Buffalo Bills: Predicting the LB depth chart entering training camp
By Aaron Tully
Outside Linebacker: A.J Klein
A.J Klein played well during his first season with the Buffalo Bills. He recorded 75 combined tackles, five sacks, and forced two fumbles. Klein’s last eight games of the 2020 season were much better than his first eight.
In the first half of the season, Klein had 25 combined tackles, a half sack, and forced a fumble. In the back half of 2020, Klein recorded 47 combined tackles, 4.5 sacks, and forced another fumble. If Klein can maintain his late 2020 form throughout 2021, he should be a quality member of the Bills defense.
Middle Linebacker: Tremaine Edmunds
Tremaine Edmunds has been an anchor in the middle of the Buffalo defense since he was drafted 16th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. Edmunds has started all 46 games he has played in, recording 355 combined tackles, 19 tackles for loss, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles.
Edmunds made the Pro Bowl in both 2019 and 2020 and makes up one of the better pass coverage linebacker groups alongside Matt Milano. Edmunds is a freak athlete who still has the potential to be an All-Pro, and he will likely be the quarterback of the Bills defense for a while to come.
Outside Linebacker: Matt Milano
Matt Milano has been a diamond in the rough for the Bills since being selected in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the team. Milano has been a very good pass coverage linebacker for the Bills, intercepting five passes and defending 21 in his first four seasons. Milano allowed a 69.5 passer rating in 2018, and a 70.9 passer rating in 2020.
Milano was also on fire during Buffalo’s 2020 playoff run, accumulating 25 combined tackles and three passes defensed in their three games. The Bills re-signed Milano to a four year, $41.5M contract in the offseason, so he should hold down the weakside linebacker position for the foreseeable future.