The Buffalo Bills currently have ten players on the roster who would be considered defensive linemen in their new defensive scheme. None of those players weight less than 280 pounds, which is definitely a shift from their former defensive scheme. In an odd-front scheme, larger defensive linemen are common, and the Bills are in the midst of that transition.
Does that open up space on the roster for some lesser-known players? While there is potential for some surprise names to make the roster, the Bills seem to have a pretty clear idea of what types of players they want on defense—and, consequently, who they want to make the team, as well.
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In today’s installment of “91 players in 91 days,” we discuss a rookie defensive lineman hoping to show enough promise to stick with the Bills.
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Name: Kody Huisman
Number: 61
Position: DE
Height/Weight: 6’4” 297 lbs.
Age: 23 (24 on 7/3/2026)
Experience/Draft: R; signed with Buffalo following the 2026 NFL Draft
College: Virginia Tech
Acquired: UDFA signing
Financial situation (per Spotrac): Huisman signed a three-year contract worth a total of $3.12 million. Of that total, $40,000 is guaranteed in the form of a signing bonus. That doesn’t seem like much, but for an undrafted free agent, it’s a fairly large total. It’s also the number Buffalo will carry as a dead cap charge if Huisman is released. If he makes the 53-man roster, Huisman carries a cap hit of $891,666.
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2025 Recap: Huisman used his final year of eligibility to play with the Hokies after having spent four years playing at North Dakota State. He was fairly productive as an interior defensive lineman, totaling 38 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one pass knockdown, and one quarterback hurry in 12 games. While he was not invited to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, he did perform well enough at Virginia Tech’s pro day. He bench pressed 225 lbs. a total of 25 times, leapt 27.5” in the vertical jump, and ran the forty-yard dash in 5.03 seconds. His 79” wingspan combined with that upper-body strength suggests solid traits as an anchor up front.
Positional outlook: Huisman and Landon Jackson are the only players listed as defensive ends on the roster; however, that doesn’t mean that they’ll be the only people to play the 5-tech or the 4i-tech spots up front in defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s scheme. The other defensive linemen are listed at defensive tackle, and they include Tommy Akingbesote, DeWayne Carter, Deone Walker, Ed Oliver, Phidarian Mathis, Zane Durant, Zion Logue, and T.J. Sanders.
2026 Offseason: Huisman is healthy and participating in offseason work to date.
2026 Season outlook: Sure, it’s unlikely that Huisman makes the 53-man roster this season. However, given his physical traits, he has a good chance at sticking on the practice squad if he proves himself this summer. In terms of his body type, he’s a little reminiscent of Harrison Phillips. Of course, Phillips was absurdly strong—he put up 42 reps of 225 lbs. in the bench press—so don’t misunderstand me and think I’m saying that Huisman is the same kind of prospect. Huisman’s motor runs high, though, just like No. 99’s did, and he’s right around the same height and weight with similar wingspans. If the Bills can put some muscle on his frame and Huisman adds functional strength with a year in their strength and conditioning program, who knows what could happen.
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Ultimately, Huisman is a two-down defender whose limited upside as a pass-rusher will hurt his value in the early going. He only had 3.5 sacks in three seasons at North Dakota State, so it’s not as if the jump in competition level was what held him back in that department last season. Huisman definitely has value as a run defender, and in a year where the Bills will need to stockpile depth up front, he has a chance to impress during camp.
Huisman’s best-case scenario with Buffalo is likely the practice squad, and with a little seasoning, he could be someone who becomes a depth option in the future. This year, though, his chances at the 53-man roster are slim.
