Buffalo Bills: 5 position battles already worth watching

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 15: Levi Wallace #39 of the Buffalo Bills reacts after a defensive stop on third down in the first quarter during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 15, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 15: Levi Wallace #39 of the Buffalo Bills reacts after a defensive stop on third down in the first quarter during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 15, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
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ORCHARD PARK, NY – DECEMBER 08: Trent Murphy #93 of the Buffalo Bills runs onto the field before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at New Era Field on December 8, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. Baltimore defeats Buffalo 24-17. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY – DECEMBER 08: Trent Murphy #93 of the Buffalo Bills runs onto the field before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at New Era Field on December 8, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. Baltimore defeats Buffalo 24-17. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

Trent Murphy vs. Mario Addison

The next position is at defensive end with the recent addition of Mario Addison, who is assumed to surpass Trent Murphy for the starting role opposite Jerry Hughes. Addison, who will be 33 at the start of the season, has been a highly productive pass rusher for the Carolina Panthers in recent years.

In the past four seasons, Addison has had at least nine sacks each of those years, including a career high 11 in 2017.

Meanwhile, Murphy will be entering his third season with the Buffalo Bills after signing as a free agent in 2018 after three seasons with the Washington Redskins. There has certainly been some disappointment with Murphy as he hasn’t developed as most would have liked. In two seasons with the Bills he has only had nine total sacks.

It is not a guarantee that Addison is going to step into the starting role but at this point he would have to be considered the favorite.

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