The Buffalo Bills drafted LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr with their third pick in the fourth round, adding an athletic Linebacker to one of the weakest position groups on the team.
Player Summary
Blitz Sports Media NFL analyst Ryan Linkletter (@blitzlink_) had this to say about Kaleb Elarms-Orr during the draft process.
“Elarms-Orr is a long, athletic linebacker with strong downhill burst. He reads run plays quickly and attacks gaps with urgency. In coverage, he shows range but must improve man-to-man fluidity. His length helps disrupt passing lanes. Elarms-Orr plays with high effort throughout games. He projects as a developmental linebacker with rotational upside.”
Elarms-Orr’s College Stats**
Elarms-Orr first attended California, being redshirted as a freshman and slowly progressing before breaking out in 2023. Following his first season as a starter, he transferred to TCU, which was the right move looking back on it, as he had a dominant senior season, leading TCU in TFS and ranked ninth in the FBS with 130 tackles. The following statistics are available via Chad Reuter, NFL Dart Researcher/Analyst with NFL Media since 2011, as linked in Elarms-Orrs’ draft profile below.
- 2021 (California): Redshirted.
- 2022 (California): Played in 10 games as a reserve and on special teams.
- 2023 (California): Led team with 92 tackles. Started 11 games (3.5 TFLs with 1 sack, INT, 5 PBUs, FF).
- 2024 (TCU): Played in all 13 games as a reserve (54 tackles, 4.5 TFLs with 2 sacks).
- 2025 (TCU): First-team All-Big 12 Conference. Ranked ninth in the FBS with 130 tackles. Led team with 11 TFLs, 4 sacks. Started all 13 games (2 PBUs).
NFL Combine***
The 6’2″ linebacker out of TCU posted the second-highest athleticism score with an 86, putting him right below generational prospect Sonny Styles. Elarms-Orr also ran an impressive 4.47 40-yard dash at the combine, which was the second fastest. Lance Zierlein, NFL Analyst, projected Kaleb Elarms-Orr to be drafted in rounds 3-4.
Current LB Room
The Buffalo Bills’ linebacking unit consists of defensive captain Terrel Bernard, projected starter Dorian Williams, Western New York native and fan favorite Joe Andreeson, followed by a few guys who will be fighting for a roster spot: Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Jimmy Ciarlo, Keonta Jenkins, and Theron Gaines.
Based on where Elarms-Orr was drafted, I’d expect him to be in the running with Joe Andreeson for the backup LB spot. It would take a strong camp from some of the other linebackers to move the needle.
Expectations
Buffalo has had success drafting linebackers in the later rounds of the draft. Terrel was a third-round pick, and Matt Milano was a fifth-round pick, so Elarms-Orr is in a great spot to develop and have a chance at being a starter in 2027.
I estimate he will have 16 tackles and 1 TFL in a limited time during his rookie season. He could see the field more, however, as our linebacking unit has also been fairly injury-prone in recent years.
Recap
Kaleb Elarms-Orr has already been turning heads during practices while receiving praise from new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard. Elarms-Orr is poised to have a nice role in the preseason while battling Joe Andreeson for the backup position, but it is worth noting that if Dorian Williams doesn’t play great, I don’t believe his starting position is a lock throughout the season, which could give the TCU linebacker room to start as early as this year.
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