Buffalo Rumblings
The Buffalo Bills added to their defensive line this offseason, which was to be expected given their changes on the coaching staff. A new boss means a new system, and a new system means new philosophy and player archetypes. Buffalo’s defensive front under former head coach Sean McDermott was expected to remain in particular lanes, controlling the line of scrimmage via assignment rather than athleticism. That’s expected to change under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard.
Does a more aggressive system negate the need for larger-bodied humans in an odd-front scheme. Traditionally, in a 3-4 defensive front, defensive linemen were massive individuals whose long arms and wide bases allowed them to eat blocks and free space for twitchier, more athletic linebackers. Buffalo currently boasts a big defensive line—nobody is under 280 pounds—but they don’t necessarily have a stable of long-armed, space-eating types in the mold of a Pat Williams or a Ted Washington.
Does that matter in the modern NFL? In today’s installment of “91 players in 91 days,” we discuss a rookie defensive tackle who may be undersized, but the hope is that his athleticism will allow him to have success despite that lack of length.
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Name: Zane Durant
Number: 92
Position: DT
Height/Weight: 6’1” 290 lbs.
Age: 22 (23 on 5/6/2027)
Experience/Draft: R; selected by Buffalo in the fifth round (No. 181 overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft
College: Penn State
Acquired: Fifth-round draft choice
Financial situation (per Spotrac): Durant’s rookie contract is a four-year deal worth $4,759,476 overall. For the 2026 season, his cap hit is $979,869 if he makes the 53-man roster. His signing bonus is $379,476, and that’s also the dead cap number Buffalo will carry if he is released.
2025 Recap: Durant earned All-Big Ten Honorable mention honors during his seniro season, totaling 25 tackles, 4 sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, and 2 pass breakups. He made 12 starts for the Nittany Lions, and he was on the midseason Lombardi Award watchlist. Durant scored an invite to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, and he displayed some pretty fantastic burst for a defensive lineman. He ran the forty-yard dash in 4.75 seconds, leapt 33.5” in the vertical jump, and completed a 9’4” broad jump. That forty time was the best among all defensive tackles who participated in the combine this year. While he completed on-field drills at Penn State’s pro day, he did not do any workouts, as he was dealing with a hamstring issue at the time.
Positional outlook: Durant is one of eight players listed at defensive tackle, and ten players listed as down linemen overall. Kody Huisman and Landon Jackson are listed at defensive end, while Deone Walker, Tommy Akingbesote, DeWayne Carter, T.J. Sanders, Zion Logue, Phidarian Mathis, and Ed Oliver are listed at defensive tackle.
2026 Offseason: Durant is healthy and participating in offseason workouts to date.
2026 Season outlook: Look, Durant is obviously a phenomenal athlete, and he likely has the athleticism to work himself into becoming a...
