The defense for the Buffalo Bills took a massive hit at various times last season due to multiple injuries and inconsistency. Don't get me wrong, the wide receiver room was not exactly the best help either, but the Buffalo defense has been the biggest liability for the team for many years now.
Even though the pass defense has been pretty good even through all of their injuries that they have went through, Buffalo's run-defense was atrocious, giving up over 136 yards per game. Not to mention, the pressure from the defense against quarterbacks was inconsistent as well.
Now that the Bills are switching to a 3-4 defense under Jim Leonhard, the scheme is going to look a lot more different. Throughout this offseason, fans were wondering how the defensive line was going to look at what additions could be coming. However, the primary nose tackle spot didn't feature any major additions.
Instead, the only defensive tackle that was added to the room that wasn't in Buffalo last season was Zane Durant, who the Bills drafted in the 5th round out of Penn State. It looks like the Bills is rolling with their current room that features players like Deone Walker, Ed Oliver, T.J. Sanders, DeWayne Carter, and Phidarian Mathis.
Even though the room looks all set, it wouldn't hurt the Bills to add one more player to the defensive line and an article from Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus (PFF) may have the answer on who the Bills could go and trade for before training camp.
Bills must strongly consider trading for one more defensive player before training camp
Locker listed 15 potential trade candidates as training camp approaches this summer and after June 1st, there could be some moves that are made whether it's trades or free agency signings. One trade candidate that Locker listed was defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton from the Washington Commanders, who could not only bring more depth to the defense but also provide a better pass-rush from the middle of the trenches.
"The 36th overall pick in 2024 hasn’t blossomed as Washington would’ve hoped, notching a career 50.0 overall PFF grade with a 38.6 PFF run-defense grade. Yet what has been encouraging is Newton’s pass-rushing, as his 9.3% pass-rush win rate placed in the 63rd percentile last year." said Locker.
"The Commanders inked former Texans interior defender Tim Settle to a three-year, $25.5 million contract during free agency, which only pushes Newton down the depth chart. The 23-year-old former Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year could garner attention for teams looking to bet on his upside." said Locker.
Drafted in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Newton hasn't been the run defender that the Commanders have hoped for. But his pass-rush could be a factor that the Bills should be looking into. It's one thing to have pressure coming off the edge, it's another thing to have it coming from the middle of the pocket. Buffalo doesn't excel well in that area.
Newton is going into the third year of his rookie contract and if the Commanders are willing to listen to offers for him, I don't see how the Bills don't atleast inquire about him to see what it would cost to bring him to Orchard Park. Buffalo needs better depth on the defensive line and with Newton not even in his prime yet, he would be a great asset to Leonhard's defense for years to come.
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