The defensive tackle position is one that could be an under-the-radar need for the Buffalo Bills this season, specifically the one-tech spot. The Bills are getting Star Lotulelei back this season but it remains to be seen if he will return to the level of play he showed prior to the 2020 season.
After Lotulelei, the Buffalo Bills do still have Harrison Phillips who is entering a pivotal season for him. This is the final year of his rookie contract and will be looking for a new deal next offseason but his play last year was up and down. This could have been due to him still working back from a torn ACL in 2019.
With these question marks, it isn’t surprising to see the front office considering adding more depth to the position. According to Sal Capaccio of WGR550, the BIlls are working out Eli Ankou for a second time after bringing him in for a workout last month.
Per source, DT/NT Eli Ankou Is in Buffalo once again (he worked out for the team last month) and the visit could lead to a signing with the team. More info on him here ⬇️⬇️ https://t.co/vPH2H8mYsj
— Sal Capaccio 🏈 (@SalSports) June 21, 2021
Ankou is a big defensive tackle at 6’3″ and 327 pounds that certainly could rotate in with Lotulelei as that big, space-eating defensive tackle on the interior. He entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Texans in 2017.
However, he was waived prior to the start of that season and was claimed by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played in 11 games over the 2017 and 2018 seasons and finished with 19 total tackles and 1.5 sacks.
He would then spend one season with the Cleveland Browns in 2019 and played in nine games and then this past season played seven games with the Dallas Cowboys.
As Capaccio notes, the Buffalo Bills still have three open roster spots so if the team was to add Ankou, they would not need to create an additional roster spot. He is certainly an interesting player that could be a good backup plan and have potential upside as a rotational player at a key position on the defensive line.