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It's that time of year when GM Brandon Beane and the Bills have made some changes to the roster, as well as some additions in the hope of improving the team, adding competition, and depth.
Buffalo has done that ahead of the upcoming NFL Draft in order to address needs and select the best players available when they are on the clock.
The spotlight on defensive needs is front and center this offseason following a dominant Super Bowl performance by Philadelphia that shut down the same Chiefs team that knocked the Bills out in the AFC Championship game.
The first wave of free agency added some pieces, yet some areas remain that need to be addressed. With that, here are five questions the Bills must answer on defense:
Clock management and decision-making in important situations have improved steadily under head coach Sean McDermott, yet have continued to be an issue on occasion.
While the head coach assumes responsibility, his coaching staff is liable as well.
Though otherwise known for efficiency, this past season, the issue also came up on offense in some important game situations as well this past season, for example, as playcaller Joe Brady's been getting his coordinator "sea legs" back.
Between these instances on both sides of the ball, the team lost games this past season against the Houston Texans and the Los Angeles Rams that may have otherwise been won. The two games proved to have playoff seeding and home-field advantage implications by season's end.
Will the Bills' defense hold up their side of things?
That was the question last offseason.
In the loss against the Rams, as well as another earlier in the season against the Ravens, a familiar issue arose. The Bills' defense failed to get meaningful stops.
Offense has often kept the Bills in close games in the McDermott era, while the defense has received scrutiny for not being able to get key stops in key moments or remain consistent.
They've also historically struggled to stop the run under McDermott. Beane signed defensive tackle Star Lotulelei to a multi-year deal in 2018 to be a run stopper and force on the defensive line, which didn't end up working out.
Could the team find the difference makers this offseason to finally hold up their end of the bargain when it matters most? Time will tell.
One of those key areas that stood out last season was the Bills' poor defensive performance against opposing offenses in third-down situations.
The team struggled to get off the field on third down last season, which allowed opponents to extend drives and score. Buffalo ranked 29th in the league in third-down defense, and they allowed opponents to convert 43.8% of the time.
Those struggles carried over into the playoffs as well and are an important area that is in need of improvement.
Defensive tackle, cornerback, and edge rusher are each among Buffalo's top positions of need going into the draft, with safety being in that mix as well.
This year's NFL Draft is deep at the defensive tackle and defensive backs talent pool, which means a first-round run on top players at other positions could mean a slide at those two positions. Impact talent with starter potential could slide within range for Buffalo to go up and secure key positions. Defensive tackle and cornerback are two of them, where there is a clear need.
The team could add a long-term solution to the D-line by selecting a disruptive player with run-stopping abilities to play alongside tackle Ed Oliver. Buffalo signed defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi to a one-year deal and added versatile lineman and pass rusher Michael Hoecht on a multi-year deal, but some difference makers could fall to the Bills or within range for them to trade up in the second half of the draft that which might be hard to pass up.
They could also select a cornerback. In a trade prediction and sequence of events first predicted here at the BillsWire, Buffalo traded former 2022 first-round corner Kaiir Elam and brought back former Bills corners and McDermott favorites Dane Jackson and Tre White. Both players had their greatest success in McDermott's system and are models of the work ethic and team culture that he likes. They rejoined Buffalo on one-year deals, signaling that drafting a more NFL-ready corner to replace Elam and develop alongside two of the players they'd hoped Elam might someday replace as the next man up.
The pass rush is another area Beane has looked to strengthen. He added edge Joey Bosa in free agency, but might not be done. Edge may be a more likely position than linebacker, with OLB Von Miller still available to potentially re-sign with the team. The Bills' brass has shown interest in draft talent like defensive end Landon Jackson.
They have also bolstered the safety position with competition thanks to free agency addition Darrick Forrest and re-signing Damar Hamlin, and will be looking to second-year man Cole Bishop to step up into a more prominent role across from Taylor Rapp. They often select secondary players who can develop at either corner or safety, and their free agency signings give them the option to take the best players and prioritize other positions early in a deep secondary class if they need to.
Rousseau has had a steady development as a Bill. He reupped on a new deal that could look like a bargain as the 2025 campaign unfolds for Buffalo.
Each of the last couple of preseasons, it has been noted by analysts and members of the press that Rousseau appeared poised for a breakout season anytime now.
That may be the case, but while he has been one of the team's best defensive players, the breakout season hasn't happened. Yet.
In a rotation with Bosa and A.J. Epenesa that could wreak havoc on opponents' offensive lines and quarterback pockets, as well as the existing Bills defense plus Hoecht, Rousseau may break through this season.
If Miller rejoins the party or if the Bills draft a player like Jackson, it only increases the chances Groot takes the next step.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Buffalo Bills Sean McDermott defense
Continue reading...
Buffalo has done that ahead of the upcoming NFL Draft in order to address needs and select the best players available when they are on the clock.
The spotlight on defensive needs is front and center this offseason following a dominant Super Bowl performance by Philadelphia that shut down the same Chiefs team that knocked the Bills out in the AFC Championship game.
The first wave of free agency added some pieces, yet some areas remain that need to be addressed. With that, here are five questions the Bills must answer on defense:
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Will game management improve?
Clock management and decision-making in important situations have improved steadily under head coach Sean McDermott, yet have continued to be an issue on occasion.
While the head coach assumes responsibility, his coaching staff is liable as well.
Though otherwise known for efficiency, this past season, the issue also came up on offense in some important game situations as well this past season, for example, as playcaller Joe Brady's been getting his coordinator "sea legs" back.
Between these instances on both sides of the ball, the team lost games this past season against the Houston Texans and the Los Angeles Rams that may have otherwise been won. The two games proved to have playoff seeding and home-field advantage implications by season's end.
Will they get key stops?
Will the Bills' defense hold up their side of things?
That was the question last offseason.
In the loss against the Rams, as well as another earlier in the season against the Ravens, a familiar issue arose. The Bills' defense failed to get meaningful stops.
Offense has often kept the Bills in close games in the McDermott era, while the defense has received scrutiny for not being able to get key stops in key moments or remain consistent.
They've also historically struggled to stop the run under McDermott. Beane signed defensive tackle Star Lotulelei to a multi-year deal in 2018 to be a run stopper and force on the defensive line, which didn't end up working out.
Could the team find the difference makers this offseason to finally hold up their end of the bargain when it matters most? Time will tell.
Will there be improvement on third down?
One of those key areas that stood out last season was the Bills' poor defensive performance against opposing offenses in third-down situations.
The team struggled to get off the field on third down last season, which allowed opponents to extend drives and score. Buffalo ranked 29th in the league in third-down defense, and they allowed opponents to convert 43.8% of the time.
Those struggles carried over into the playoffs as well and are an important area that is in need of improvement.
Will there be more key additions?
Defensive tackle, cornerback, and edge rusher are each among Buffalo's top positions of need going into the draft, with safety being in that mix as well.
This year's NFL Draft is deep at the defensive tackle and defensive backs talent pool, which means a first-round run on top players at other positions could mean a slide at those two positions. Impact talent with starter potential could slide within range for Buffalo to go up and secure key positions. Defensive tackle and cornerback are two of them, where there is a clear need.
The team could add a long-term solution to the D-line by selecting a disruptive player with run-stopping abilities to play alongside tackle Ed Oliver. Buffalo signed defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi to a one-year deal and added versatile lineman and pass rusher Michael Hoecht on a multi-year deal, but some difference makers could fall to the Bills or within range for them to trade up in the second half of the draft that which might be hard to pass up.
They could also select a cornerback. In a trade prediction and sequence of events first predicted here at the BillsWire, Buffalo traded former 2022 first-round corner Kaiir Elam and brought back former Bills corners and McDermott favorites Dane Jackson and Tre White. Both players had their greatest success in McDermott's system and are models of the work ethic and team culture that he likes. They rejoined Buffalo on one-year deals, signaling that drafting a more NFL-ready corner to replace Elam and develop alongside two of the players they'd hoped Elam might someday replace as the next man up.
The pass rush is another area Beane has looked to strengthen. He added edge Joey Bosa in free agency, but might not be done. Edge may be a more likely position than linebacker, with OLB Von Miller still available to potentially re-sign with the team. The Bills' brass has shown interest in draft talent like defensive end Landon Jackson.
They have also bolstered the safety position with competition thanks to free agency addition Darrick Forrest and re-signing Damar Hamlin, and will be looking to second-year man Cole Bishop to step up into a more prominent role across from Taylor Rapp. They often select secondary players who can develop at either corner or safety, and their free agency signings give them the option to take the best players and prioritize other positions early in a deep secondary class if they need to.
Will Greg Rousseau emerge?
Rousseau has had a steady development as a Bill. He reupped on a new deal that could look like a bargain as the 2025 campaign unfolds for Buffalo.
Each of the last couple of preseasons, it has been noted by analysts and members of the press that Rousseau appeared poised for a breakout season anytime now.
That may be the case, but while he has been one of the team's best defensive players, the breakout season hasn't happened. Yet.
In a rotation with Bosa and A.J. Epenesa that could wreak havoc on opponents' offensive lines and quarterback pockets, as well as the existing Bills defense plus Hoecht, Rousseau may break through this season.
If Miller rejoins the party or if the Bills draft a player like Jackson, it only increases the chances Groot takes the next step.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Buffalo Bills Sean McDermott defense
Continue reading...
