Bills have a glaringly obvious offseason need after the heartbreaking loss in the AFC Championship Game
With the Senior Bowl fully under way, it's a great way for Bills fans to turn the page on the heartbreaker in the AFC Championship Game and start getting a look at some prospects. The loss to Kansas City put a couple roster needs for next season in full view, but none more than the need […]
With the Senior Bowl fully under way, it's a great way for Bills fans to turn the page on the heartbreaker in the AFC Championship Game and start getting a look at some prospects.
The loss to Kansas City put a couple roster needs for next season in full view, but none more than the need for difference makers on the defensive line — especially off the edge.
Some of it was scheme, but some of it was simply not making an impact by the edge rushers. Greg Rousseau, the 2021 first round pick by the Bills who showed flashes of brilliance throughout the season, was essentially a non-factor. Rousseau got one pressure and two tackles, while recording a horrific pass rush win percentage of only 1.7%. He was absent. It was a horrible time for a truly horrible game, where he often was caught out of position and not making any kind of positive impact.
A.J. Epenesa was about the same. One pressure and one QB hit on a 2.5% win rate.
Von Miller was the most successful pass rusher of the edges, getting two pressures, two QB hits, and had a 10% win rate (still not good).
It was glaringly obvious in this game that the Bills don't have a guy on the defensive front that is capable of taking over in big moments. For Rousseau in particular, it's becoming a disappointing trend in the playoffs.
The edge position needs to be addressed in a major way, and it should be done in the type of fashion as when Brandon Beane signed Miller to the massive contract prior to the 2022 season. Unfortunately, injuries took Miller out of his peak production, and now at 35 years old, he's starting to slow down.
Still, the move was the right type of swing to make. Miller will be a surefire Hall of Famer and should go in on the first ballot with the 16th-most sacks in NFL history. He's only three sacks behind Lawrence Taylor.
If Beane isn't going to make a big trade for a big name pass rusher, then he better strike gold in this year's NFL Draft. If not, this will be a trend that continues into next year, and there's no time to waste. Josh Allen's prime is now. It's time to win.
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