Bernard has been a constant presence on the injury report over the same time frame.
So, Bills general manager Brandon Beane may seek an upgrade over the likes of Dorian Williams, Baylon Spector, and Joe Andreessen to serve as the top reserve linebacker this season. While there aren’t a ton of options remaining on the free-agent market, there are still a few potential impact players to consider.
Nov 17, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane on the field before a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Highmark Stadium.
Ranking Buffalo Bills Free-Agent Linebacker Targets For 2025
1. Eric Kendricks
Kendricks is coming off a strong campaign with the Dallas Cowboys. He recorded 138 total tackles, which was tied for 13th in the NFL, along with three sacks, three forced fumbles, and three passes defended across 15 appearances. Pro Football Focus ranked him 27th among linebackers with a 75.2 overall grade.
Former #Cowboys LB Eric Kendricks breaking down his Week 1 interception against the Cleveland Browns.
Kendricks has been rehabbing his shoulder this offseason and should be ready to go if a team wants to sign him—the man can still start in this league.
(🎥: @erickendricks6) pic.twitter.com/OkXfPK9nP0
— Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) May 8, 2025
It marked the second straight season the 33-year-old UCLA product seamlessly stepped into a new defense. He tallied 117 total tackles for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023. Those stints came after eight highly productive years with the Minnesota Vikings. He earned First Team All-Pro honors in 2019.
Although it’s unclear whether Kendricks is willing to accept a backup role at this stage of his career, he’d be a perfect fit as the No. 3 linebacker in Buffalo. His prowess against the run would also give the Bills the option to use more of a rotation at the position in a bid to keep Bernard and Milano healthy.
2. Shaq Thompson
A consistent stream of players moving between the Bills and Carolina Panthers has occurred since Beane and head coach Sean McDermott arrived in Buffalo from Carolina in 2017. Thompson would make a lot of sense as the next one to join the list.
The California native has spent his entire career with the Panthers, who selected him in the first round of the 2015 draft. He’s racked up 750 total tackles, 26 passes defended, 12 sacks, five forced fumbles, and three interceptions in 123 career games.
The past 10 years have been the best of my life —wouldn’t trade them for anything.
I’m incredibly excited about the next chapter in my life. There’s still so much football left in me, I’m not retiring yet! I can’t wait to see what the future holds.#54Reasons ##Keeppounding pic.twitter.com/UOv9laijrQ
— Shaq Thompson (@ShaqThompson_54) February 26, 2025
Injuries have started to derail his career, though. The linebacker suffered a broken fibula in 2023 and a torn Achilles in 2024. It’s limited him to just six appearances over the last two years. It’s unclear whether he’ll be able to return to peak form at age 31 after back-to-back serious ailments.
That said, the Bills could do far worse than Thompson on a one-year, prove-it contract.
3. Neville Hewitt
Hewitt has spent most of his career as a reserve linebacker and special-teams ace. He tied for the NFL lead with 14 special-teams tackles as a member of the Houston Texans in 2023. He’s also spent time with two of the Bills’ AFC rivals, the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets.
Neville Hewitt doing some WWE stuff out there. pic.twitter.com/WPQr9bhLtR
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 6, 2024
The former Marshall standout had a two-year stint as a starting linebacker for the Jets in 2019-20. He performed admirably with 209 combined tackles, 12 tackles for loss, nine passes defended, five sacks and two interceptions in 28 games during that stretch.
So, Hewitt matches what the Bills need at linebacker. Someone who can handle their own as a starter while also contributing on special teams. His signing wouldn’t generate as many headlines as either Kendricks or Thompson. Yet, his multi-phase value could even exceed that of fellow veterans.
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