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Bills predicted to trade for Terrel Bernard's replacement.

The Buffalo Bills have a clear need for linebacker help, and the team could look to replace Terrel Bernard.

Bernard was a star linebacker for the Bills, but he struggled a ton in 2026, which put his future with the team in doubt. Even if Bernard is on the roster next season, he could be a rotational player, as the Bills could look to get a new starter.

With that, Bills insider Ryan Talbot of Syracuse.com and the Shout! podcast predicted Buffalo will trade down with the Arizona Cardinals to replace Bernard.

“Move down a little bit, and I’m looking at the best player available. … Jacob Rodriguez stood out to me. I did get some criticism from Bills fans saying he’s another Terrel Bernard, why would you have him playing next to Bernard? Well, this would be Terrel Bernard’s replacement, quite honestly. It would move Bernard to the backseat and have Rodriguez out there with Dorian Williams,” Talbot said on the Shout! Podcast.

Talbot’s mock trade has the Bills acquiring the 34th and the 65th overall pick for the 26th and 182nd overall pick. By taking Rodriguez, it would likely end Bernard’s tenure with the Bills.

Bernard signed a four-year, $42.143 deal with the Bills, but it isn’t a huge commitment that Buffalo could trade or get out of.

Bernard recorded 65 tackles and 1 interception with the Bills last season.

Rodriguez is a ‘Tackling Machine’

The Bills have a clear need at linebacker, and Rodriguez could be a Day 1 starter for the team.

Talbot believes Buffalo would jump at the chance to select Rodriguez who is a tackling machine.

“The Bills did not address the inside linebacker position at all in free agency. At pick 34, Jacob Rodriguez sticks out as a building block at the position for Jim Leonhard,” Talbot wrote. “Rodriguez is a tackling machine and is good at shedding off blocks. His production at Texas Tech speaks for itself. In the past two seasons, Rodriguez recorded 255 total tackles (21.5 TFL), six sacks, five interceptions, 10 passes defensed, four fumble recoveries and two defensive scores.”

Rodriguez is expected to be selected early in the second round, which would allow Buffalo to trade down and recoup a second-round pick and add a third-round pick to land more impact rookies.

Buffalo enters the 2026 NFL Draft with seven total picks, but does not have a second-round pick after trading it for DJ Moore.

Bills Looking for Linebacker Help

Buffalo has been overhauling its defense this offseason, but the Bills haven’t added any linebacker help.

Matt Milano and Shaq Thompson are still free agents, and Buffalo hasn’t added any linebackers. Yet, Bills general manager Brandon Beane believes the team needs to add at linebacker.

“We do need to continue to add more [at linebacker]. We’ve had conversations through free agency with linebackers, other positions. We have not chosen to add one at this point,” said Beane at the league meetings. “At this time, there’s guys that are like,’you know what? I didn’t get the money I was looking for. I kind of want to wait until after the draft and see where guys go.’ You’re kind of at that point with some of the vets that have played.”

Currently, the Bills’ linebacker unit features the likes of Bernard, Williams, Keonta Jenkins, Joe Andreessen, and Jimmy Ciarlo.