The biggest question the Buffalo Bills have at this point of the offseason is without a doubt middle linebacker. The team saw Tremaine Edmunds leave in free agency and join the Chicago Bears.
Edmunds has been the starter for the past five seasons and as it presently stands the coaching staff is looking at a training camp battle between Tyrel Dodson, Terrel Bernard, and Baylon Spector. However, that competition likely will get much tougher and change over the next few weeks with the team using either a draft pick or signing a veteran free agent.
If the Buffalo Bills want a veteran, the good news is that there are a number of players still available that could be fits for this defense.
Ranking the best remaining linebackers targets in free agency for the Buffalo Bills
4. A.J. Klein
The first player is one that the coaching staff knows well in linebacker A.J. Klein. He began his career with the Carolina Panthers and played four seasons in McDermott’s defense when McDermott was defensive coordinator.
Then when Sean McDermott was head coach of the Buffalo Bills they would sign Klein as a free agent in 2020 and he played two seasons in Buffalo. He would start 15 games during that stretch but would play nearly 1,000 defensive snaps and had over 100 total tackles.
However, the Bills released him last offseason to create cap space but the team would eventually claim him off waivers and bring him back.
At 32 years old, A.J. Klein likely wouldn’t be the best option to replace Tremaine Edmunds but at the very least it gives the team a veteran who knows this defense that could step in if the need were to arise. He also could be signed for a reasonable contract, likely the veteran minimum, that would fit within the current cap space.