Bills: Why one controversial free agent is worth re-signing
One of the Buffalo Bills’ most difficult offseason decisions revolves around inside linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. Buffalo is going to have to part ways with a few key veterans in order to balance the salary cap for the 2023 season. If Buffalo elects to re-sign Edmunds, Spotrac projects his market value to hover around $11 million […]
One of the Buffalo Bills’ most difficult offseason decisions revolves around inside linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.
Buffalo is going to have to part ways with a few key veterans in order to balance the salary cap for the 2023 season. If Buffalo elects to re-sign Edmunds, Spotrac projects his market value to hover around $11 million per year.
The Bills already have plenty of money tied up at the linebacker position with Von Miller and Matt Milano inked for next season. Despite Edmunds’ pricey projection, he clearly elevates the Bills’ defense whenever he is on the field.
First and foremost, Edmunds is a tackling machine. He has led the Bills in tackles in four of his five seasons with a second-place finish in 2019. But it’s his impact in the passing game that makes him even more valuable.
In 2022, the Bills were .19 EPA worse against the pass when Edmunds was on the sideline versus when he was on the field. Though that number might not look like much, it’s roughly the difference between the NFL’s fourth-best defense against the pass compared to the 29th ranked pass defense in the league.
Edmunds is one of the few inside linebackers that makes a positive impact no matter the offense’s play call.
At the end of the day, Buffalo’s general manager Brandon Beane must figure out if there is an option out there, whether that be in the draft or the free agency pool, that is capable of filling Edmunds’ void in the middle of the defense.
Beane and the Bills will have to jump through hoops to keep some of the team’s top free agents, but Edmunds’ situation might be more simple than most are making it out to be.
Featured image via Mark Konezny – USA TODAY Sports
