On Thursday, general manager Brandon Beane sat down with the media to discuss some of the moves the Buffalo Bills have made and answer questions. One of the looming questions over the Bills is how they replace Tremaine Edmunds, who signed a massive contract with the Chicago Bears.
While free agency isn’t over, and the Bills could add a veteran at the position, it does sound like the Buffalo Bills are prepared to hold an open competition over the next few months. Beane said:
"I mean sometimes your answer is on your roster and so we think you know Tyrell, getting Dodson back on on a one-year you know him. Obviously we had the two draft picks last year in [Terrel] Bernard and [Baylon] Spector there and they’ve been in our program for a year. They’re going to be a lot more prepared for the pro game and higher defensive system going in."
It will certainly be big shoes to fill for whoever replaces Tremaine Edmunds because he has brought so much to this defense over the past five years. The athleticism he brought allowed the Bills to be more in nickel defense because Edmunds and Matt Milano are able to close quickly sideline to sideline.
Edmunds height and wingspan also played a factor in the passing game as quarterbacks were often seen having to adjust throws to account for the former first round pick.
Buffalo Bills will likely add at least one more linebacker before training camp
While Brandon Beane did say the answer is sometimes on the roster, it would make sense for the Bills to add at least one more linebacker to the roster. As he did mention, the trio of linebackers currently with the team do have experience but Tyrel Dodson is the only one with notable snaps with 470 defensive snaps and five starts over the past three years.
The likely plan at this point will be to wait until the NFL Draft and see which players are available when they are on the clock. If the Bills don’t feel confident in those players, they will likely explore the free agent market after the NFL Draft to round out the competition.