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There is typically always one rookie in the NFL that shines when no one expected them to. Last year, the Buffalo Bills got themselves a huge steal in defensive tackle Deone Walker who was drafted by the Bills in the 4th round. Had it not been for a back injury in his last season at Kentucky, there is no doubt that he would have been drafted higher.
However, the Bills got a great deal and they saw Walker shine early on in his rookie season. He will now be a great building piece for this new defense that is coming under Jim Leonhard. Buffalo might have another defensive rookie on their hands who could be what Walker was last season.
Bills' rookie has chance to make other teams regret passing on him
Justin Melo from Sports Illustrated recently listed ten rookies “who could embarrass every team that passed on them in the 2026 NFL Draft” and listed was Bills’ 4th-round rookie linebacker, Kaleb Elarms-Orr. It's ironic that it's the same set up as Walker from last year, just a different position on the same side of the ball.
"Kaleb Elarms-Orr was an underrated linebacker prospect who pairs production with athleticism. The former TCU standout registered a career-high 130 tackles this past season, and then went to the NFL Combine and leaped a 40-inch vertical. The Buffalo Bills lost Matt Milano at linebacker, and the inconsistent Dorian Williams is in a contract year. Elarms-Orr has a pathway to becoming a starter rather quickly in Buffalo." said Melo.
Fans were a little surprised that the Bills did so little work to their inside linebacker position this offseason. While they brought in plenty of outside linebacker help, the drafting of Elarms-Orr was Buffalo’s most notable move that they made.
He has the athleticism that Matt Milano had early on in his career, and to Melo’s point, the drafting of him may have put Dorian Williams on notice. While Williams is a great run-defender, he can’t drop back into coverage as effectively as Elarms-Orr can.
Elarms-Orr is arguably the only rookie that the Bills drafted that could be a starter in Week 1, even ahead of guys like T.J. Parker and Skyler Bell. Training camp will show fans a true competition at this position and Elarms-Orr definitely has the talent to be a starter early on. Now, he just has to go out and prove it.
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This article was originally published on buffalowdown.com as 1 Bills newcomer has great chance to make other 31 teams look foolish.
