Most Improved Player: DT Ed Oliver
Honorable Mentions: TE Dawson Knox, RG Cody Ford, QB Josh Allen (Exempt)
One of the more talented players on the Bills roster, Ed Oliver showed why he was the 9th overall pick in the 2019 draft and he kept improving throughout the season.
Finishing the season playing all 16 games, producing five sacks, and one forced fumble, he was a great penetrator on the interior. The flashes were evident during his rookie season and sometimes his talent was too much for opposing blockers to handle:
Ed Oliver will miss Brian Winters....Brian Winters will not miss Ed Oliver #Bills #BillsMafia https://t.co/Z7okg1kfVN pic.twitter.com/zKkTRXRpHa
— MeRk (@Merk256) August 2, 2020
Now Buffalo Bills guard Brian Winters was thrown to the side effortlessly in Week 1 of last season versus the explosive Oliver. We’re sure to see more of those instances in Year 2. Now with Jordan Phillips not taking up Oliver’s snaps, he should be able to come close to playing 70% of the snaps on defense a significant jump from his 53.67% rate last season.
The Bills also boast a much more versatile defensive line now due to the key additions of Quinton Jefferson, Vernon Butler, and a healthy Harrison Phillips. Leslie Frazier should be able to use Oliver as a chess piece and place him at multiple techniques.