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The Buffalo Bills defense has continued to churn out positive results under head coach Sean McDermott. But Bleacher Report recently predicted how a canceled college football season could impact the Bills moving forward, and it has to do with that side of the ball.
With several veteran s across their defensive front, no college football could spell trouble for the Bills there, B/R predicts.
Here’s why:
The Bills have been slowly and properly building a strong foundation since head coach Sean McDermott took over the franchise. They made the postseason last season and could be considered the favorites to win the AFC East this fall.
Everything is progressing nicely. Success brings a lower draft slotting, though, and the Bills may not be in a position to address edge-rusher early in the process because of the class’ lack of first-round-caliber pass-rushers.
Trent Murphy is set to become a free agent. Mario Addison and Jerry Hughes will both be 33 next offseason. The Bills will have this year’s second-round pick, A.J. Epenesa, as the only long-term building block at the position.
At the upcoming NFL Draft, we truly have no idea what direction the Bills could potentially go in. But looking at the 2021 draft from this point in time, pass rusher could certainly be in play. Murphy is going to be a free agent, but he could be off the Bills even before the 2020 season if McDermott feels like another, cheaper backup option emerges during training camp. Hughes and Addison will still likely be around in 2021, but another pass rushing prospect can still be added. Like Epenesa in 2020, a future 2021 prospect can be eased into the lineup with these veterans still on the roster.
However, we really will need the 2020 regular season to see what position the Bills could address early in next offseason’s draft. The Bills have plenty of other needs already, such a tight end or cornerback, so we’ll check back to fully see where things fall.
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