3 Bills on defense who need to step up in 2020

Three players on the Buffalo Bills defense that need to step up in 2020.

Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

DT Ed Oliver

Following some recent offseason headlines, Ed Oliver is going to want to make them a thing of the past with a productive 2020 season. But even without those, Oliver should still push for a better season.

In 2020, Oliver was a rookie and there certainly seemed to be a learning curve. Toward the middle of the year, he finally started to flash the talents that made him a first-round pick. Oliver finished his first season with a forced fumble and five sacks. He’s essentially being tasked with replacing Jordan Phillips next season, though. Phillips led the Bills with 9.5 sacks a year ago. Buffalo didn’t keep Phillips directly because of Oliver. The team wanted their first rounder to get more playing time. It’s a plan that makes sense on paper, but Oliver has to show that the front office was right for making that decision.

Plus, in general, top-tier players should take a leap in stats from their rookie season to Year 2. Make it happen.