The Buffalo Bills made it clear this off-season that they view themselves as contenders in the AFC. They traded their first-round draft pick for star receiver Stefon Diggs and signed multiple free agents as well. Buffalo has a short window to win with their roster while Josh Allen remains on a rookie contract. With many of Buffalo’s top talents hitting their prime years, Buffalo could be a team to beat in 2020. Championships are won in the off-season when teams’ general managers make decisions that will shape the potential super bowl winning roster. Bills general manager Brandon Beane has done a great job adding talent in the off-seasons he has had. Here are the Buffalo Bills’ top five 2020 off-season additions.
Buffalo Bills Top Five 2020 Off-Season Additions
Stefon Diggs, 26-years-old, Wide Receiver
The biggest addition the Bills made this off-season is Stefon Diggs. Diggs provides Buffalo the number one option they have been seeking for their offense. Diggs is an excellent route runner who excels at the deep ball. With a quarterback like Allen, having a deep threat receiver like Diggs allows for some serious offensive opportunities. Allen has a big chance to break out in 2020 with Diggs by his side and he still has John Brown and Cole Beasley as well. The Bills’ passing offense could emerge as a top unit in the AFC this season if Allen and Diggs can get working early. It would also be nice if Diggs and Brown could both repeat the 1,000-yard seasons they posted in 2019.
Mario Addison, 32-years-old, EDGE
Mario Addison has been one of the quietly dominant players in the NFL since 2014. Addison has recorded at least six sacks in each of his last six seasons. This includes nine or more in his last four. Addison played under Bills’ head coach Sean McDermott in Carolina and will reunite with him now. Addison brings a much-needed pass rush to the Bills’ defense. Buffalo’s defense impressed last season and, with an improved pass rush, could be the best defense in football in 2020.
A.J. Klein, 28-years-old, Linebacker
The Bills lost veteran linebacker, Lorenzo Alexander, via retirement this off-season. Adding Klein gives Buffalo a new veteran linebacker to fill their need at outside linebacker. Young linebackers Matt Milano and Tremaine Edmunds need someone to continue mentoring them as they develop into potential stars and Klein should be able to help. Klein is still able to contribute on the field as well. Klein has recorded 70 tackles in each of his last two seasons with the New Orleans Saints. Buffalo did a great job of re-tooling their impressive defense through the free agency, allowing them to address their offense in the draft.
Tyler Matakevich, 27-years-old, Linebacker
Matakevich doesn’t jump out as an impressive signing at face value, but he is an elite special teams’ player. Matakevich will contribute immediately to Buffalo’s special teams’ unit and could come up with some impressive plays this season. Look for Matakevich to be in on punt block duty for Buffalo this season. Matakevich blocked a punt for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017 in a Week 17 game against the Cleveland Browns. He has shown the ability to make plays and should do well on a Buffalo team that always seems to bring out the best in players.
Vernon Butler, 25-years-old, Defensive Tackle
Vernon Butler is another former Carolina Panther who plays on the defensive line that Buffalo added this off-season. Butler is a former first-round pick selected by Carolina in the final season that Sean McDermott coached there as defensive coordinator. Butler hasn’t fully lived up to his draft stock but has been a viable role player for the Panthers thus far. He had a small breakout this season with six sacks and eight quarterback hits. Butler could see a role similar to what Jordan Phillips had for Buffalo as a rotational pass-rushing defensive tackle. It may be difficult to replace Phillips’s 9.5 sacks. However, if he does, he would set himself up for a nice payday in two seasons when his current deal with Buffalo ends.
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