Buffalo Bills: Ranking the defensive lines of the AFC East
By Rob Spehar
1) Buffalo Bills
Is it possible that the Buffalo Bills defensive front could have gotten any stronger during the offseason? The answer is a resounding yes. This already strong defensive line got so much more stronger and deeper with some key free agent signings and an excellent draft pick.
Let’s start with the free agent signings. We are aware that general manager Brandon Beane has an affinity for signing former Carolina Panthers and he did just that, bringing in defensive tackle Vernon Butler and defensive end Mario Addison. Jerry Hughes is entering his 11th year and is over 30 years old. So depth had to have been brought in. Addison and Hughes are very alike in their playing styles where both are very versatile and can win at the line of scrimmage.
Vernon Butler was more of a depth move because he didn’t do too much while with the Panthers. In his final year though, he performed better posting six sacks and that was enough for the Bills’ brass to bring him over to Orchard Park. Defensive end Quinton Jefferson is another silent signing but adds great depth after the departure of Jordan Phillips to the Arizona Cardinals. The Maryland product is another versatile defender who can line up on the interior or on the outside.
In the Draft, the Buffalo Bills did not have a first round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft because they traded it away to the Minnesota Vikings in the Stefon Diggs deal. So the Bills had to wait until Day 2 to make their first selection, and with the 54th pick overall, they selected A.J. Epenesa. A tough defensive end out of Iowa who has so much upside. He has exceptional strength at the point of attack and has a deadly bull rush which can leave his opponents’ confused.
Next. Six predictions for the Bills in 2020. dark
Even with the departures of Shaq Lawson and Jordan Phillips, the Bills defensive line still looks scary. With the offseason moves that were made and then you add them to a roster with players like Ed Oliver, Star Lotulelei, Jerry Hughes, and Trent Murphy and the Buffalo Bills have a very solid defensive front that is the class of the AFC East.