Defensive outlook for the Bills in 2022

The Bills had the No. 1 defense in the 2021 NFL season. They finished ranked first in the entire league in the following categories: total defense (272.8), yards allowed per game, total yards per play (4.6), total passing yards per game (163.0), passing yards per play (4.65), first downs allowed per game (16.7), third-down conversion rate allowed (30.8%) and points per game (17.0). 

The Bills lost Tre ’Davious White for the home stretch of the 2021 season due to an ACL injury on Thanksgiving against the Saints. This offseason they also lost their No. 2 cornerback, Levi Wallace, who signed with the Steelers. Wallace filled in for White last season while White was injured, which pushed Dane Jackson into the no. 2 spot. The timetable for White’s return is now up in the air, but he will be back at some point during the 2022 season.

For those reasons, Buffalo drafted Kaiir Elam, cornerback from Florida, in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. This addition is great for Buffalo following the Bills’ problems with their secondary depth in 2021.

The Bills also had some defensive line problems in 2021. They were mostly smaller than opposing offensive lines and Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott made sure to beef up the d-line this offseason. They went out and signed Shaq Lawson and Jordan Phillips, who both return to the Bills after leaving following the 2019 season.

The Bills also signed Tim Settle from Washington and DaQuan Jones from Carolina. But the biggest offseason move for the Bills was the signing of Von Miller from the Rams, which brings in an All-Pro level edge rusher that can get to the quarterback. More importantly, he can finish plays with a sack – something the Bills lacked in big moments like the AFC Divisional Round game against Kansas City.

Along with these d-line signings, the Bills have exercised the fifth-year option for Ed Oliver, who is primed to be a menace on the interior with the new additions around him.

The defense ranked number one last season and they look to be even better this season. They will no longer be pushed around in the trenches due to beefing up the interior and the secondary will have better depth, with hopes of Tre’Davious White returning early in the season. The Bills should be one of the league’s best defenses again in 2022.