Buffalo Bills: Predicting the 2021 All-AFC East Defense and Special Teams

Linebackers

LB Andrew Van Ginkel, Miami Dolphins

Playing the edge rusher-linebacker hybrid, Andrew Van Ginkel broke out during his second season in the league. The 2019 fifth-round pick produced 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one 78-yard touchdown that highlighted the LBs quickness. He’s a game-breaker that uses his speed to impact games and is an important part of head coach Brian Flores’ defense.

LB Matt Milano, Buffalo Bills

Plain and simple, Matt Milano is the best coverage linebacker in the NFL. Since entering the league in 2017, he has the second-lowest completion percentage when targeted, lowest yards per target, lowest passer rating, and the highest coverage success rate, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

He dealt with a number of injuries in 2020, but healthy once again, Milano will continue causing problems for opposing QBs as a member of the Buffalo Bills.

LB Tremaine Edmunds, Buffalo Bills

Other linebackers like Kyle Van Noy and Chase Winovich have been better than Tremaine Edmunds to this point of his career, but I predict a breakout campaign for the 2018 first-round pick.

Edmunds hasn’t been bad through three NFL seasons, but he needs to make more impact plays for the Buffalo Bills. In 2020, he recorded zero forced fumbles and zero interceptions. The tools are there for a breakout, he just needs to put it all together, and I think he does in his fourth campaign.