Early look at 4 roster needs the Buffalo Bills could address in 2023

Buffalo Bills 2023 Position Need: Linebacker

The Buffalo Bills have a big decision to make over the next year at linebacker position with former first round pick Tremaine Edmunds entering the final year of his rookie contract. The Bills picked up his fifth-year option last offseason which kept him under contract through this season.

The debate around Tremaine Edmunds is certainly a polarizing one as there are plenty of reasons to extend Edmunds, considering he is only going to be 24 entering this season and has a unique combination of athleticism and size.

However, even with making the Pro Bowl twice and having 100 or more total tackles each season in the league, it doesn’t feel like he has reached that full potential. If he were to reach free agency, there certainly would be a team that would offer a contract that pays him as one of the top linebackers in the league, and at this point, it isn’t a guarantee the Bills are willing to do that.

This would leave a big hole at a key position on this defense as there isn’t a clear replacement at linebacker behind Edmunds. The Bills did draft Terrel Bernard and Baylon Spector in this year’s class as well as Tyrel Dodson, who has stepped in at times for Edmunds when injured.

If the Buffalo Bills don’t re-sign Edmunds, or use the franchise tag, then this will be a position of focus next offseason.