The Buffalo Bills defense has carried the team to success in recent years and there isn’t any reason to think the unit can’t do so again.
But Bleacher Report still thinks the team’s “X-Factor” for the 2020 season is actually on that side of the ball rather than the offensive side. B/R pegged cornerback Josh Norman as that guy.
Here’s why:
The Buffalo Bills’ trade for Stefon Diggs was one of the most notable moves of the offseason and for good reason. But he will be less of an X-factor and more of the No. 1 receiver quarterback Josh Allen has lacked.
The biggest X-factor will be at cornerback, where the Bills added Josh Norman.
Norman fell out of favor with Washington last season and was eventually benched. However, he was a first-team All-Pro in 2015 and a strong starter during his first couple of seasons with the D.C. squad. If he can regain that form, he’ll be a tremendous No. 2 opposite star cornerback Tre’Davious White.
White should be a Defensive Player of the Year candidate in 2020. He tied with Stephon Gilmore and Anthony Harris for the most picks (six) and had just three fewer pass breakups than Gilmore’s league-leading 20. With Norman, Buffalo’s fourth-ranked passing defense could jump to No. 1.
Sure, Norman could be a player that the Bills lean on, but he has to earn a job first, too. Levi Wallace has performed well, at times, during the spell across from Tre’Davious White. Norman will have to earn his starting spot there from Wallace and EJ Gaines, who also signed with the Bills this offseason. All three have had successful spells playing in Sean McDermott’s defensive scheme.
But if Norman does return to a decent form, watch out. The Bills’ already stout secondary could somehow find a way to be even better.
In terms of the rest of the AFC East and guys who could be impactful to some of Buffalo’s most important foes, here’s who B/R thought will be other X-Factors in the division:
- Dolphins: LB Kyle Van Noy
- Patriots: QB Jarrett Stidham
- Jets: OL Mekhi Becton
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