The idea of the Buffalo Bills signing JJ Watt really excited me. I think the Bills need to be able to crunch the quarterback. The Buffalo Bills defense took a step backwards last season, especially in the first 8 games. In 2019, the Bills defense swarmed all over the ball carrier and put pressure on the quarterback. The secondary could control the passing game. I know the team had to sacrifice some defense to get that offense scary. Like what happened last season as Josh Allen took a step forward in growth as the Bills protected him better and he has weapons to throw to. Last year the Bills defense got better down the stretch as they were a healthier unit. I loved how the defense put a halt to Lamar Jackson and a very hot Raven team in the playoffs. The AFC championship still bothers me when the Chiefs gashed the Bills defense for huge plays. JJ Watt would have been a great addition, but he will probably cost you big time money at Menards. Can the Bills find an alternate piece instead of JJ Watt? I would like leftover money to re-sign linebacker Matt Milano. To me having Milano back on board and a pass rusher would help the Bills defense get back to that 2019 team where they swarm to the ball and watched Josh Allen light up the score board.

Matt Milano played in only ten games last season as the Bills outside linebacker. With Milano on the field, the entire unit played better than without him. Milano was the heartbeat of that defense when it got better. Milano has the knack to come up with that big play in the heat of the moment. It could be a turnover. It could be a sack. Milano could pressure the quarterback or defend a key pass. Milano had 9 quarterback hits in ten games last season. Milano racked up 3.5 sacks with 35 solo tackles. In 2019, when he played in 15 games and the team had a better defense then they did last year, he had 65 solo tackles as he was not really used to the pressure of quarterback as he had only 7 QB hits with 1.5 sacks. Bills drafted Milano out of Boston College and he has shown he is one of the smartest players on the defense. Milano can do different things. Last year he went after the quarterbacks more because of the lack of pressure. If the Bills can add a defensive end to pressure the quarterback, then Milano could use his instincts and react to what’s in front of him. Milano missed games last season. Milano’s track record says differently as he played 15 games in 2019, 13 in 2018 and 16 in 2017. Milano needs to return.

An option instead of JJ Watt which would be cheaper and a younger player, is Trey Hendrickson of the New Orleans Saints. Hendrickson will become expendable because of the Saints salary cap. Plus, the Saints have Marcus Davenport and Carl Granderson they could replace Hendrickson with. Plus the Saints want to re-sign safety Marcus Williams as their first order of business on the defensive side of the football. That leaves Hendrickson out of the Saints picture, a guy who broke out last year on the the gridiron. Hendrickson racked up 13.5 sacks which is tied for number two overall in the entire NFL. Hendrickson was drafted out of Florida Atlantic in the third round in 2017. Watt would probably command something north of 15 million a year for his services. While a younger option like Hendrickson, you can probably get for 11 to 12 million per season. Plus you would have extra money to re-sign Milano or add another guy if needed.

I know it’s risky giving a guy like Trey Hendrickson a big contract after one break out year, especially at the end of his deal. Hendrickson could easily be that Vanilla Ice, a one year wonder, which happens a lot in the game of football. Saints defensive line had some talent which probably left Hendrickson in many one-on-one match ups. JJ Watt has a track record playing in the league for 10 seasons.Watt has that ugly track record of getting injured early on in seasons. Watt has had injuries where he is out for the entire year. JJ Watt has teamed up with Jadeveon Clowney for years, but Houston’s defense was never the best unit in the league. Hendrickson and the Saints defense were a very talented unit last season and one of the top notch defenses in the league.

With re-signing Matt Milano and signing Trey Henrickson, it gives Buffalo two pieces that are 26 years old heading into their prime years. It gives them two guys that have fully developed fully from their rookie deals. The Bills have multiple young players on that defense that can continue to grow and make this a talented unit next season and for years to come. Then with a young quarterback in Josh Allen who is getting better after each year, that offense will be a wrecking machine. Hendrickson’s college career and his pro career so far have a similar track record. At Florida Atlantic after the first two seasons, Hendrickson got better his third year and then broke out his senior year. Same thing happened to Hendrickson in New Orleans with a very quiet first two seasons then his third year had 4.5 sacks. Then last season in his 4th year, he had a coming out party as he registered 13.5 sacks. Other production I like from Hendrickson as he only played 53% of the Saints defensive snaps and what he accomplished on the field. Hendrickson had 25 quarterback hits as well as 12 tackles for losses. I feel more confident with the 2019 type of defense and add more defenders, than just a name Watt. Then I feel the offense is in need of a running back and perhaps another offensive lineman to make last year’s offense even scarier with many more weapons of mass destruction. Then you can print up winning Superbowl tickets in Buffalo.