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Bills: 3 players that could be playing their final season in Buffalo in 2020

By Thomas Gore

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 15: Tyler Kroft #81 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the game at Heinz Field on December 15, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 15: Tyler Kroft #81 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the game at Heinz Field on December 15, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 29: Star Lotulelei #98 of the Buffalo Bills tackles Le’Veon Bell #26 of the New York Jets during the first quarter of an NFL game at New Era Field on December 29, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 29: Star Lotulelei #98 of the Buffalo Bills tackles Le’Veon Bell #26 of the New York Jets during the first quarter of an NFL game at New Era Field on December 29, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) /

Star Lotulelei

Star Lotulelei has hung around the league for seven seasons now and is entering his third year with the Buffalo Bills.

The defensive tackle spent his first five seasons in Charlotte as a Carolina Panther and even reached a Super Bowl with his old squad. When former Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott was hired as the head coach of the Bills in 2017, Lotulelei followed his coach the next year and signed with the Bills in free agency in 2018.

In his two years in Buffalo, Star Lotulelei has recorded the lowest tackling numbers of his career. In 2018 he totaled just 15, a career low. In 2019, he recorded just 17 tackles, the second lowest season total of his career.

It is hard to say whether it was just a down year for Lotulelei or if he is a player in decline. This year, he will have to compete for his job.

The Bills made a number of additions to their defensive line in the 2020 offseason through free agency and the draft.

In free agency, they added Vernon Butler, Quinton Jefferson and Mario Addison. In the 2020 NFL draft, the Bills picked up defensive end A.J. Epenesa with the 54th overall pick. The Bills already have plenty of talent on the defensive line with Ed Oliver and Jerry Hughes, but the team’s recent free agent singings plus the drafting of Epenesa could see Lotulelei with less and less playing time as the season drags on.

After the season, do not be surprised if the Bills don’t elect to bring Lotulelei back in 2021, who will be a free agent after this year.

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