Which Buffalo Bills on defense and special teams made the Preseason All-AFC East team?
If there is anything AFC East defenses should be known for, it’s having the best secondaries of any division in the NFL.
There is a who’s-who of defensive backs in this division that rivals any other in the league, but that’s not to say there aren’t talented players at defensive end and linebacker amongst these four teams, either.
Here’s my prediction on how an All-AFC East team for defense and special teams would shake out for the 2021 season.
Defensive line
DT Quinnen Williams, New York Jets
The Jets have the best interior defensive line in the division and that is thanks in large part to Quinnen Williams. ‘Big Baby,’ as he’s referred to by teammates, showed everyone in 2020 that he’s more than just a run-stopper.
His 7.0 sacks last season were the fourth-most amongst all defensive tackles, trailing only Chris Jones, DeForest Buckner, and Aaron Donald. The 2019 third overall pick has all the tools to be a game-wrecker for years to come.
DT Raekwon Davis, Miami Dolphins
A 2020 second-round pick, Raekwon Davis earned All-Rookie team honors at defensive line last season. Davis, like Williams, played at the University of Alabama in college and was a standout member of the Crimson Tide before making the jump to the NFL.
Not necessarily a mauler, Davis uses his long 33 7/8″ arm length to toss offensive linemen around and wreak havoc in the backfield.
DE Carl Lawson, New York Jets
The Jets signed Carl Lawson to a three-year, $45,000,000 contract this offseason and he immediately makes an OK defensive line really good. His 26 quarterback knockdowns were tied with T.J. Watt for most in the NFL in 2020 and he finished the season with 5.5 sacks.
He’s now slated to be a pain in the side of Josh Allen and the other QBs in the AFC East.
DE Emmanuel Ogbah, Miami Dolphins
Fresh off a career year, the 2016 second-round pick piled on a division-best 9.0 sacks in 2020 during his first year with the Dolphins. Ogbah’s 36 pressures last season also sat first amongst all players in the AFC East, while ranking 12th overall in the league.
If his teammate Davis can take a step forward and 2021 first-round pick Jaelen Philips excels immediately, it could become increasingly more difficult for opposing teams to slow down Ogbah.