The Buffalo Bills sink money and draft assets into their defensive line yearly. In 2022, the Bills' front four was solid. They were getting after the quarterback and wreaking havoc. Gregory Rousseau had four sacks through the first four games of that season and Von Miller was worth every penny the Bills forked over to lure him to Buffalo. Then things started to slow down for Buffalo's defensive front, where injuries played a role. Miller was lost for the season and Rousseau managed only 2.5 sacks from Week Five.
Last season, Buffalo brought in free agent Leonard Floyd, who was fantastic through most of the season, recording 10.5 sacks but over the final five games including the playoffs, he had zero sacks. DaQuan Jones and Ed Oliver were playing like All-Pros early, but Jones was lost for the majority of the season, and in the team's playoff loss to the Chiefs, the Bills defensive front disappeared.
I realize some fans don't want to blame it on injuries but the injuries to Miller in 2022 and Jones in 2023, truly affected how well the defensive line was playing. Miller's injury not only ended his 2022 season, but it greatly impacted his effectiveness last season. Many fans are blaming Brandon Beane for the terrible contract given to Miller too. I get it, but let's be honest. If Miller didn't get injured in year one, he would have finished that first season likely with double-digit sacks and I have no reason to believe he wouldn't have been just as effective this season, fans would be praising Beane for the signing.
All that said, I do think the Bills need to revamp their defensive line. I believe Miller will be better next season, about 18 months removed from his ACL injury. I also like DaQuan Jones to return but both of these players are in the last couple of seasons in their careers. Outside of Ed Oliver, there isn't a pass rusher that scares opposing offenses. Sure A.J. Epenesa had 6.5 sacks but his stats come in bunches, similar to Gabe Davis, there just isn't any consistency. Rousseau is similar, except he has become one of the better run-defenders in the game. But what Buffalo needs is their T.J. Watt or Miles Garrett. Someone that game after game, play after play is a constant threat to destroy a play in the backfield off the edge. Will the Bills use another high pick on an edge defender? If they do, here are five players to keep an eye on during the NFL Combine.
Chris Braswell, Alabama
Chris Braswell is 6'3" and weighs 255 pounds. He has a reported 40-time of 4.5 seconds. He played 966 snaps over 38 games in three seasons. In 2023, he played more than half of those snaps, totaling 13 sacks, 10 quarterback hits, and 31 quarterback hits. He has 18 career sacks in college, so my only concern with Braswell is a lack of production outside of the one season. Some have him projected to go late in the first round, to somewhere in the second.
NFLDraftbuzz.com has him with a grade of 85.9, ranking him the third-best edge defender, and 56th overall prospect in the draft. Pro Football Focus graded him an 81.0, ranked him fourth among edge defenders, and 35th overall prospect. Some scouts see him as an edge, while others see him fitting in as a linebacker.
Adisa Isaac, Penn State
Adisa Isaac is 6'4" and weighs 254 pounds. He's only logged 1,168 snaps but also suffered an Achilles injury in 2021. He returned in 2022 and recorded 457 snaps, adding four sacks and 32 total pressures. In 2023, he recorded nine sacks and 31 total pressures. Two years removed from the Achilles injury, with 13 sacks and 63 quarterback pressures, I think it's safe to say he's fully recovered. He's projected as a second-round draft pick.
NFLDraftbuzz.com gave him a grade of 85.8, ranked him fifth among edge defenders, and the 59th overall draft prospect. Pro Football Focus graded him an 81.7, ranked fourth among edge defenders and 42nd overall prospect. Scouting reports have attributed him with both a high IQ and motor.
Chop Robinson, Penn State
Chop Robinson is 6'3" and weighs 250 pounds. Robinson began his collegiate career at Maryland but decided to transfer to Penn State after his freshman year. Robinson doesn't have big-time stats that stand out, recording only 10 total sacks over the last three years over 1,021 defensive snaps. He also added 16 QB hits, and 61 hurries, 34 of which came in 2022. He's projected as a second-rounder,
NFLDraftbuzz.com gave him a grade of 86.8, ranked him the second-best edge defender, and 35th overall prospect in the draft. Pro Football Focus graded him 90.8, sixth-best edge defender, and 44th overall prospect. I find it interesting that the two sites think differently of Robinson, as far as where they ranked him. That said, the lack of production is a concern for me.
Darius Robinson, Missouri
Darius Robinson is 6'5" and weighs 296 pounds. He played five seasons with Missouri, totaling 1,458 snaps over 47 games. The sack numbers aren't very high though, recording 13 sacks and 63 pressures, 36 of those pressures came last season. Again, the lack of sack production is a concern. Robinson is projected to go in the fourth round, but others have him going earlier.
NFLDraftbuzz.com gave him a grade of 82.6, ranked him 25th among defensive linemen, and 121st overall prospect. Pro Football Focus graded him with an 83.1, ranked seventh-best edge defenders, and 45th overall. Robinson is another player that is viewed very differently by scouts and that is a concern as well.
Jonah Ellis, Utah
Johan Ellis is 6'2" and weighs 246 pounds. He logged 1,085 snaps over 31 games in three seasons. He's projected as a second rounder but again, other sites have him later too. In his three seasons, he recorded 19 sacks, 13 of which came last season as a junior. He also recorded 41 quarterback pressures in 2023 but will that translate to the NFL?
NFLDraftbuzz.com graded him with an 86.3, fourth-best edge defender, and 47th overall prospect. Pro Football Focus gave him a grade of 84.7, the eighth-ranked edge defender, and 52nd overall draft prospect.
After going through these players and digging into the numbers a bit, there are some solid edge defenders available in this draft; however, if Buffalo wants to get a potentially elite edge defender, I think they will need to get them in the first round. Most fans want a wide receiver in the first round, but the Bills need to rebuild their defense with youthful talent and very good receivers will be available in the later rounds.