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Bills’ defensive lineman Ed Oliver has drawn an eye-opening comparison to Aaron Donald from Michael Hoecht
The 2026 NFL offseason has only just gotten started, but the Buffalo Bills already look very different from when we last saw them. Head coach Sean McDermott was fired by the team in the wake of their latest playoff exit, with offensive coordinator Joe Brady being promoted to replace him. After getting hired, Brady moved quickly to hire several big-name coaches to join his staff.
Perhaps the most important addition for Brady’s staff is Jim Leonhard, who will be his new defensive coordinator moving forward. Things will look different under Leonhard’s lead, and according to defensive lineman Michael Hoecht, it could result in Ed Oliver making a significant leap forward when he returns to the field.
Michael Hoecht Compares Ed Oliver to Aaron Donald
With Leonhard taking over as the Bills’ defensive coordinator, one of the first changes he’s going to make will see him switch the unit’s defense from a 4-3 front to a 3-4 front. Right off the bat, this raised questions about Oliver’s fit with the team, as he’s primarily starred for Buffalo at the center of their defensive line in a 4-3 base defense.
One guy who has experience playing in a similar sort of 3-4 defense is Hoecht, who was with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021 when they won Super Bowl LVI. Their defensive coordinator, Raheem Morris, used Aaron Donald as the center of the team’s defensive gameplan, despite running a 3-4 scheme that would seemingly result in more attention being sent his way.
As Hoecht explained, though, that simply wasn’t the case. With Los Angeles having several talented pass rushers around Donald, that allowed him to get more one-on-one matchups against opposing guards throughout the game. While comparing anyone to Donald is something that should not be done lightly, Hoecht believes that Oliver can fill a similar role for Buffalo in its new-look defense.
“I think the Aaron Donald comparison is great because the Super Bowl year, when you paired him out there with Von Miller, Greg Gaines, A’Shawn Robinson, all of a sudden, you have extra guys that people have to worry about, and you have Ed Oliver one-on-one with a guard,” Hoecht said on “Centered On Buffalo Podcast.”
Bills Have Big Plans for Ed Oliver in 2026
GettyBuffalo Bills DT Ed Oliver
The first piece of the puzzle for Oliver when it comes to enjoying success in the Bills’ new scheme simply involves staying healthy, as he played in only three games during the regular season. Assuming he can play more in 2026, though, Oliver figures to be the engine that makes Buffalo’s front seven on defense run now that Leonhard is taking things over.
Assuming the Bills can add another pass rusher or two this offseason, Oliver can be used in a similar role that Donald was used by the Rams later in his career. It may seem like Oliver isn’t a great fit in Buffalo’s new scheme, but as Hoecht detailed, this could actually allow him to take a major step forward with Buffalo when he returns to action.
Owen Crisafulli Owen Crisafulli is a Breaking News Writer at Heavy. In addition to writing for Heavy, Owen works as a Content Producer for More Views Media. His work has also appeared on ClutchPoints, The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, Basketball Network, and FanSided, where he shared his insights on a variety of sports topics primarily surrounding the NFL, NBA, and MLB. More about Owen Crisafulli
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