Who’s your defensive surprise of the year?

[Billsfed1]

Deonte Walker for me.  

 

I think the kid has a ton of potential.  Probably sees a fair amount of snaps when we play contenders that are run heavy or try to expose that aspect of our game.

 

The other player I’ve got…Milano

 

I think this is his best year in football given the talent around him. 

 

Who do you see as a big surprise on defense this year?

 

Also I think the suspensions do actually work in our favour if the guys are disciplined and ready to roll week 7.

[TFBillsfan]

Would love to see Bosa be a consistent disrupter at DE. If he can stay healthy, it would be a dynamic on our DL that we haven’t had in a very long time! 

[JJGauna]

I think Hairston is going to take off with this defense, plus with an improved pass rush there should be more balls for the pickings. Hopefully we drafted the anti-Elam.

[Ralonzo]

Jordan Hancock if Taron misses any time. Hoping he takes Cam Lewis' role, and that he knows that on 4th down you KNOCK IT DOWN 

[Richard Noggin]

Deone Walker's strength at this point in his development is not really run defense. To date, he's been much better rushing the passer. 

 

2023 college tape, Senior Bowl tape, injury recovery with NFL strength and conditioning, plus the promise of intensive NFL coaching, projects a high ceiling overall for Walker. But he's not a plug-and-play run stuffer at all right now. 

[GASabresIUFan]

Good surprise or bad surprise?

[Richard Noggin]

8 minutes ago, JJGauna said:

I think Hairston is going to take off with this defense, plus with an improved pass rush there should be more balls for the pickings. Hopefully we drafted the anti-Elam.

 

2 minutes ago, Ralonzo said:

Jordan Hancock if Taron misses any time. Hoping he takes Cam Lewis' role, and that he knows that on 4th down you KNOCK IT DOWN 

 

Not to mention Dorian Strong, who just feels like a Benford-ish fit if he brings it. That's a serious infusion of high-end DB talent/traits/pedigree/production. Along with Forrest entering the S competition; hope he gets a fair shake at it. 

 

They identified DL and DB deficits and filled them in a draft nicely designed to do so. I wonder if a pure S pick was at any point tempting.

 

CHECK THIS ANALOGY DAMN: drafting a true S in first half of 2025 draft could have been blocked by the presence of Bishop (2nd rounder year before) and Rapp (decent starter signed for 2 more years), the same way Coleman (2nd rounder year before) and Samuel (signed for 2 more years) could have blocked a more significant draft investment at WR, even though WR is a much more premium position than S, and Coleman and Samuel have not done a ton for the Bills to date. 

 

The Bills lean pretty heavily on player development. Pessimists will say that kind of hope isn't a strategy. Optimists will say that guys drafted on the first two days are just that certain set of circumstances away from outgrowing their ceilings. 

[Turbo44]

Forest - nobody’s talking about this signing but he may be the best safety on our roster

[stevestojan]

Tre White comeback player of the year. 

[Alphadawg7]

55 minutes ago, Billsfed1 said:

Deonte Walker for me.  

 

I think the kid has a ton of potential.  Probably sees a fair amount of snaps when we play contenders that are run heavy or try to expose that aspect of our game.

 

The other player I’ve got…Milano

 

I think this is his best year in football given the talent around him. 

 

Who do you see as a big surprise on defense this year?

 

Also I think the suspensions do actually work in our favour if the guys are disciplined and ready to roll week 7.

I think we see more out of Bosa than I think some expect in a bit of a resurgence season for him with how deep our DL is and how the rotations will help keep him fresh and healthy.  

 

I agree on Deone Walker, I think he’s going to be rotating but will be in on some important moments come playoff time using his length with Groot and Landon to not only step up the run D, but also to wreak havoc on passing lanes all that height and length.  

 

 

[Special K]

I'm going to go with Cole Bishop taking a big developmental step in year 2.....that injury in training camp really set back his progress, but I thought he played better the more reps he got......

 

 

Edited 15 hours ago by Special K

[MrEpsYtown]

I think Michael Hoecht is going to crush it when he comes off the suspension. With Bosa and Landon Jackson and such I kind of almost forgot about him. He will be all over the field making plays and will be a shot in the arm for the team. He should be fresh and hungry with something to prove. 

[GunnerBill]

I think TJ Sanders is going to be a beast even in limited playing time. When Ed started to play well down the stretch last year the difference in our defense was noticeable and when he came off the field the interior penetration was non-existent. I think signing Ogunjobi and drafting Sanders tells you Beane knows that.

 

I can well imagine an offensive line that has spent all game trying to hold off Ed just relaxing slightly thinking the job is done and then TJ eating. TJ to out sack Ed in fewer snaps is definitely one of my bolds for next year.... and the board will totally over react as a result with "cut Ed he is a bum!" But Milton Williams had more sacks than Jalen Carter last season. It doesn't mean he is better. There is just an opportunity for those rotational guys when the first choice rush package has worn a line down. 

[Pete]

6 hours ago, Ralonzo said:

Jordan Hancock if Taron misses any time. Hoping he takes Cam Lewis' role, and that he knows that on 4th down you KNOCK IT DOWN 

Jordan Hancock will eventually take Tarons job imo.  Maybe not this season.  But soon

[Pete]

6 hours ago, Turbo44 said:

Forest - nobody’s talking about this signing but he may be the best safety on our roster

People are really sleeping on Forest.  I never understood those who prioritized safety in the draft.  Rapp got extended.  Cole was a 2nd round pick, who missed training camp.  Hamlin has experience. Cam Lewis can play Safety.  Forest will surprise many.  And we just drafted Jordan Hancock.  Safety is decently filled.  Safety is probably the easiest D position to get adequate play.  CB, Edge, LB is a lot more nuanced then playing high and low safety’s imo

[LyndonvilleBill]

Groot, Walker, Sanders, Jackson. That's a wall right there.

 

I am picturing a lot of quick passes and quite a few tipped passes this year which will lead to interceptions. I'd say our LB's are going to have a very good year. Milano has had a rough couple of years. Hopefully he will come back to form. Bernard has been great. But I think Williams will be the surprise on D this year. He'll get more opportunities and will take full advantage. 😁

[H2o]

I don't think it's necessarily gonna be a who, but more so a what. I think the Bills defense will not only be top 3 in sacks, but also top 3 in takeaways. Opposing QB's are going to lose sleep when they see us next on the schedule. 

Edited 9 hours ago by H2o

[ProcessTruster]

7 hours ago, TFBillsfan said:

Would love to see Bosa be a consistent disrupter at DE. If he can stay healthy, it would be a dynamic on our DL that we haven’t had in a very long time! 

Bosa.  Other than him, the D is no more productive than last year (which was very productive in turnovers, etc)

[Chandler#81]

Joe Marino and Chris Trapasso break down our Draft picks. Worth the watch! This COULD  be a Super season!

 

[SoMAn]

Kaiir Elam's inactive roster spot will be much improved