Buffalo Rumblings
The Buffalo Bills may have a lot of familiar faces at linebacker this season, but the way those players are set to be deployed will be entirely different. Gone is former head coach Sean McDermott’s even-front system, where two or three linebackers was the norm. Now, new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard is set to run an odd-front defense where three or four linebackers will generally be on the field.
Some of those linebackers are edge players who would have played defensive end in Buffalo’s old scheme. Some of those players are more traditional, off-ball linebackers. Who will play where and with whom are two huge questions this summer, as is how many linebackers will be on the field at a time–or even on the roster in general.
In today’s edition of “91 players in 91 days,” we discuss one of the linebackers vying for a roster spot this season.
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Name: Keonta Jenkins
Number: 49
Position: ILB
Height/Weight: 6’2″ 211 lbs.
Age: 24 (25 on 1/26/2027)
Experience/Draft: 1; signed with Buffalo following the 2025 NFL Draft
College: Virginia Tech
Acquired: UDFA signing
Financial situation (per Spotrac): Jenkins signed a reserve/futures contract following the conclusion of Buffalo’s 2025 season. That contract is worth $2.131 million in total, of which $6,000 is guaranteed. The latter total is what Buffalo will carry on its ledger in the form of a dead cap hit if Jenkins is released. If Jenkins makes the 53-man roster, his cap hit for the season is $1.008 million.
2025 Recap: Jenkins signed with Buffalo after the 2025 NFL Draft, and he totaled six tackles in six preseason games. He did not make the opening day roster, but he was signed to the team’s practice squad following final cuts in August. Jenkins was elevated from the practice squad in Buffalo’s wins over the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins in Weeks Two and Three, respectively. He totaled four special teams tackles across 27 special teams snaps in those two games. He did not appear in a game again until the regular season finale, and he also made his debut on defense in that contest. He totaled five tackles in the win, playing on 23 defensive snaps and 12 special teams snaps. He did not appear in either of Buffalo’s playoff games.
Positional outlook: Jenkins is one of seven players listed at ILB on the current roster. Joe Andreessen, Terrel Bernard, Dorian Williams, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Jimmy Ciarlo, and Theron Gaines are the others. An eighth player, Kaleb Elams-Orr, is merely listed at linebacker, but he is expected to play the same position as the aforementioned ILBs in Buffalo’s defense.
2026 Offseason: Jenkins participated in OTAs prior to Buffalo taking a break before training camp.
2026 Season outlook: Jenkins is a fluid athlete, and as a converted defensive back from his college days, he could serve as a useful reserve in sub packages on obvious passing downs. In limited action last season, he also proved to be very effective on special teams,...
