SerpApi.Org
The Buffalo Bills have long searched for a top-notch combination of defensive linemen. With respect to the discussion surrounding the wide receiver group, if you’re a longtime fan of this franchise—and, if you’re reading this, I’m assuming that you are—you know that it seems like the Bills have been rebuilding their defensive line for nearly as long as I-86 has been under construction.
While general manager Brandon Beane has made some big swings during his tenure, bringing in former first-round draft picks like Von Miller, Leonard Floyd, Joey Bosa, and Star Lotulelei, no one can say that the Bills haven’t tried to field a star-studded defensive line. Whether it was because of scheme, unfortunate injuries, or acquiring players who were already on the back nine of their careers, those moves haven’t exactly panned out the way the Bills hoped.
In today’s edition of “91 players in 91 days,” we discuss a defensive lineman the Bills added last season who might not have been a first-round pick for his former franchise, but he performed like a solid contributor in limited action with Buffalo.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Name: Phidarian Mathis
Number: 72
Position: DT
Height/Weight: 6’4” 312 lbs.
Age: 28 (29 on 4/26/2027)
Experience/Draft: 5; selected by the Washington Commanders in the second round (No. 47 overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft
College: Alabama
Acquired: Signed with Buffalo’s practice squad on 9/10/2025
Financial situation (per Spotrac): Mathis re-signed with Buffalo this offseason, inking a one-year contract worth $1.195 million overall. That total also stands as his cap hit if he makes the 53-man roster. If Buffalo releases him before Week One, they’ll carry just $25,000 in dead cap this year. If he makes the roster for the first week, his whole base salary—$1.145 million—becomes fully guaranteed thanks to his status as a vested veteran.
2025 Recap: Mathis spent the preseason with the New York Jets, the same team with which he ended the 2024 season. He appeared in two preseason games with the Jets, notching three total tackles. However, Mathis was waived by the Jets before their preseason finale, as the team traded for Harrison Phillips and Jowon Briggs, leading to Mathis’ exit. He went unclaimed on waivers, but signed with Buffalo’s practice squad after the first week of the season. Mathis remained on the practice squad without a call-up until Week Five, when he was active for Buffalo’s 23-20 loss to the New England Patriots. Mathis made two tackles on 17 defensive snaps in that game. He was elevated once more in a Week Nine win over the Kansas City Chiefs before he was signed to the active roster on November 5. Mathis played the following week, a game where the Bills were embarrassed by the Miami Dolphins, but he missed the next three weeks due to a shoulder injury. Once he was healthy, he sat two more weeks as a healthy scratch before returning to play against the Cleveland Browns. He played in Buffalo’s final three regular season games, bringing his season tackle total to 13 across 120 defensive snaps. He also played six snaps on defense against the Jacksonville Jaguars, logging zero tackles in the victory. Mathis was a healthy scratch the following week in Buffalo’s 33-30 loss to the Denver Broncos.
Positional outlook: Mathis is one of eight defensive tackles listed on the current roster. Ed Oliver, Deone Walker, Zion Logue, Zane Durant, T.J. Sanders, Tommy Akingbesote, and DeWayne Carter are the others. Landon Jackson and Kody Huisman are listed at defensive end, but they will likely play as down linemen just like the defensive tackles. Mathis, Walker, Carter, and Logue all figure to compete at the nose in Buffalo’s new defense.
2026 Offseason: Mathis is healthy and has participated in OTAs.
2026 Season outlook: Mathis is exactly what Buffalo needs in the middle of their new-look defensive line. He can eat space up front, he’s a strong run defender, and he can keep blockers from moving to the linebackers at the second level of Buffalo’s defense. Should he start? No, he likely will suit up as a rotational piece if he makes the club. As a team transitioning to an odd-front look, the Bills need all the space-eating linemen they can find, and Mathis has experience in a system similar to Jim Leonhard’s from his time in college at Alabama.
In his senior year with the Crimson Tide, Mathis had 51 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 9 sacks. This guy is no slouch, but his professional output hasn’t come close to matching that one college season, as he has just 38 tackles and 2 tackles for loss in his pro career. If Mathis is going to make the 2026 Bills, he doesn’t have to be the same player he was at Alabama, but it would certainly be nice if he could show flashes of being that guy. All Buffalo needs him to do is control his gap, collapse the pocket, and stuff a run or three.
The Bills don’t have many natural nose tackles on the roster, and they really don’t have any who have made much of a name for themselves outside of die-hard fandoms. Mathis is by no means a lock for the roster, as he’s likely to find himself in a battle with Carter and Logue for the right to back up Deone Walker. If he plays the way he did last season—and hopefully even a bit better—then I think he’ll be someone who not only makes the team, but plays around 40% of the snaps throughut the season. He’s not going to be the star along the defensive line, but he has all the traits to be someone who overperforms his contract.
I expect Phidarian Mathis to be one of Buffalo’s top rotational pieces up front this season barring a poor preseason or an injury. He earned the opportunity through his play last season, and I think he’s one of the players whose shot at the roster is helped by the scheme change this year.
