The linebacker position for the Buffalo Bills is in something of a state of flux under new head coach Sean McDermott. In switching from a base 3-4 to a base 4-3, the players on the roster are going to need to do different things than they’d been asked to do under Rex Ryan.
As a result, there’s a lot of curiosity around where all the linebackers are going to fit on the depth chart, and whether their skill sets can translate to the new defense. The middle linebacker position is no exception, and the new regime saw fit to bring in a small-school UDFA to try and push the talent along.
Name: Abner Logan
# 46
Position: LB
Experience: R
College: Albany, Maryland
Draft: UDFA (2017)
Financial Situation (per Spotrac): Logan is on a standard three-year UDFA deal. He’s set to make $465k this season with $90k raises in each of the next two seasons. There is no dead cap hit if the Bills release him.
2016 Recap: Logan played his first and only season with Albany after transferring from Maryland, and only after losing the 2015 season to a knee injury. Logan recorded 96 tackles for the 7-4 Great Danes, including 11 in their season-opening upset of Jordan Johnson’s Buffalo Bulls, the school’s first-ever win over an FBS opponent.
Positional Outlook: The Bills currently have twelve linebackers on the roster. Four are rookies, and Logan is one of two undrafted pickups this year. Assuming the Bills keep no more than six linebackers, Logan has a lot of fighting to do to for a shot at the final roster.
2017 Offseason: Logan was signed as a tryout player last month, after the initial wave of undrafted free agents had signed.
Practice Squad Eligible? Yes
2017 Season Outlook: Logan’s outlook resembles that of most undrafted free agents around the league. Barring a monster showing in offseason work, he’s probably not going to make the 53. If he shows well enough, a practice squad position could be in his future.