Linebacker Matt Milano anchored the middle of the Buffalo Bills defense for close to a decade, but now the former All-Pro is still searching for his next NFL home.
The Bills opted not to bring back Milano after the expiration of his contract, and the injury-struck linebacker is still on the open market more than a month after the start of free agency. While it’s clear where Milano will end up next, the Bills are also facing question marks about the future of their linebacking corps.
Matt Milano Has Yet to Find a Home
Though he has been a productive linebacker with good speed and athleticism, Milano has also been plagued by injuries in recent seasons. He appeared in only 21 total games over the last three seasons, making just 3.5 sacks during that time.
The Bills have moved on from several of their longtime defensive starters this offseason, releasing cornerback Dane Jackson and trading nickel corner Taron Johnson. Fellow cornerback Tre’Davious White remains unsigned, while edge rusher A.J. Epenesa has also hit free agency.
Some analysts believe the Bills will look for a replacement for Milano in this month’s NFL draft. The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner predicted the Bills would land Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez with the No. 26 overall pick, noting that the converted quarterback is now considered one of the top linebackers in this year’s draft class.
”A former dual-threat quarterback, Rodriguez is another ascending talent who hasn’t been at his position long. However, he’s extremely instinctive and a natural fit inside the middle of a defense. He’s a bit light, but his eyes are like tractor beams for the ball,” Baumgardner wrote.
Rodriguez had a strong final season at Texas Tech, racking up 128 total tackles with four interceptions and seven forced fumbles. If the Bills were to draft Rodriguez, his big-play ability could help fill some of the void left by Milano’s expected departure.
Bills Face Questions Over Roster
The Bills have also seen many longtime veterans on offense hit free agency only to receive little interest. That includes returning receiver Gabe Davis.
Reporter Ryan Miller of the Democrat & Chronicle noted that Bills owner Terry Pegula defended the roster when firing head coach Sean McDermott, saying he believed they had a Super Bowl-caliber group of players.
“An organization doesn’t carry that kind of record without being a great organization and without having great players,” Pegula said. “Great roster, good coaching, no Super Bowl appearance.”
But the relative lack of interest in the team’s free agents has raised questions about just how strong the roster had been. Miller noted that the Bills had an older group of free agents, ones who might be content to wait a bit longer before finding a new team.
“At this point in the offseason, the market has offered a different perspective and the league hasn’t pursued many of those same players. Free agency remains fluid and some players could still sign or retire,” Miller wrote.
“Beane mentioned that many established veterans and teams wait for the first big-money wave of free agency and draft to pass to re-evaluate their options.”
Former Bills All-Pro Linebacker is Still a Free Agent