5 Buffalo Bills who could lose position battles in training camp
By Aaron Tully
Mario Addison
Mario Addison is probably the most likely candidate to be a surprise release on cut day. When Addison signed with the Buffalo Bills in the 2020 offseason, he was coming off of four consecutive seasons with at least 9.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
In 2020, Addison registered just five sacks and did not force a single fumble. Addison will turn 34 years old before the 2021 season kicks off, and that makes him vulnerable to the metaphorical chopping block.
The Bills used their first pick of the 2020 NFL Draft on Iowa edge rusher A.J. Epenesa, and their first two picks of the 2021 Draft on edge rushers Greg Rousseau and Carlos Basham Jr.
Epenesa, Rousseau, and Basham are all promising talents who may very well populate the Buffalo defensive line in the near future.
Jerry Hughes is also getting up there in age at 32 years old. Hughes has the edge over Addison on cut day however, because he is a better pass rusher, the longest-tenured member of the Bills roster, and a respected locker room leader.
Addison is also at a disadvantage to third-year defensive end Daryll Johnson due to Johnson’s solid work on special teams for the Bills over the last two seasons.
Given that Addison does not have an overwhelming strength to overcome his age and declining numbers, he is likely on the outside looking in on cut day if the young defensive ends show out during training camp for the Bills.