Whether you boycotted the Super Bowl or didn’t tune in until after you heard the game was en route to a blowout, most of America seems happy with the results. The Philadelphia Eagles stopped the “Chief-peat,” but it couldn’t help shake the feeling from the Bills Mafia that it should have been the Bills in there. Whether, or not they would have defeated the Eagles is a different story, but the Eagles again put on display how to defeat the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes; pressure, pressure, and more pressure.
The Bills have fallen short to the Chiefs in four of their last five playoff meetings, and KC is the roadblock that has stopped the Bills from playing for the Lombardi. The Bills in a mini-reset year, made it to the AFC Championship with what was the least rounded-out roster of the Josh Allen era.
Recently, we did a deeper dive on the state of the Buffalo Bills salary cap and the ways they could clear some cap this offseason. They have options to open up some space for a little spending, as they will be looking to improve their roster to get over the playoff hump next season. As always, there was tons of talent on the field for the Super Bowl, and just like every team, those teams have free agents set to hit the market. Here are four players that played in the Super Bowl the Bills could look at to improve their roster.
DE Josh Sweat
Josh Sweat was a man on a mission against the Chiefs. The edge rusher racked up a career-high 2.5 sacks against Mahomes. He also generated a team-high six pressures and had multiple big tackles in the run game. Sweat put on a clinic of how to defend the edge in every aspect, a massive reason the Bills defense was the polar opposite of what the Eagles did just two weeks ago.
The Bills have some nice pieces along the defensive line, however, their bane has been the failure to create consistent pressure in the playoffs. The Bills already seemed poised to address the defensive line this offseason but after that Super Bowl, they not only have to add an impact player on it, they need multiple.
The 6’5” 265 lbs edge defender is a free agent this offseason and just earned himself a bigger payday after his performance that had him in the running for possible Super Bowl MVP. If Sweat leaves Philly, the Bills should be right there in on him. While it’s not the Myles Garrett or Maxx Crosby trade everyone hopes for, it’s great on multiple fronts. The former fourth-round pick in 2018 has developed into just what the Bills need, a consistent edge.
Over the last four seasons, he's racked up 33 sacks, the 17th most over that same span. Sweat has also notched 74 quarterback hits and 28 tackles for loss. Sweat is projected to land a three-year $56 million contract, so the Bills would have to find a way to make it work. The best part about it is you don’t have to give up any draft picks.
He would pair nicely with Greg Rousseau, who only has one year remaining on his rookie contract, and this allows the Bills to still add to the defensive line in a deep draft class. They can sink a premium asset into the interior of their d-line where they also need help, and really round out the line for another deep playoff run.