The Buffalo Bills have a looming decision to make on Matt Milano, who is entering the final year of his contract and has seen a dip in play amid injuries.
One analyst believes it could be time for the Bills to move on from the veteran linebacker, looking for a “splashy” replacement in next year’s NFL draft. Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus noted that the Bills need a boost to their linebacking corps and could invest some big draft capital next year to make the upgrade.
Bills Predicted to Replace Matt Milano
Milano had always been a steady linebacker for the Bills but looked to be emerging as a star in 2022, earning first-team All-Pro honors while making 89 tackles and 1.5 sacks with three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. But Milano was hit with the injury bug since then, playing only nine games over the last two seasons.
Sikkema noted that the Bills have some options if they choose to keep Milano beyond the end of his contract, but the team isn’t clear yet about the direction it will take with the linebacking corps.
“Milano is entering the final year of his contract, though there are two void years attached that the Bills could convert if he wants to keep playing,” Sikkema wrote. “But if this is his last year in Buffalo, how does the team feel about the rest of the linebacker group?”
The Bills don’t have any other obvious options to lead their linebacking corps, Sikkema added.
“Terrel Bernard struggled last season on his way to a 48.2 PFF overall grade, ranking 83rd among 90 linebackers, but the Bills signed him to a four-year extension this offseason, so heâs not going anywhere,” he wrote. “Dorian Williams wasnât much better (58.2) and is now halfway through his rookie deal. Could Buffalo look to make a big splash at linebacker in the 2026 NFL Draft?”
Sikkema predicted the “splash” would come in the first round, with the Bills landing Texas A&M linebacker Taurean York with their pick. That comes with its own good news, with Sikkema predicting the Bills would win the Super Bowl and land the No. 32 overall pick.
Bills Still Believe in Milano
The Bills don’t appear ready to give up on Milano just yet. Head coach Sean McDermott spoke highly of the veteran linebacker this month, saying he has done a good job recovering from the strain of recovering from a major injury.
“There’s a real mental component to that also, of him being able to get himself back mentally, that, hey, I can still do this, and I can still do it, not just do it, but do it at a high level like Matt Milano used to do it,” said McDermott. “I applaud him for his mental ability and his ability to push through overall, until he found a rhythm that I think he said, hey, you know what, I can do this, and you saw that at moments. Not as consistent as he once was, but going into the offseason now not needing another surgery, or not having to rehab, will be important for him.â
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