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Buffalo Bills: Early look at position needs for 2021 offseason

By Brandon Croce

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 15: Trent Murphy #93 talks with Jerry Hughes #55 of the Buffalo Bills during warmups before the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on September 15, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 15: Trent Murphy #93 talks with Jerry Hughes #55 of the Buffalo Bills during warmups before the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on September 15, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 15: Matt Milano #58 of the Buffalo Bills in action during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 15, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 15: Matt Milano #58 of the Buffalo Bills in action during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 15, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

Outside Linebacker

The Bills lost one of their starting linebackers this offseason with the retirement of Lorenzo Alexander and there is a chance that they could lose another with Matt Milano potentially becoming a free agent by season’s end.

The hope would be that the Buffalo Bills and Milano can reach a contract extension before the start of this year to eliminate the chance of his departure. However, even if they do they may still want to upgrade the position next offseason as a replacement for A.J. Klein. The Bills signed Klein this offseason but he should be considered a short term answer to the position.

If Milano was to depart in free agency next year, this would be a significant blow to this defense. The fact that the Bills have two athletic linebackers in Milano and Tremaine Edmunds, gives them a chance to play more nickel but not give up coverage with two linebackers that have the speed to play sideline to sideline.

One player that could take this off the list as a need is Vosean Joseph. The team drafted Joseph in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft but an injury in preseason forced him to miss the entire season. He is largely unknown and it remains to be seen what he can contribute. If he has a strong season, he could be the answer to this need.

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