Star Lotulelei is expected to return as starting defensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills.
Last year, the Buffalo Bills didn’t have many players opt out of the 2020 season due to the pandemic. However, one of those players was Star Lotulelei and his absence on this defensive line was noticeable.
He is a player whose impact goes beyond the box score stats but makes the players around him better. The role of the one-tech defensive tackle is to be an anchor in the middle of the field, keep blockers engaged and allow other players to move freely to the ball carrier.
Profile
Position: Defensive Tackle
Age: 31
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 315 pounds
Years of Experience: 8
2019 Stats
In 2019, Star Lotulelei finished the season playing 46% of the defensive snaps and had 19 total tackles, three tackles for a loss, two sacks and one interception.
Expectations for the 2021 season with the Buffalo Bills
The biggest question for Star Lotulelei entering 2021 is whether or not he can return to the same level he played at the last time he was in an NFL game. As I mentioned, his impact on this defense goes beyond just his stat line and the way he is able to clog the middle of the field makes this defense better, particularly in run defense.
The return of Star Lotulelei also helps a player like Ed Oliver, who played more one-tech last season with the veteran opting out. While he did a decent job, this is not necessarily Oliver’s strength and him returning to three-tech should help maximize his talents.
When taking into account the fact that Lotulelei was playing less than 50% of the snaps in 2019 and 2018, will his workload be dialed back even more considering he is going to be 32 years old by the end of the season? In the end, if Lotulelei is on the field for half of the defensive snaps this coming season, the defense should improve and players like Tremaine Edmunds, Matt Milano, Jordan Poyer, and Ed Oliver will all benefit.