The Buffalo Bills entered 2012 NFL free agency with a dire need for at least one pass-rushing defensive end, and they got one when they signed Mario Williams to a six-year, $100 million contract with $50 million guaranteed. It's fair to wonder, with Williams on board, what the plan is for further addressing the position from this point forward.
It is not unreasonable to assume, in our opinion, that the Bills consider themselves set at the top of the depth chart at defensive end.
Chris Kelsay has long been tabbed as a starting end with the team switching to a 4-3 base, and with Williams promised to play on the left side, it's fair to assume that Kelsay will be listed as the starting right end entering training camp. The team also has designs to use Shawne Merriman at end; a part-time, pass-rushing specialist role could keep Merriman healthy and productive for the first time since 2007.
Still, more depth is needed beyond Williams, Kelsay and Merriman. The team has a few projects, including Kyle Moore, Danny Batten and Robert Eddins, but the team would be wise to find bigger, more naturally explosive athletes as depth options at the position.