Buffalo Bills: Defensive line has plenty to prove in PFF rankings

The Buffalo Bills understand that the performance from the defensive line needs to be better in 2021 if they want to get past teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and reach the Super Bowl. They have used high draft picks on players like A.J. Epenesa, Greg Rousseau, and Carlos Basham Jr. with the hope they can replace veterans Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison in the near future.

While the plan for the defensive line makes sense, there is still plenty of skepticism as evident by Pro Football Focus’ recent rankings of every defensive line in the NFL. Ben Linsey has the Bills in the middle of the NFL at 17th:

"17. BUFFALO BILLSA.J. Epenesa, Gregory Rousseau and Carlos Basham Jr. all represent added youth and depth to the Bills’ edge defender rotation. However, their 2021 contributions may be limited due to Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison still being in place as the starters at defensive end. Hughes might be one of the more underrated edge rushers in the league based on sack totals. He hasn’t recorded double-digit sacks in a season since 2014, but he ranks in the 81st percentile of all players at the position in pass-rush win rate over the six years since.Part of the reason Buffalo ranks merely in the middle of the pack here is that Ed Oliver hasn’t produced to the level the Bills expected when they selected him in the top 10 of the 2019 NFL Draft. He earned just a 30.0 run-defense grade in 2020."

It is interesting that part of the reason that the Bills are where they are is Ed Oliver and the fact that he hasn’t lived up to expectations quite yet.

There is no question that Oliver hasn’t produced the stats or sack totals many might have expected when the Buffalo Bills selected him ninth overall. However, the third-year defensive tackle was forced to play out of position last year with the Bills losing Star Lotulelei, who opted out before the 2020 season.

Oliver was asked to play more one-tech so he didn’t have as much opportunity to get after the quarterback and really maximize what he does best. Chris Trapasso at CBS Sports detailed his snap count against the Kansas City Chiefs last season as an example of where he was playing.

This season with the return of Lotulelei the thought is that Oliver could move to more three-tech and may not get as many double teams, which will likely be something Star Lotulelei deals with.

If Ed Oliver can breakout in 2021, along with more pass rush from the younger defensive ends, the Buffalo Bills defensive line should move up rankings like these next offseason.