3 under-the-radar players to keep an eye on in Buffalo Bills training camp

1.) Poona Ford - Defensive Tackle

The Bills made a signing late in free agency by acquiring defensive tackle Poona Ford, who played for the Seattle Seahawks for the last five seasons. As a member of the Seahawks, Ford racked up 182 combined tackles and 7.5 sacks as a true interior defensive lineman. Another valuable factor about Ford is that he has not missed a game since 2019.

Ford is one of the many defensive tackles who is in Buffalo on a one-year deal but Ford may have more upside than the others. Along with Ford, defensive tackles Jordan Phillips, Tim Settle, and DaQuan Jones are in Buffalo for at least this season but are not guaranteed to be there in 2024. As of now, Ed Oliver is the only guaranteed defensive lineman to be there beyond this season. 

McDermott likes to have his defensive tackles take on double teams to allow the linebackers to fly around in the backfield and play sideline-to-sideline to create plays and build momentum. A player like Star Lotulelei who the Bills had on the roster up until 2020 (because he opted out that season), was able to force double teams which took away a blocker on the opposing offense. Ford could easily have that type of role which allows the players behind him to fly in and make a play. In other words, he would be doing the work that almost no one pays attention to. 

Ford is an almost no-risk, high reward type of player for the Bills this season. When the Bills are on defense and Ford is in the game, watch how he helps create a play without being the one to make the actual stop.