Where does the Buffalo Bills defensive line rank entering the 2024 NFL season?

The Buffalo Bills have questions swirling around their defensive line as the start of the 2024 NFL season approaches. PFF recently released their “Top-32” series, in which they rank the top 32 players at each position. This includes edge rushers and the interior defensive line. Where does the Bills’ once lauded defensive line stand heading into next season?

We’ll start with Buffalo’s edge rushers; PFF only has one defensive end on the top-32 roster in Greg Rousseau. He’s rated the 25th best defender in the league, with PFF saying this about the lone Buffalo Bill: “He’s still looking to take the next step as a passer, as he has yet to eclipse double-digit sacks and recorded a victory rate of 15.5% in 2023.” Rousseau’s record is… fair. Rousseau hasn’t yet made the leap to becoming a premier passer, but his toughness and ability to stop runs is seriously underrated.

What’s interesting is the absence of Von Miller. Although it has been noted by many experts (and fans) across the NFL landscape, Miller is not the same player he was when he joined the Bills. But this is Von Miller. If he returns healthy and focused, he is one of the most dominant passers in NFL history.

When it comes to the interior of the defensive line, the Bills are doing slightly better than their edge rushers on the top-32 roster. Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones are both in attendance, with Oliver ranked 22nd and Jones ranked 24th. First, here’s what PFF has to say about Oliver: “Another player who may have never lived up to his expected potential, Oliver is coming off a career year in terms of pass rushes, racking up 72 quarterback pressures, including the playoffs. » They forget to mention the 9.5 sacks Oliver accumulated last season, which was tied for 25th in the entire NFL. And by PFF’s own metrics, among all interior defensive linemen in the NFL, he was tied for third in sacks last season, so Oliver’s ranking at 22nd seems a bit of a snub.

Here’s what PFF has to say about Jones: “Through nine games, he posted a team-best 80.9 PFF pass rush grade. He had 20 total pressures on just 152 assists and played well against the run. Anyone who watched the Bills defense without Jones last season was seriously missed when he was injured. And his stats back up the praise he deserves, in just 152 assists last season he had 3.0 sacks.

The Bills defensive line was once one of the deepest in the NFL. They had proven depth and a mix of efficient run stoppers and passers. Like the rest of the team, the defensive line is evolving. Now the young players they’ve drafted over the past few years need to start proving themselves as consistent starters.