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Buffalo Bills: Top 5 defensive ends in franchise history

By Matthew Hodowany

BUFFALO, NY - CIRCA 1990: Bruce Smith #78 of the Buffalo Bills in action against the New York Jets during an NFL football game circa 1990 at Rich Stadium in Buffalo, New York. Smith played for the Bills from 1985-99. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - CIRCA 1990: Bruce Smith #78 of the Buffalo Bills in action against the New York Jets during an NFL football game circa 1990 at Rich Stadium in Buffalo, New York. Smith played for the Bills from 1985-99. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 15: Jerry Hughes #55 of the Buffalo Bills in action against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 15, 2019 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 15: Jerry Hughes #55 of the Buffalo Bills in action against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 15, 2019 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

#5: Jerry Hughes

Perhaps one of the current most well-known Buffalo Bills is Jerry Hughes due to his play on the field. He also is quickly becoming one of the best defensive ends in franchise history.

During his time at Texas Christian University, Hughes was a Consensus All-American in back-to-back seasons, making him only the second player in TCU history to be a two-time consensus first-team All-American. Due to his play, he was drafted 31st overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2010 NFL Draft.

After joining the Buffalo Bills in 2013 as part of a trade with the Colts in exchange for then Bills linebacker, Kelvin Sheppard, Hughes quickly cemented a starting role on the defense. Playing a critical role during the “Cold Front” era with teammates Marcell Dareus, Kyle Williams and Mario Williams, Hughes’ addition to the team pole-vaulted them into the conversation for the best defense in the league.

In his first 2013 season with the Bills, he recorded 10 sacks with an additional 46 combined tackles. The following season, he replicated the same type sack output with another 10 sacks but saw an increase in tackles to 53 combined on the season. Hughes has long been one of the most contestant players on the Bills defense since his arrival. Though he has had his lulls, as all professional athletes do from time-to-time, he remains a starter for the franchise today.

Though the team has made enhancements to the defensive line in the 2020 NFL Draft as they selected edge rusher A.J. Epensa out of Iowa, Hughes still remains an integral piece of the team’s defense.

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