The Buffalo Bills have invested heavily in their defensive line under general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott. Given the heavy rotation that McDermott and defensive coordinator/assistant head coach Leslie Frazier prefer to deploy, this investment makes sense. However, that rotation coupled with the investment (both financial and in NFL Draft capital) leads to a bit of a disconnect, as fans tend to see such highly priced players and expect gaudy stat lines.
Today we look at the interior defensive line—where one return could spark a series of improvements.
Ed Oliver
Contract status for 2021: Signed; third year of rookie contract ($5,335,952 cap hit; $11,561,229 dead-cap charge if cut)
Age: 23 (24 on 12/12/2021)
2020 Playing time: 16 games (16 starts), 541 defensive snaps (50.