The Bills Need to Address Three Positions This Offseason

Need 2: Edge Rusher

Although it hasn’t been officially announced which formation the new Buffalo defensive coordinator, Jim Leonhard, will implement, it’s safe to assume it’ll be a 3-4. Some players will be switching positions this season due to the scheme change, but one constant remains: a lack of talent at the edge-rusher positions.

Since the 2016 season, the Bills have only had two players finish with double-digit sack totals. Those players were Lorenzo Alexander with 12.5 sacks in 2016 and Leonard Floyd with 10.5 sacks in 2023.

Along with wide receiver, edge rusher has been another top position the Bills have struggled to fill with a game-changing player. Under former head coach Sean McDermott, it seemed the team could never get a sack when it needed it most.

Brandon Beane has tried to get creative by signing veterans like Von Miller and Joey Bosa, but neither has met expectations given their price tags. 

Finding an edge rusher, especially in a 3-4 scheme, will be another costly move for the Bills. They’ll miss out on top draft prospects and will need to reallocate a lot of money to acquire one through a trade.

Re-signing Joey Bosa or A.J. Epenesa and selecting an edge rusher in the first or second round of the draft appears to be the best move for the team at this point.

Need 3: Linebacker

With key linebackers like Matt Milano and Shaq Thompson aging and becoming free agents, the Bills’ projected starters are now Terrel Bernard and Dorian Williams.

On paper, having these two start doesn’t seem too bad, but there’s a lack of depth behind them.

Bernard has missed 12 games over three years as a starter, including three playoff games, and Williams has never played a full season as a starter either. Entering next season with them as your only options in a 3-4 defense would be a concern.

It’s not out of the realm of possibility for the team to bring back either Milano or Thompson, but that can’t be Buffalo’s plan A. 

The good news is that linebackers generally don’t hold the same value as a wide receiver or edge rusher. It’ll be much easier to find talent in late day two or early day three at that position. 

If the team can target someone like Senior Bowl standout Kyle Louis or this year’s Dick Butkus award winner Jacob Rodriguez, they could solve many of their problems. A move like this would strengthen their current depth issues while also providing future insurance at the position.

While the Bills have many areas to improve, it can never be overstated that Josh Allen is a valuable asset. Hopeful that the new coaching staff will utilize him as McDermott once did, at least during the regular season, the other positions that need attention cannot be ignored.