Can Terrel Bernard BOUNCE BACK? Buffalo Faces Pivotal Linebacker MOVES

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4.8 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 11 February 2026

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Buffalo Bills face critical linebacker uncertainty as Terrel Bernard’s contract and performance spark major questions for 2026. How will new defensive coordinator Jim Leohnard navigate aging veterans like Matt Milano and Shaq Thompson, injury concerns, and the evolving roles of Dorian Williams and Joe Andreesen? The Bills must decide: is it time to overhaul the linebacker group for cost control and developmental upside, or should they rely on familiar faces amid transition? Joe Marino breaks down Buffalo’s linebacker landscape, examining Bernard’s struggles, Williams’ physicality, and Milano’s expiring deal. Key discussion points include Shaq Thompson’s underrated impact, special teams ace Joe Andreesen’s fit for Leonard’s scheme, and future roster needs—highlighting the urgency for new talent. With only Bernard signed long-term and depth issues looming, Buffalo’s defense could look drastically different next season. Will the Bills draft their next defensive centerpiece or chase veteran stability as they shift schemes?

Transcript

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0:00.0	The Buffalo Bills have some things to figure out at the linebacker position.
0:04.5	Let's talk about what happened in 2025 and what the bills need moving forward today on
0:10.9	Locked on Bills.
0:17.0	You are Locked on Bills, your daily Buffalo Bills podcast.
0:22.5	Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day.
0:28.3	What's up, Bill's Mafia?
0:30.1	It's Joe Marino, author of the Heard Mentality Substack co-host of the Locked-on
0:34.9	NFL Scouting podcast, co-hosts of the NFL First Read podcast, and I'm your host of Locked-on Bills. Locked-on Bills is a proud part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, now the number one sports podcast network. I want to thank you for making Locked-on Bills your first listen every day in a big welcome. And shout out to our everydayers. You know who you are.
0:56.3	Those of you who never miss a single episode.
0:59.1	I appreciate y'all being here very, very much.
1:00.6	Well, folks, welcome in.
1:03.4	We're talking linebackers on today's episode. We'll reflect on the players from 2025, project them to 2026, and really get into this offseason plan and identify what the bills need to get
1:14.6	done at this position group where there's going to be some changes. So let's dive into it.
1:20.7	Let's start with Terrell Bernard, a 22 third round pick number 89 overall. He's 26. He'll turn 27 in May, and he's entering year one
1:31.4	of his four-year, $42 million contract extension that he signed last offseason. I know there's
1:38.7	probably an immediate question from many listening about how the bills get out of this deal.
1:44.8	And the answer to that is they really don't have a clean opportunity to get out of
1:48.8	this deal until after the 2027 season.
1:53.0	So they could obviously eat a bunch of dead cap and move on.
1:57.7	I think that's unlikely.
1:59.2	I think the idea here is probably going to be how do we
2:03.0	get the most out of Terrell Bernard for the next couple seasons because that's kind of what
	...

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