Here is Bills Wire’s position-by-position breakdown of the team’s roster, continuing with the defensive line, including the season that was and projecting forward:
Much like the rest of the team, the Buffalo Bills defensive line took a major step forward from their 2018 performance. The team improved from 26th in sacks to seasons ago to 12th last season. They also improved from 17th to 10th in rushing yards allowed per game.
The unit was quite disruptive against opposing offensive linemen all year. Jordan Phillips had a breakthrough season, registering 9.5 sacks, good for second in the NFL among defensive tackles. Rookie Ed Oliver grew throughout the season, justifying his top-10 draft slot, registering five sacks. Star Lotulelei had a strong second half of the season, occupying blocks and causing problems against double teams.
The defensive ends also caused problems, as Jerry Hughes, Trent Murphy, and Shaq Lawson combined for 16 sacks. Lawson had his best season as a pro, registering 6.5 sacks. Hughes, while only credited with 4.5 sacks in the regular season, consistently put pressure on quarterbacks. He sacked Deshaun Watson three times in the Wild Card matchup.
The unit was an integral part of the team’s top-10 defensive ranking this year.
Cap situation
Entering the offseason, the defensive line group commands the largest cap hit among any position group on the Bills, as highlighted on Spotrac.
Lotulelei enters the middle of his five-year deal that he signed in 2018. He will count $10.1 million against the team’s salary cap, the second-highest figure on the team. Continuing with the interior players, Ed Oliver’s cap hit shifts to $4.4 million next year. Harrison Phillips, who missed most of the season due to injury, enters the third year of his rookie deal costing the Bills just under one million dollars against the cap. Depth lineman Vincent Taylor enters the final year of his contract at a cost of $735,000 against the salary cap.
Defensive ends Jerry Hughes and Trent Murphy command a large chunk of the cap hit this year. Murphy enters the final year of a three-year deal with a cap hit of $9.78 million. He’s been a bit underwhelming, so this is a big season for the veteran. Hughes signed an extension to keep him in Buffalo for two more seasons. Darryl Johnson and Mike Love are under contract through next year.
Buffalo has three players who are unrestricted free agents next year: Lawson, Phillips, and defensive tackle Corey Liuget.
The future
This might be the group that undergoes the biggest change over the offseason.
Lawson and Jordan Phillips made major contributions this past season to the defensive line. However, with over $29 million in cap space tied up by Lotulelei, Hughes, and Murphy, the Bills may be hesitant to dedicate more money to this unit. Lawson and Phillips, even with their productivity this year, they may command big bucks in the free market.
Thus, Buffalo will need to replace their productivity in a cost-effective manner. If the Bills were impressed with Liuget’s work, the could re-sign him. If the Bills test the market, they will most likely find players who will command the type of money that Phillips would receive. In that case, they would just sign Phillips.
A healthy Harrison Phillips would also fill the void if Jordan Phillips were to leave.
Buffalo may look to find a pure pass rusher. Murphy enters the final year of his deal and Hughes is entering the twilight of his career. Some have clamored for Jacksonville’s Yannick Ngongue, but that is quite a long shot. A better option could be dedicated an early draft pick to the defensive line. LSU’s K’Lavon Chaisson or Iowa’s AJ Epenesa could be viable options at the end of the first round. Drafting a rookie in the first round would also give the player some time to acclimate to the NFL, just in the same manner that we saw Oliver’s growth over the second half of his rookie season.
[lawrence-related id=54236,54230,54185]