Buffalo Bills 2021 Player Profile: Linebacker A.J. Klein
What can A.J. Klein do in his second season with the Buffalo Bills?
Last offseason, the Buffalo Bills signed A.J. Klein to be a part-time starter in this defense. The Bills only have two linebackers on the field for a majority of their defensive snaps but when they line up in a 4-3 front, then Klein would be that third linebacker.
The move made sense as Klein has plenty of experience in this defense from his time in Carolina playing under Sean McDermott, who was the defensive coordinator.
That experience was a big boost as Klein likely played more than the Buffalo Bills would have hoped as he had to step in for the injured Matt Milano at different points in the season. In the early part of the season, Klein struggled but as the season went on, he improved and was even named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Entering his second season, the Bills have added much more depth which could change Klein’s role in 2021.
Profile
Position: Linebacker
Age: 30
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 240 pounds
Years of Experience: 9
2020 Stats
A.J. Klein played in 11 games and finished the season with 75 total tackles, four passes defended, two forced fumbles and was tied for the team lead in sacks with five.
Klein’s best stretch last season came between Week 9-12 when he had two sacks against the Seattle Seahawks then had back to back games with 10 total tackles in games against the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Chargers.
Expectations for the 2021 season with the Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills have great depth at the linebacker position this year, and Leslie Frazier even mentioned it early in training camp. A.J. Klein was a key part of this defense last year but will have to earn that spot this season.
In the end, I do believe that he is part of the 53-man roster as he has the experience and the Buffalo Bills don’t gain much in terms of salary cap by releasing him. If they were to cut him prior to the season, it would result in $5.6 million in dead cap and create only $1.2 million in cap space.
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The question will be whether or not Klein remains as the part-time starter or will one of the younger linebackers, like Tyrel Dodson or Tyrell Adams, surpasses him on the depth chart.