Breaking down the all-time Buffalo Bills defensive ends/edge as voted by Bills Mafia

Bruce Smith: 1985 - 1999

For starters, it’s wild that Bruce Smith played with the Buffalo Bills for as long as he did and in the NFL.  Smith piled up an impressive 15 seasons and played 217 games with the Bills.  This is one reason I don’t see anyone breaking his career sack numbers either with the Bills or his career sack total of 200. There is something to be said for longevity in this league. Players at his position simply don't play this long anymore.

The closest active player is Buffalo’s own Von Miller.  He’s recorded 123.5 sacks in his career and is averaging just over ten sacks a season.  He’d have to play for another 8 years at that rate to break Bruce Smith’s record.  How about Aaron Donald, who is widely considered the greatest defensive tackle in history?  He is currently sitting with 103 career sacks.

When people talk about the greatest defensive lineman in NFL history, two names are commonly mentioned, Reggie White and Bruce Smith.  There are a few others that come up too, such as Deacon Jones but no one is close to Smith’s all-time sack record. Smith was a seven-time first-team All-Pro, three-time second-team All-Pro and voted to 11 Pro Bowl teams.

Smith was originally drafted by the Bills in 1985 and was the first overall pick.  Not many first overall picks actually lived up to the expectations that come with being the top pick, but Smith met and exceeded those expectations.