The Buffalo Bills entered the 2026 offseason with a clear need at linebacker. With Matt Milano hitting free agency and Shaq Thompson also unsigned, the team faces potential holes in a unit transitioning to a more prominent role in their evolving 3-4 defensive scheme. While the first wave of free agency has passed and the NFL Draft looms, impactful veterans remain available—players willing to bet on themselves after the draft dust settles.
One name rising to the top of the conversation: Devin White.
Bills analyst Jamie Malloy of FanSided strongly urges Buffalo to sign the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers standout. “At the beginning of his career, Devin White was a menace on the field for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he earned his first Pro Bowl bid,” Malloy wrote. “Since then, he’s lost a little of that toughness in him that once made him a nightmare to play against. With that being said, he’s still a consistent and reliable tackler, as he made 174 of them in 2025 with the Raiders, a franchise record for him, while adding 2.5 sacks.”
White, now 28 years old, brings proven championship pedigree as a key contributor to the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl LV-winning defense. After a solid 2025 campaign in Las Vegas—where he led the Raiders in tackles with 174 total (95 solo, 79 assisted), 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble—he remains a high-motor, instinctive linebacker capable of making an immediate impact.
In Orchard Park, White could slot in as a rotational piece or veteran insurance, easing the load on young standouts Terrel Bernard and Dorian Williams. The Bills’ brand-new stadium and a defense described as tailor-made for his skill set could provide the perfect environment for him to recapture the explosive 2020 form that made him one of the league’s most feared young linebackers.
Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane has been upfront about the team’s intentions. At the league meetings, Beane acknowledged the need to bolster the linebacker group: “We do need to continue to add more [at linebacker]. We’ve had conversations through free agency with linebackers, other positions. We have not chosen to add one at this point. At this time, there’s guys that are like, ‘you know what? I didn’t get the money I was looking for. I kind of want to wait until after the draft and see where guys go.’”
The timing aligns perfectly for a low-risk, high-upside move.
What Will Devin White Sign For?
Despite his production—174 tackles represent a career-high volume—White is likely to command a prove-it deal as he looks to reestablish himself as an every-down difference-maker. Spotrac projects a one-year, $2.8 million contract, an absolute bargain for a former first-round pick and Super Bowl champion with his athleticism and experience still intact.
At just $2.8 million, the deal carries minimal cap risk. If White shines in training camp and the preseason, the Bills gain a versatile chess piece for their 3-4 front. If he struggles to regain that early-career explosiveness, Buffalo can move on without significant dead money.
This isn’t about handing White a starting job on day one. It’s about adding depth and veteran savvy to a linebacker room that could lose key contributors in free agency. Extra bodies will be critical as the Bills emphasize linebacker play in their defensive overhaul.
The move fits Buffalo’s recent pattern of smart, targeted additions to an already stout defense. White’s tackling prowess and championship pedigree could inject exactly the kind of toughness and reliability the unit needs heading into a pivotal season.
Whether it happens via free agency or as part of post-draft maneuvering, signing Devin White for bargain-bin money would represent one of the shrewdest veteran pickups of the 2026 offseason. A 174-tackle linebacker and Super Bowl champion available at $2.8 million? For the Buffalo Bills, that’s the kind of bombshell opportunity that could quietly strengthen their roster for another deep playoff run.
Bills Mafia, get ready—help may be on the way in the form of a familiar menace looking for a fresh start in Western New York.
