Bills Matt Milano 'Stuffs The Stats!': Enough for Top-5 LB Ranking?
The Buffalo Bills have consistently had one of the best defense's in the NFL in recent years, and the team's linebackers have played a key role in making that so.
One of the primary leaders of the Bills defense has been linebacker Matt Milano, who has quickly developed into the versatile chess piece most defensive coordinators desire.
The rapidly-ascending linebacker hit his peak in 2022, making the First-Team All Pro and Pro Bowl for the first time in his career. As a result, he earned a two-year, $28.3 million contract extension. And with his play, ESPN ranked him No. 4 among its top 10 linebacker rankings.
"He doesn't look imposing, but you look up at the end of the game and he's stuffed the stats in every area," an AFC scout told ESPN. "Been a productive player for a long time. Just has a ton of instincts and savvy."
Milano had 99 tackles, 12 of which were for a loss last season. He also had a career-high 11 passes defended and tied a career-best with three interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. ESPN also credited Milano with not allowing a touchdown despite being targeted 67 times in 2022.
Along with Milano, his former teammate, Tremaine Edmunds, was right ahead of him at No. 3.
Edmunds signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Chicago Bears this offseason. The two-time Pro Bowler had over 100 tackles in each of his five seasons with the Bills.
With Edmunds leaving in free agency, there's even more pressure on Milano to play at an All-Pro level. But if Milano's performance last season is any indication, he may be more than capable of shouldering that burden.
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