This is the eighth in a series of position previews for the 2024 NFL draft. Today: Defensive ends.
The Buffalo Bills have not been wary of allocating major resources to their pass rush.
In 2020-21, the Bills used one first-round pick and two second-round selections to add Greg Rousseau (’21) and A.J. Epenesa (’20) and Boogie Basham (’21), respectively.
And in free agency, the Bills signed Von Miller to big money in March 2022 and Leonard Floyd to a one-year deal in June.
Might it be time to add reinforcements during this month’s draft? Yes. The data supports it.
Quarterbacks are expected to go with each of the first three picks to Chicago, Washington and New England, respectively. Believe it or not, that has happened only once since 2000 and only three times since 1970.
- January 2023 home divisional round playoff loss to Cincinnati: Only seven pass-rush “disruptions” (one sack, one knockdown and five pressures) of quarterback Joe Burrow per charting by The Buffalo News, the Bills’ second-lowest total of the season.
- January 2024 home divisional round playoff loss to Kansas City: Only six pass-rush “disruptions” (no sacks, two knockdowns and four pressures) of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tied for second-fewest of the season.
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The Bills are two years removed from trading up to draft cornerback Kaiir Elam. While Elam has navigated the ups and downs of the NFL, the Bills have rotated corners due to both evaluation and injuries. Now, they could be looking for depth.
In the biggest games, the Bills’ pass rush struggled.
Yes, the Bills increased their regular-season sack total from 40 (tied for 14th) to 54 (fourth) last year, but their current group of under-contract defensive ends accounted for only 11.5 of those sacks in ’23.
The Bills have the 28th pick in the first round on April 25 and could (should?) prioritize wide receiver after trading Stefon Diggs to Houston on Wednesday. In the second round, some of the candidates could include Washington’s Braden Trice, Western Michigan’s Marshawn Kneeland, Penn State’s Adisa Isaac and Alabama’s Chris Braswell.
The Bills’ current top four are Rousseau (five sacks last year), Miller (no sacks), Epenesa (6.5) and recently signed Casey Toohill (five sacks for Washington).
The key is Miller, who was shut out last year after debuting in Week 5 following ACL recovery.
The Buffalo Bills easily could use a late-round pick on a No. 3 tight end prospect, writes Mark Gaughan. If they do, expect it to be a Y-TE, someone who can block in-line.
“We’re hoping that he will look more like he did when we got him (in 2022),” General Manager Brandon Beane said at the scouting combine in February. “I would say (against) Miami, Pittsburgh and Kansas City (in the final three games), you saw flashes (from Miller).”
The first round is expected to be top heavy on the offensive side, which means the pass rushers will slide down the board. The top players are Alabama’s Dallas Turner, UCLA’s Laiatu Latu and Penn State’s Chop Robinson, but the class, overall, lacks depth.
Overall position ranking: 3/10.
Bills view. The Bills need to replace their sack leader after Floyd (10.5) signed with San Francisco in free agency. Epenesa was re-signed, and the other defensive ends under contract are Miller, Rousseau, Toohill, Kameron Cline and Kingsley Jonathan. The Bills have not drafted a defensive end since 2021.
Bills need ranking: 7/10.
Finding a running back with size who can convert short-yardage situations should be a consideration for the Bills on the third day of the draft.
The best. Alabama’s Dallas Turner checked into the scouting combine at 6-foot-3 and 247 pounds, a weight that means he will need an ultra-quick first step to be an effective run defender.
As a third-year junior, Turner was a first-team All-America selection and had 10 sacks and 53 total tackles.
Turner had a terrific scouting combine, leading the edge-rusher class in the 40-yard dash (4.46 seconds) and vertical jump (40.5 inches).
“There are many things that make me the player (I am) – my explosiveness and my versatility of being able to play off the ball and be on the ball, as well,” Turner said.
In 42 career games, Turner had 23.5 sacks and 120 tackles (33.5 for lost yardage).
The Buffalo Bills don't need a starting offensive tackle, but teams that do will find value in the first round of this month's NFL draft.
Turner could be the first defensive player drafted, as high as eighth to Atlanta if the Falcons don’t trade down.
Names to know. Florida State’s Jared Verse had no FBS offers out of high school, so he was off to FCS Albany, moving from a high school tight end to a dominant defensive end after gaining 40 pounds. Verse transferred to Florida State and had 18 sacks over two seasons. At the scouting combine, he ran the 40 in 4.58 seconds and led his position group in bench-press reps (31 on the 225-pound bar). Verse may not get past the Los Angeles Rams at No. 19.
Penn State’s Chop Robinson ran the 40 in 4.48 seconds at the scouting combine, and is highly rated because of his get-off and bend around the edge at 254 pounds. Robinson started his career as a linebacker at Maryland and played two years at Penn State as a defensive end. He had 7.5 sacks last year.
The Bills have three starters in place on the interior of their line in guards O’Cyrus Torrence and David Edwards and center Connor McGovern, who will slide over from guard to replace veteran Mitch Morse. However, depth at the position is a concern.
UCLA’s Laiatu Latu was declared medically retired at Washington in March 2021 because of a neck injury. Less than a year later, Latu transferred to UCLA and he played 25 games over two years. Latu, who has drawn comparisons to Jaelan Phillips of the Miami Dolphins, had 13 sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles last year for the Bruins. Latu will have an immediate role as a pass rusher, likely as a 3-4 outside linebacker.
Missouri’s Darius Robinson was mocked by some to the Bills at No. 28 before Diggs was traded. At 285 pounds, Robinson would be a big end for the Bills, but also a competent edge-setter against the run. He dropped 20 pounds last year to move from defensive tackle and had 8.5 sacks for the Tigers. At his size, Robinson would provide positional flexibility, able to slide back inside on third down.
There will be a good receiver available for the Bills to take with the 28th overall pick in the first round. There likely will be a good receiver available when pick No. 60 comes around in the second round, should the Bills stay in that spot.
Intriguing. Kansas’ Austin Booker played only 18 college games after mostly sitting for two years at Minnesota and playing one season for the Jayhawks. But it was quite the year. Booker was Big 12 first team and Defensive Newcomer of the Year after eight sacks. Listed at 240 pounds during the scouting combine, he will need time to fine-tune his pass-rush skills, but his athleticism makes him worth considering in the third round.
Sleeper. Michigan’s Jaylen Harrell played 46 games (31 starts) for the Wolverines and checked into the scouting combine at 250 pounds. He had 10 sacks and 78 total tackles last year, but wasn’t asked to do much as a run defender.
TOP 10 DEFENSIVE ENDS
Rk. Player, college Ht. Wt.
1. Dallas Turner*, Alabama 6-3 247
2. Jared Verse, Florida State 6-4 254
3. Laiatu Latu, UCLA 6-5 259
4. Chop Robinson*, Penn State 6-3 254
5. Darius Robinson, Missouri 6-5 285
6. Chris Braswell, Alabama 6-3 251
7. Bralen Trice, Washington 6-4 245
8. Marshawn Kneeland W. Michigan 6-3 268
9. Adisa Isaac, Penn State 6-5 247
10. Jonah Elliss*, Utah 6-2 248
*– Underclassman
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