Buffalo Bills Defender Named 2025 NFL Breakout Star Candidate

Williams was drafted as a reserve but he’s still managed to make 34 appearances (13 starts) across his first two years with the Bills. He’s recorded 157 total tackles, three fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and a pass defended in those contests.

The 23-year-old Tulane product has also played in all five of Buffalo’s playoff games during that span. That’s allowed him to gain valuable high-pressure experience. He’s mostly responded well to the challenge, including an eight-tackle game against the Steelers in the 2023 Wild Card Round.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott doesn’t want Williams to plateau after two solid seasons of development, though.

“Continued improvement. We know who he is, and you talk about physicality—he’s as physical as there is on our football team,” McDermott recently told reporters. “He loves the noise. He loves contact. Now, it’s can he continue to grow in playing the position, right?”

It starts with making quicker reads to establish the correct pursuit angle. It’s one area the South Carolina native has struggled at times in the NFL.

“When you’re up close to the line of scrimmage, the game moves faster and faster because of the indicators, the triggers,” McDermott said. “So, the ability to process, you’ve got to be able to process quickly and add up one plus one. And, he’s really grown in that area, and I think he’s closing that gap every day.”

Where Linebacker Stands on Bills’ Depth Chart

Buffalo only uses two linebackers in its base defense. Slot cornerback Taron Johnson stays on the field in all situations. It gives McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane the option to carry as few as five linebackers on the team’s final 53-man roster.

Meanwhile, the Bills recently signed veteran Shaq Thompson, which added battle-tested depth but also created a numbers crunch at the position. Milano, Bernard, Williams and Thompson are joined by Baylon Spector, Edefuan Ulofoshio and “Buffalo Joe” Andreessen.

At least one, and possibly two, of those linebackers will get cut barring injuries. While Williams is almost assuredly safe, the competition for playing time behind Milano and Bernard is fierce. It’s not a guarantee he’ll be the first backup called upon if one of the starters gets hurt.

So, although that depth is good for Buffalo, it could limit Williams’ true breakout potential.

What To Expect From Williams in Year 3

While Williams has occasionally flashed high-impact ability, he’s lacked consistency. That’s evidenced by his lackluster 61.6 Pro Football Focus overall grade last season. It’s part of the reason why the Bills probably opted to sign Thompson for additional insurance at the position.

So, is a breakout year possible? Of course. His size (6’2”, 230 pounds), athleticism and aggressiveness give him the tools to become a key defensive piece for Buffalo. He still has a lot of work to do, however, most notably in terms of pursuit angles.

Williams is going to get his chances to play in 2025. History suggests it’s a long shot both Milano and Bernard play all 17 games (plus any postseason contests). The Bills also heavily prefer players with scheme knowledge, so he’ll probably remain the No. 3 LB over Thompson, at least to open the campaign.

Yet, there’s still a wide range of future outcomes. Perhaps an injury arises and he emerges as a starter-level talent, allowing him to take over for Milano, an impending free agent, in 2026. It’s also possible he doesn’t take a step forward and ends up buried on the depth chart, though.