Bills could bring back Shaq Thompson

The Buffalo Bills could look to bring back linebacker Shaq Thompson after the 2026 NFL Draft.

Buffalo has a hole at linebacker, as Thompson and Matt Milano are still free agents. The team drafted Kaleb Elarms-Orr in the fourth round to add to the unit, but the Bills could still sign a veteran to add to the room.

After the conclusion of the NFL Draft, Bills insider Ryan Talbot of Syracuse.com and The Shout Podcast believes Buffalo will bring back Thompson.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Shaq Thompson came back,” Talbot said on The Shout Podcast. “He’s been on the record saying he wants to come back to Buffalo. It makes a lot of sense to add a veteran like that into the room; even with some of these younger players, it would be nice for him to mentor. He would be one of the veterans who would be high on my list that I anticipated they could bring him back. When you look at what played out this weekend, he’s very high up there.”

The Bills signed Thompson to a one-year deal last June, and he made an impact with the team. He appeared in 12 games and started six as he became arguably the team’s best linebacker down the stretch and into the playoffs.

Thompson ended up finishing the season with 56 tackles, 1 sack, 2 pass defenses, and 1 forced fumble as he had a solid year.

Thompson Wants to Return to Bills

After Buffalo was eliminated from the playoffs, Thompson made it clear he wanted to return to the Bills.

Thompson enjoyed his time with the Bills, as he reunited with Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane from his time in Carolina. Yet, despite the Bills firing McDermott, he stil wants to return to Buffalo as he made that clear on social media.

“Hey Shaq, let’s run it back in Buffalo! Have they been in contact?” the person shared in a post on X.

Days later, Thompson responded and said he was working on a return to Buffalo.

“Trying to,” Thompson replied.

If Thompson does return to the Bills, it would be a nice addition to the defense and the linebacker unit. He adds some veteran presence to the group, which still could use more bodies.

The Bills’ linebacker unit features the likes of Dorian Williams, Terrel Bernard, Kaleb Elarms-Orr, and Joe Andreesen. Bradley Chubb, Greg Rousseau, and Michael Hoecht are also expected to be considered outside linebackers in the new 3-4 system.

Buffalo Drafts Elarms-Orr

The Bills’ lone selection at linebacker was Elarms-Orr out of TCU with the 126th overall pick.

Elarms-Orr was a star linebacker at TCU, and he said he’s a tackling machine and believes this defense fits his role perfectly.

“(The system) definitely fits my profile. I pride myself on the versatility of my game. Just being able to be a three-phase, complete linebacker, stop the run, stop the pass and affect the quarterback. And I feel like I can bring all three of those to the city,” Elarms-Orr said.

Elarms-Orr recorded 130 tackles last season, and he prides himself on it.

“I take a lot of pride in tackling. As linebackers, you can’t miss a lot of tackles or at least bad plays,” Elarms-Orr said. “I always just try and bring a lot of force, a lot of power into my tackles, striking with the near foot, near shoulder. And always just finish on the ball, always trying to take the ball away at all times and always trying to get the dudes down for minimal gains, always knocking dudes back.”

Elarms-Orr also recorded 11 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks and 6 QB hits last season.