Buffalo Rumblings
The Buffalo Bills have switched their defense to a 3-4 base front. Perhaps you’ve heard—or read—that somewhere before. With that change, there are new responsibilities for some old friends, and there may be opportunity for some new players to make an impact this summer.
At the end of the day, though, it’s talent that matters. Buffalo will find the best players to perform the way they want, and not every player on the current roster has a great shot at making the club at the end of August. At every positional group, there has to be a top and a bottom. In a competitive league like the NFL, there’s just no avoiding it.
In today’s edition of “91 players in 91 days,” we discuss a player whose chances at making the team in 2026 are extremely low.
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Name: Cade Denhoff
Number: 51
Position: OLB
Height/Weight: 6’5” 260 lbs.
Age: 23 (24 on 8/30/2026)
Experience/Draft: R; signed with Buffalo following the 2026 NFL Draft
College: Clemson
Acquired: UDFA signing
Financial situation (per Spotrac): Denhoff signed a three-year deal worth $3.12 million overall. $20,000 of that total is guaranteed in the form of a signing bonus, and that’s also the number Buffalo will carry as a dead cap charge if Denhoff doesn’t make the 53-man roster. If he makes the squad, Denhoff’s 2026 cap hit is $891,666.
2025 Recap: Denhoff played in 13 games, starting one, for the Tigers last season. He made a career-high 29 tackles, including one tackle for loss, playing as a defensive end. He did not register a sack on the year. Denhoff was not invited to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, but he displayed some good speed and strength at Clemson’s pro day. He bench pressed 225 lbs. a total of 21 times and ran the forty-yard dash in 4.7 seconds. His agility numbers were less impressive, as he completed the 20-yard shuttle run in 4.54 seconds and the three-cone drill in 7.49 seconds. He leapt 27.5” in the vertical jump and 9’7” in the broad jump.
Positional outlook: Denhoff is one of eight players listed at outside linebacker on the current roster. The others are Bradley Chubb, Greg Rousseau, Mike Danna, Javon Solomon, TJ Parker, Andre Jones Jr., and Michael Hoecht.
2026 Offseason: Denhoff is healthy and participating in offseason workouts.
2026 Season outlook: Denhoff is another player who is likely receiving an extended tryout for the practice squad rather than a spot on the 53-man roster. Chubb, Rousseau, Danna, Parker, and Solomon are all but locked into the roster, and Hoecht will join them once he’s healthy. Given Denhoff’s lack of college production—he had just two sacks throughout his entire career at Clemson—it’s hard to project him making much of an impact at the pro level.
There are positives to be found in his athletic measurables, so perhaps with some pro coaching and an opportunity, he can develop into a rotational player or a special teams contributor with some extra seasoning. Denhoff was a...
