The Buffalo Bills made a savvy move in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting TCU linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr at No. 126 overall. Interestingly, this pick came from one of the team’s original selections—no trade-down trickery here. As part of my ongoing rookie profile series, I’m breaking down my pre-draft thoughts on each of the Bills’ 2026 picks (minus punter Tommy Doman Jr., who I didn’t evaluate). Stay tuned for more profiles rolling out this week and next.

Let’s get into Elarms-Orr. He’s a tall, well-built off-ball linebacker with a top-tier athletic profile fueled by speed and relentless urgency. His closing burst is a standout trait—he eats up ground in a flash when chasing down ball carriers or quarterbacks—yet he plays with impressive control and balance. In coverage, he’s fluid and smooth in transitions, showing the range to impact plays sideline to sideline. Think of a modern, three-down linebacker who can handle tight ends, run with backs, and drop into zones without missing a beat.

Against the run, Elarms-Orr brings high energy and reliable tackling form. He consistently squares up and finishes, with a low missed tackle rate that coaches love. His block-shedding is a work in progress—he flashes active, physical hands and clear effort, but needs more consistency disengaging from bigger linemen. As a blitzer and spy, he’s a clear asset, using his speed to carry vertical routes, execute Tampa 2 responsibilities, and close quickly on quarterbacks. His twitch, length, and ball skills round out a three-down profile that screams upside.

Overall, Elarms-Orr projects as a modern linebacker with high upside tied directly to his athleticism and coverage ability. His speed, range, and tackling reliability provide a rock-solid foundation. If he can improve his consistency taking on blocks, he could elevate into a high-impact defender for Buffalo’s defense. For context, his career pressure rate on pass-rush snaps sits at 22.2% (49 pressures on 220 snaps), with a final season mark of 19.5% (25 pressures on 128 snaps). That’s promising production for a linebacker who can do a bit of everything.

And here’s the kicker: many off-ball linebacker prospects enter the league with a career missed tackle rate closer to the league average, but Elarms-Orr’s discipline and form set him apart. Keep an eye on this pick—he could be a steal for the Bills.