Buffalo Bills: Grading the linebackers on roster before 2021 NFL Draft

The Buffalo Bills have been very active this offseason addressing the linebacker position. The most important move though was bringing back Matt Milano. He was considered one of the top free agents at the position and the Bills were able to bring him back on a four-year deal.

After that move, the focus was on adding depth and they did that with the additions of Tyrell Adams and Marquel Lee. These are two players who have been starters in this league and could step into if the need were to arise.

This is my grade for the linebacker position heading into the 2021 NFL Draft and what the Bills might do to add to the position.

Linebackers on the Buffalo Bills roster

• Tyrell Adams
• Tyrel Dodson
• Tremaine Edmunds
• A.J. Klein
• Marquel Lee
• Tyler Matakevich
• Matt Milano
• Andre Smith

Position Grade: A-

The Buffalo Bills for the third straight year will have the same two starting linebackers with Milano returning to play alongside Tremaine Edmunds. One of the questions the Bills have to answer, and this could dictate what they do in the NFL Draft, is if they believe Edmunds is the long-term answer at the position.

The former first round pick hasn’t been bad and is still very young at only 22 years old. However, there is room for improvement and the front office will need to decide if they want to pick up his fifth-year option next month. If there were to select a linebacker early in the 2021 NFL Draft, it could be an indication that they may not and Edmunds could enter this season on the final year of his rookie contract.

One of the reasons the linebacker position receives the grade it does is the depth the team now has at the position. Last year, especially early, the depth was tested and at times the linebacker position was a weakness for this defense. The Bills have tried to ensure that won’t happen again and while they still have A.J. Klein and Tyrel Dodson, and both showed improvements last year, they added Tyrell Adams and Marquel Lee.

Adams in particular is an intriguing add as he started most of the season for the Houston Texans due to Bernardrick McKinney suffering a season-ending injury. Adams would finish with 125 total tackles, which was the 12th highest total in the league.

The battle for some of these backup spots on the roster at linebacker is going to be one of the biggest training camp battles to watch for the Buffalo Bills.