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Reggie Ragland: Where will he fit on the Buffalo Bills’ roster?

By Jordan Hansgen

Oct 17, 2015; College Station, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reggie Ragland (19) reacts after a play during the third quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. The Crimson Tide defeated the Aggies 41-23. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2015; College Station, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reggie Ragland (19) reacts after a play during the third quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. The Crimson Tide defeated the Aggies 41-23. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 2017 offseason for the Buffalo BIlls has sparked a lot of changes to the defense and it could either help Reggie Ragland or hurt him.

The Buffalo Bills have a new GM, new coach, new cornerback, new safeties and an entirely new scheme. Now there is a big question as to how the players brought in suited for Rex Ryan’s 3-4 defense will find a spot in Sean McDermott and Leslie Frazier’s 4-3 defense.

The biggest question mark is Reggie Ragland, who was drafted by Ryan as a 3-4 inside linebacker, but missed his rookie season with a knee injury. We haven’t seen him play since his days at Alabama, but it is already proving to be a difficult jigsaw puzzle for the Bills to find playing time for the highly touted young linebacker.

Ragland was one of the main forces that led the Alabama Crimson Tide to multiple National Championships. He anchored the middle of the field and in his senior season, Ragland was involved in 102 tackles. Ragland managed to impress the Buffalo Bills so much that in the 2016 NFL Draft, Buffalo moved up to the 41st pick moving their own 2nd round pick, their 4th round pick and a 4th round pick this year to Chicago.

It was a high price to pay to move up in the second round and the Buffalo Bills hoped it would be immediately worth it as Ragland would anchor their own defense immediately, but football is cruel and things don’t go as planned.  Ragland tore his ACL in training camp and Bills’ fans have yet to see what he can do on the field.

Had Rex Ryan remained in charge of the Bills, there wouldn’t be a question of whether or not a healthy Ragland would play a lot of snaps in 2017, but with a new scheme focused more on speed and coverage rather than size and strength, the questions abound. Will Ragland succeed as a 4-3 linebacker?  How will he look post ACL tear?  Is there even a spot for him?

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The answers to these questions are not easily found considering Ragland has no NFL film to judge him on. The simple answer is to let him go through a training camp and preseason in the new system and learn.

It is ultimately up to McDermott and Frazier to fit Ragland into the defense.

Ragland has the potential to be a formidable run-stopping middle linebacker. He does not necessarily have to speed to be able to consistently be in zone or man coverage, but he will be a useful asset in early down situations, 3rd and short and goal line.

Also, linebackers can find a way to mask their speed with reactions. Ragland is a proven leader from his college days and has a strong work ethic. He will force himself to be the best he can be.

I think it’s premature to count him out as an old regime player that can’t possibly fit into the Buffalo Bills defensive puzzle.

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Where do you think Reggie Ragland will fit on the depth chart? Leave your thoughts below!

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