4 Buffalo Bills who could emerge as preseason stars this summer

Buffalo Bills DE Efe Obada

Previously with the Carolina Panthers (2018-2020)

Ah yes, another former Carolina Panthers player making their way onto the Bills’ roster. Efe Obada joins Buffalo by way of Charlotte, North Carolina, but it’s the story of how he even found his way to the NFL that’s different than anybody else’s.

Obada was born in Nigeria but moved to the Netherlands to live with his mother at the age of 8, according to the BBC. After two years of living with his mother, he and his sister were sent to London, England, with a stranger that was supposed to take care of them. The stranger failed to do that, which meant Obada and his sister were homeless in a place they’d only just traveled to. He went on to spend the rest of his childhood growing up in more than 10 different foster homes.

In 2014, he appeared in five games for the London Warriors of the British American Football Association National Leagues before being recruited by the Dallas Cowboys. After bouncing around two other NFL teams’ rosters, Obada found a spot on the Panthers through the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program. He played in Carolina for three seasons and had his best pro season in 2020, where he racked up 5.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, and his first career start.

The 29-year-old is a hybrid defensive end and linebacker who will compete for a spot as an edge rusher in training camp. Buffalo placed an emphasis on bringing in pass-rushers this offseason after Patrick Mahomes picked the team apart with relative ease in the AFC Championship Game, so Obada has a chance to earn a rotational role on the Bills’ defense.