The Buffalo Bills got an outstanding year from LB Dorian Williams while Matt Milano was recovering from injury to start the 2024 NFL season.
Yet, one NFL writer believes Dorian Williams could be primed for another breakout season in 2025.
Bills LB Dorian Williams Primed for Breakout Season in 2025
Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports pinpointed four players entering the third year of their career as potential breakout options ahead of the 2025 NFL season. Fortunately for the Bills, Trapasso named Buffalo LB Dorian Williams as one of those players.
Trapasso wrote, “Since his rookie season, Matt Milano has been a splash-play creator for the Bills. At his peak, he was an All-Pro linebacker, and arguably the best coverage player at his position in the NFL. Since 2023, Milano has gone through the injury gamut, and while his loyalty to the Bills organization is commendable and part of his sterling reputation in Buffalo, he’s turning 31 in July and has an energetic, twitchy, no-nonsense defender waiting to be his replacement.”
Williams enjoyed a bit of a breakout year in 2024 with 114 total tackles, three fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble after Milano was put on the shelf to start the 2025 NFL season.
Trapasso added, “Williams is that dude, and as the other linebacker starter next to Terrel Bernard while Milano nursed a biceps injury, Williams, playing a grand total of 58% of the defensive snaps, tallied 117 tackles, five tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. This hulking specimen has sub 4.5 speed and has learned the nuances of Sean McDermott’s complex defense. Milano will likely begin the season as Buffalo’s starting outside linebacker. Williams should mosey his way into increased time on the field as the season progresses in Year 3.”
Williams’ athleticism was on display over the first half of the season, logging 10+ total tackles in six of the first nines games of the 2024 NFL season.
Unfortunately for Williams, his breakout year was stunted once Milano returned to the lineup. If Milano stays healthy in 2025, then it is hard to envision his impact being bigger than what we saw last year.
Yet, Milano missing 25 regular season games over the last two years combined does suggest that Williams could see significant action in 2025 if the veteran LB continues to struggle to stay healthy.
Does Dorian Williams 2024 Success Make Matt Milano Expendable?
Matt Milano restructured his contract earlier this offseason to help open up some cap space, but that didn’t Alex Kay of Bleacher Report from naming him a cut candidate ahead of the 2025 NFL season.
Kay wrote, “Buffalo has invested a hefty amount of capital in each of the last three drafts into the linebacking corpsâincluding using a pair of third-round picks on Dorian Williams and Terrel Bernardâand could turn Milano’s starting spot over to one of those promising youngsters. Milano’s release would save Buffalo nearly $10 million this year, an appealing amount for a team that ranks in the bottom quarter of the league in cap space with just a shade over $8 million available at this juncture.”
The odds of the Bills cutting Milano after reworking his contract feels unlikely, but last season proved Williams can be productive with an expanded role in this defense.
NFL players normally don’t just stumble upon 100+ total tackles, which means Williams could become a starter sooner rather than later. Yet, Williams may not be best positioned to produce a career year entering the 2025 NFL season with Milano on the roster.
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