The fourth-round pick is already taking first-team reps, impressing coaches with his sideline-to-sideline speed and rare ability to command the defense's communication as a rookie.
The Buffalo Bills may have found another rookie capable of making an immediate impact on defense.
Speaking with the media this week, defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard gave an extremely encouraging review of rookie linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr, and the comments made it sound very clear that Buffalo already trusts the young linebacker far more than most fourth-round rookies at this stage of the offseason.
Leonhard praised nearly every aspect of Elarms-Orr’s game, from his athleticism to his football IQ, but one detail stood out above the rest: the rookie is already getting opportunities to work with the first-team defense.
“He's running with the ones at times,” Leonhard said, while also noting that Elarms-Orr has helped communicate and organize the defense early in camp.
That is not a small detail.
For a rookie linebacker to already be handling communication responsibilities during OTAs says a lot about how quickly Buffalo believes he is picking things up. Leonhard specifically mentioned Elarms-Orr’s feel for the game and ability to understand positioning within the defense, something that often separates young players fighting for playing time.
The Bills were clearly high on Elarms-Orr throughout the pre-draft process. Buffalo spent significant time evaluating the linebacker before selecting him, and the early returns appear to be matching what the team believed they were getting.
Leonhard also highlighted Elarms-Orr’s movement skills and speed, describing him as “a very efficient mover” who can “absolutely fly around the field.”
At 6-2 with legitimate sideline-to-sideline speed, Elarms-Orr already profiles like the type of modern linebacker Buffalo covets defensively. But beyond the physical tools, the Bills seem especially encouraged by how quickly he processes information and adapts on the field.
That combination could give him a legitimate opportunity to carve out a meaningful role sooner rather than later.
With Terrel Bernard entrenched as one of the leaders of Buffalo’s defense, Elarms-Orr appears positioned to compete for significant snaps alongside him as the Bills continue reshaping their defensive identity under Leonhard.
It is still only OTAs, and there is a long way to go before Week 1. But for a rookie linebacker to already earn this level of praise from Buffalo’s defensive coordinator this early in the process is difficult to ignore.
If these early practices are any indication, Elarms-Orr may have a chance to contribute much faster than many expected.
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