The Bills have the fifth-best defense in the NFL following the recent draft, according to Bleacher Report.
B/R acknowledged the Bills’ stout secondary. But also admits that a lack of sacks last season is the reason for keeping the group behind a few teams.
Here’s part of how B/R breaks it down:
The most important moves, however, were on the edge. Buffalo signed Mario Addison, who has had at least nine sacks and 12 quarterback hits in each of the last four seasons in Carolina.
The team also drafted Iowa’s A.J. Epenesa in the second round. Not only was Epenesa incredibly productive for the Hawkeyes, with at least 10.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in each of the last two seasons, but he can play both outside and inside, which should help make up for the loss of Jordan Phillips. So can Quinton Jefferson, who joined the Bills in free agency.
The secondary is mostly set. All-Pro corner Tre’Davious White will lock down one outside spot, while Levi Wallace is expected to man the other. Norman and Taron Johnson can split some of the duties at slot corner, with Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde at the safety spots over the top.
Buffalo, which had the 12th-most sacks in 2019, will need to generate more pressure to become an elite unit, but it has the personnel to succeed.
B/R praises the Bills’ additions of Josh Norman, AJ Klein and Vernon Butler as well. There’s potential these additions could help the Bills’ sack totals and ranking improve in such a list, but it’s a tough hill to climb. The top-four are good. units.
The Ravens are in four, while the top-three sees the Patriots and Steelers trail the 49ers for the No. 1 spot, respectively. Perhaps bad news: The Bills do face the Steelers, Patriots and 49ers next season. Some tough tests.
At No. 11, the Jets slot in just outside the top-10. The Dolphins are at No. 19.
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