After doing a phenomenal job as a starter for much of last season, it’s likely back to a reserve role for the third-year linebacker.
The Buffalo Bills entered the 2024 NFL season with some question marks at linebacker. After ending their 2023 season with a M.A.S.H. unit at the position, the team was hopeful that, thanks to growth from young players, they would team up with healthy starters from years past to form a full unit.
Before the season began, however, one of those starters was injured — again — and those questions were asked anew. Would the young players that Buffalo rostered be able to fill the void left by a former All-Pro player? Would the young players who had stepped up the year prior be able to repeat their strong performance?
Not only did the young players step up, they played quite well. At a position where the Bills once looked dangerously thin, they now have proven depth to go with an established pecking order at the top two spots on the depth chart. The Bills have youth, experience, and athleticism at the middle level of the defense, a fantastic combination any way you slice it.
In today’s installment of our “90 players in 90 days” series, we discuss a linebacker who would be a no-doubt starter on most other teams in the league, but who might have to wait at least another year to be considered as such with the Bills.
Name: Dorian Williams
Number: 42
Position: LB
Height/Weight: 6’2”, 230 pounds
Age: 24 (25 on 6/8/2026)
Experience/Draft: 3; selected by Buffalo in the third round (No. 91 overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft
College: Tulane
Acquired: Third-round draft choice
Financial situation (per Spotrac): Williams enters the third year of his four-year rookie deal. That contract is worth $5,472,806 overall, of which $914,768 is guaranteed. In 2025, Williams carries a cap hit of $1,468,038. Buffalo is on the hook for a dead-cap charge of $457,384 if he’s released.
2024 Recap: Williams stepped in as a starter for Matt Milano, who suffered a torn bicep in the offseason. Williams was sensational all year, leading the Bills in tackles in spite of the fact that he returned to a reserve role after Milano was fully healthy. Williams notched 117 tackles, including five tackles for loss. He added two QB hits, one forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries. He had seven special teams tackles, which was third on the team, trailing only Ja’Marcus Ingram and Joe Andreessen. In the playoffs, Williams totaled seven tackles, and he played an integral role in Buffalo’s defensive strategy against the Baltimore Ravens. Buffalo went with a heavier defensive look, using three linebackers more often. He had four tackles, including one for a loss, on 24 defensive snaps in that game.
Positional outlook: Williams is one of seven off-ball linebackers on the current roster. He’s joined by Milano, Andreessen, Terrel Bernard, Baylon Spector, Edefuan Ulofoshio, and Shaq Thompson
2025 Offseason: Williams has attended all offseason activities to date.
2025 Season outlook: There aren’t many teams that can say a backup is their reigning tackles leader, and even fewer great teams that can brag about such a feat. The fact is that Dorian Williams would be a starter on most teams in the NFL right now. For him, he just has the misfortune of being behind two excellent players in Milano and Bernard on a team that primarily runs nickel personnel on defense.
Don’t be surprised if Williams is a “starter” Week 1 given that Buffalo is playing the Ravens, a team that focuses heavily on the run and heavier personnel. However, if Milano and Bernard remain healthy, Williams likely won’t see many other true starts just due to the nature of Buffalo’s defense.
I think that Williams has proven enough to feel comfortable with him starting should Milano suffer another injury. I also think that job may be his starting 2026 with Milano’s contract set to expire at the end of this season. The veteran is on the books next year with a “void year” cap hit north of $11 million, so perhaps the Bills try to work out a one-year extension that kicks that void year down the road, but with Williams showing so much last season, I don’t think that’s going to happen.
For the 2025 season, at least, Williams will see some spot-starts, some defensive snaps in heavy packages and on obvious run-downs, but he’ll also mainly contribute on special teams. In short, he’ll do his job, and given his performance last season, I expect that he’ll do it very, vey well.