Ranking the Top 5 Defensive Players the Bills Will Play in the 2024 NFL Season

We’ve already looked at the four best offensive players the Buffalo Bills will face throughout the 2024 NFL season, so now it’s time to shed some light on the defense. Here are the five best defensive players the Bills will need to defeat throughout the upcoming campaign.

Arizona Cardinals defensive end Budda Baker is one of the best safeties in the NFL, and the Bills can see that in Week 1. Baker is incredibly versatile; he is aligned both in the box and at free safety, excelling at both. He’s not putting up stellar numbers, which is because he’s easily the best player on one of the worst defenses in the NFL. Let’s take a look at these numbers: Over the last four seasons, he’s thrown five interceptions, which is impressive, but he’s never led safeties in that category. He is an exceptional tackler though, in just 12 games last season he made 87 total tackles, and throughout his career he usually hovers around or above 100 total tackles.

Although he doesn’t have stellar numbers, during his career he has been voted to the Pro Bowl six times, selected to the All-Pro First Team twice and the All-Pro Second Team once. He also led the NFL in tackles during the 2019 season with an impressive 147 tackles.

“Josh Allen, Josh Allen, Josh Allen.” -Stefon Diggs.

While the former Bills receiver was referring to quarterback Josh Allen, the quote still applies to Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Allen. Damn, that’s a lot of Josh Allen.

The defensive end was tied for second in the league in sacks last season with 17.5. He also had two forced fumbles and also intercepted Bengals quarterback Jake Browning. Allen mixes his production with elite size at his position, standing at 6-foot-5, and he is an incredible athlete. He possesses both power and speed, which has helped him become an elite passer. Allen is also used to playing against the Bills; in two games against Buffalo, he totaled nine tackles, a sack, two pass deflections and an interception.

The Williams brothers are two of the best defenders on one of the best defenses in the NFL, the tone of unity set by the younger Quinnen in the trenches. Williams is one of the best defensive tackles in the league; he had 5.5 sacks, a forced fumble and an interception last year. While those numbers might not jump out at you, he’s had 33 quarterback pressures.

Due to being a division opponent, Williams has faced the Bills ten times. In those ten games, he totaled 28 tackles and 5.5 sacks.

Quinnen is a threat on the defensive front and has proven to frustrate quarterback Josh Allen.

Moving on to his older brother, Quincy Williams. Quincy joined the Jets in 2021 after a mediocre start to his career in Jacksonville. He landed in New York, where he became a standout linebacker with 139 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception last season. Now let’s look at his stats against the Bills: in six games, he has 37 tackles.

While he doesn’t bother Allen too much in the pocket, he is an excellent run blocker. In two games last season, the Bills averaged just 114.5 rushing yards.

Fred Warner is the best linebacker in the NFL. Simply, there’s nothing he can’t do on the defensive end of the floor. He is exceptional in pass coverage; he had four interceptions last season, which led all linebackers. He can also stop the run, has caused four fumbles and 132 tackles. On top of all that, he also had three sacks.

As mentioned before, there is nothing he can’t do. It will take an exceptional game plan from Joe Brady, and the Bills offense will have to execute at an incredible level to neutralize Warner.

This article does not include: CB Jalen Ramsey and S Javon Holland of the Miami Dolphins, DE Nick Bosa and S Talanoa Hufanga of the 49ers, or LB Roquan Smith of the Baltimore Ravens. It will take a lot of great game planning from Joe Brady and high-level execution from the Bills offense.