A safety turned linebacker at Boston College, it should be no surprise to see Matt Milano — the Buffalo Bills’ fifth-round pick in 2017 — excel in coverage. He was undersized heading into the NFL, and lacked as a run-stopper, measuring in at 6-foot, 221-pounds. His saving grace, as a prospect, was his ranginess as a linebacker. Nonetheless, selecting him was a bit of gamble.
It turns out, general manager Brandon Beane hit, and he did so in a big way. In just his second year as a pro, Milano led all NFL off-ball linebackers (minimum 300 snaps) in opposing passer rating.