Bills reshape roster depth with veteran linebacker signing
The Buffalo Bills have executed a roster transaction to bolster their defensive line, signing a former 49ers and Giants player to a one-year deal while cutting a rookie wide receiver.
The Buffalo Bills have announced the signing of veteran inside linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles to a one-year contract, a move designed to inject experience into the squad’s defensive structure. The transaction, confirmed on Wednesday, 27 May 2026, involves the acquisition of the 29-year-old player alongside the release of rookie wide receiver Max Tomczak to accommodate the roster change.
Flannigan-Fowles brings a history of positional adaptability and special teams utility to the Bills. Originally entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2019 after a four-year college career with the Arizona Wildcats, he initially played safety before transitioning to defensive back and eventually converting to linebacker ahead of the 2022 season. His professional tenure has been defined by consistency on special teams, where he accounted for between 59 per cent and 75 per cent of the San Francisco 49ers’ snaps during his five-year stint with the club.
During his time with the 49ers from 2020 to 2024, Flannigan-Fowles appeared in 73 games, accumulating 96 tackles, three pass breakups, one interception, and one sack. He moved to the New York Giants for the 2025 season, where he saw increased defensive involvement, playing a career-high 36 per cent of defensive snaps in 10 games with three starts. In New York, he recorded 33 tackles, one pass breakup, one sack, and three tackles for loss.
The decision to part ways with Max Tomczak, an undrafted rookie wide receiver, was made specifically to create space on the Bills’ 91-man roster. While the financial terms of Flannigan-Fowles’ one-year deal were not immediately disclosed, the move signals a strategic prioritisation of veteran depth over developmental wide receiver assets at this stage of the roster cycle.
This transaction reflects the Bills’ ongoing management of squad composition, leveraging Flannigan-Fowles’ proven track record in both defensive schemes and special teams units. The addition of a player with his specific background in converting roles and maintaining high snap counts offers the Bills a reliable option for rotational depth as they navigate the upcoming season.
