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The Current and Future State of the Bills Defensive Line

By Aaron Tully

Oct 13, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver (91) laughs during pre-game warm ups against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 13, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver (91) laughs during pre-game warm ups against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 16, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (49) and defensive tackle Vernon Butler (94) pursue Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards (35) during the first quarter of an AFC Divisional Round playoff game at Bills Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (49) and defensive tackle Vernon Butler (94) pursue Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards (35) during the first quarter of an AFC Divisional Round playoff game at Bills Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /

Possible Cap Casualties

On the interior, if the Bills decide to keep Zimmer, Phillips, and Hester around that would mean Butler is the odd man out. Tough sledding if that actually occurs. Cutting Butler would free up $3.3M in cap space for the Bills. I don’t think they will cut Butler though, as he is a solid option up the middle and is only 27 years old.

Addison could be a surprise cut, as he is 34 years old and cutting him after June 1 would save the Bills $1.4M in cap space according to OverTheCap. If the Bills decide to cut Addison, that means either Ofada or one of the three youngsters step into the starting role.

Next. Would Julio Jones make the Patriots a contender in the division?. dark

The past three drafts have set the Bills up for future success on the defensive line; how they decide to fill out the rest of the line will determine how successful the defensive line, and ultimately the defense is.

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