The Buffalo Bills hosted three free agent middle linebackers without signing any this offseason, four if you include the departed Preston Brown, and in the next week they’ll host another. The latest linebacker to visit One Bills Drive is Boise State’s Leighton Vander Esch who will be in town as one of Buffalo’s pre-draft visits.
Tony Pauline and James Palmer can share the reporting credit.
Vander Esch is expected to be a first round pick and is visiting nearly every team picking between 12 and 26. He was a disruptive force for Boise State last year, recording 141 total tackles with 8.5 tackles for a loss, four sacks, and two interceptions. He’s a great mix of size and athleticism and would fit nicely in Sean McDermott’s defense.
The linebacker doesn’t fit the type of player McDermott went with last year. He is skipping his final season of college football and was only productive in one year at Boise. An injury limited him in 2016 during his sophomore season.
Still, he would be an ideal fit at pick 22 should he fall that far (and Buffalo keeps the selection).