Last offseason, the Buffalo Bills brought back defensive tackle Jordan Phillips after two years with the Arizona Cardinals. The last time he was with the Bills was in 2019 and he had a breakout season where he had 9.5 sacks and led the team in the category.
However, he didn’t have the same success with the Cardinals and Arizona would release him before the final year of his contract after the 2021 season. He returned to Buffalo on a one-year prove-it type deal and the front office now has to make the decision of whether or not they bring him back for the 2023 season.
Jordan Phillips Career Overview
Jordan Phillips began his NFL career with the Miami Dolphins after being a second round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. However, he was released by the Dolphins during the 2018 season and was claimed on waivers by Buffalo.
Phillips would play in 12 games for the Bills in 2018 and had 19 total tackles and two tackles for a loss before his career season in 2019. That year he had 31 total tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, 9.5 sacks and 16 QB hits.
The Bills likely would have wanted to bring Jordan Phillips back after that season but weren’t able to match the contract he received from the Arizona Cardinals. He would play in only 18 games in his two seasons with the Cardinals due to injuries and didn’t have the same impact he did with the Bills.
Should the Buffalo Bills re-sign Jordan Phillips?
When on the field, Jordan Phillips was a big part of the Buffalo Bills’ success on defense with 20 total tackles, 1.5 sacks and six QB hits but he didn’t have the same impact as the season went along. However, similar to his time in Arizona, injuries were a big part of his season after he missed four regular season games and the Wild Card game against the Miami Dolphins.
After the season, it was reported that Phillips had been playing with a torn rotator cuff and that can explain the drop in production as the season went along. For Jordan Phillips, it will come down to whether or not the two sides can agree on a contract that works for both sides. The injury history has to be taken into account but when he is on the field he has the potential to be a difference-maker for this defense.