Buffalo Bills LB Matt Milano led the NFL in one telling statistic in 2018

Matt Milano was outstanding in his second-year for the Buffalo Bills; statistics continue to back that statement up.

A safety turned linebacker at Boston College, it should be no surprise to see Matt Milano — the Buffalo Bills’ fifth-round pick in 2017 — excel in coverage. He was undersized heading into the NFL, and lacked as a run-stopper, measuring in at 6-foot, 221-pounds. His saving grace, as a prospect, was his ranginess as a linebacker. Nonetheless, selecting him was a bit of gamble.

It turns out, general manager Brandon Beane hit, and he did so in a big way. In just his second year as a pro, Milano led all NFL off-ball linebackers (minimum 300 snaps) in opposing passer rating. Per Pro Football Focus, the Boston College product allowed a 67.0 passer rating in coverage.

For context, the NFL’s league-wide passer rating in 2018 was 92.9, the highest of all time. The last time we’ve seen this number dip to Milano’s territory was in 1978.

Heading into 2018, Milano had the benefit of the doubt. There wasn’t much tape on him; quarterbacks felt comfortable throwing his way. After a 13-start campaign that featured 78 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, seven pass deflections, three interceptions, a sack, and a league-low opposing passer rating mark now on his resume, quarterbacks are studying him.

Before Milano suffered a season-ending broken leg in December, he was a leader of a No. 1 ranked Bills pass defense. Entering 2019, most figure he’ll return to that same status alongside second-year Tremaine Edmunds — a 6-foot-5 athletic 21-year-old hoping to take a similar step as Milano did as a sophomore.