The Buffalo Bills have a strong defensive group, particularly at the defensive end, for 2024. But there isn’t a household name in that bunch that any opposing offensive coordinator would be afraid of. I hope Greg Rousseau becomes the superstar that his late first-round selection in 2021 should indicate he will be.
He is among the league’s best defensive ends when it comes to stopping the run, but if he stays healthy, he might step it up this season in terms of pass rush output. Regretfully, that is a prediction rather than a certainty. Next comes Von Miller, an older veteran who, depending on how he plays this season and whether he wants to play longer, may be in the final year or two of his career.
Miller was recovering from an injury that had interfered with his 2023 campaign. Will he appear more like this previous year or like Von before his injury? At this moment, it’s anyone’s estimate, but it appears more likely that he will resemble 2022 Miller before the accident.
A.J. Epenesa comes next. He has had a strong season the last two years, averaging 6.5 sacks per season. However, Epenesa doesn’t seem to be a big name danger. Although he is a reliable player who makes a positive contribution to this defensive line, it is unlikely that he will ever record 13–15 sacks annually and be a complete game-changer.It’s up for grabs who gets time as a depth option after Epenesa. Fifth-round rookie Javon Solomon has the potential to be a terrific pass rush specialist.
Once more, this is a prediction and a possibility rather than a certainty. Dawuane Smoot will be one of this line’s rotational edge rushers, along with Solomon. In good health, he yields comparable amounts as Epenesa. As mentioned, this is a respectable defensive end room overall, if not exceptional. This begs the question: what are Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott planning to do with this room in 2025? Here, there are numerous choices:
Although the Bills have invested a respectable sum of money in this defensive line, it is still not nearly up to par. In 2025, embrace free agency. They have eaten up some dead cap space for 2024 and freed up some cash for the future with the players they lost this off-season, whether through trades or cuts. Von Miller is one player the Bills may trade after the 2024 campaign, as was previously suggested.
This may prove advantageous considering Miller’s advanced age and recent injury. Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott might be keeping an eye on a hidden gem or possible cut candidates in the 2025 free agent class. With their cap flexibility and number of draft picks for 2025, they may work out a deal with a top pass rusher to support their defensive line in the latter stages of the season and the postseason.
For these Bills, free agency may be the best option, but selecting players for the 2025 draft may be a more appetizing choice. The 2025 class may be among the finest for defensive end players due to a wealth of elite potential, according to some draft experts. There are plenty of defensive end prospects that might be selected in the top 50, much to how wide receivers were selected in the last round.
Given Beane’s history of moving up in the draft and the number of draft picks he has secured for 2025, it’s possible that he may finally acquire an exceptional defensive end in 2025. After searching for it for the last four years, he and McDermott may have finally found it with this.
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