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Buffalo Bills: Four players primed for breakout seasons in 2018

By Stephen McCarthy

ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 3: Zay Jones #11 of the Buffalo Bills attempts to catch the ball as Stephon Gilmore #24 of the New England Patriots attempts to defend him during the fourth quarter on December 3, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 3: Zay Jones #11 of the Buffalo Bills attempts to catch the ball as Stephon Gilmore #24 of the New England Patriots attempts to defend him during the fourth quarter on December 3, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Tremaine Edmunds

Edmunds has to be the most obvious breakout candidate this season for the Bills.

The No. 16 overall pick in the NFL Draft this past April, Edmunds has been lining up through rookie minicamps and OTAs as the starting middle linebacker for the Bills. With his size, speed and incredible athletic abilities, I don’t see how he ever comes off the field.

Buffalo filled a huge need with a huge player by selecting Edmunds. When Preston Brown left, a void was opened up in the middle of the defense.

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The team spent plenty of money on the defensive line in free agency and most of their secondary is returning and will be the strength of the team once again. Matt Milano stepped up last season and is a starter this season as Lorenzo Alexander is on the other side as a veteran presence.

Enter Edmunds.

As I touched on, his size and athleticism is incredible. A man that large should not be able to move the way he does. He falls into a perfect situation where he will be relied upon to be the starting middle linebacker and do a little bit of everything.

He can hang with players in the pass, stuff the run, and get sideline-to-sideline in a flash, as well as rush the passer. He mainly needs to work on his ability to diagnose plays.

Edmunds will be working with Sean McDermott frequently as he is the future of the defense, especially at only 20 years old. McDermott has a history of transforming linebackers into elite players and he has an incredible talent he can mold in Edmunds. If he doesn’t win or finish in the top two of Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, I would be surprised.

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