The 2023 season was, for all intents and purposes, a wash for Von Miller. After tearing his ACL on Thanksgiving in 2022, Miller struggled to regain any of the form that made him one of the most feared pass rushers in league history throughout his career. Now, more than a year and a half removed from the injury, can the Bills count on Miller to get back to some semblance of the player he once was? 

Miller said in an interview with Sports Illustrated that he shouldn’t have played in 2023 and could’ve sat out the season recovering from the torn ACL. Miller was a shell of his All-Pro self in 12 regular season games — with just three combined tackles and no sacks. Miller believes he was finally starting to come around with his best three games coming in the Bills’ final three games of the season. During spring workouts, he said he was feeling much more like himself again.  

Miller is now 35 years old, so what can reasonably be expected of him? It’s hard to say if the extra time since the injury will help him, or if Father Time wins again. Miller actually took a pay cut on his massive contract this offseason to help the Bills through their salary cap troubles, which is commendable. What could be even more important is his ability to contribute to a defense that’s in a a bit of a transition, and generate pressure on the quarterback — Miller’s calling card throughout his career.  

Greg Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa will be counted on greatly to continue their upward trajectories. It’s time for both players to become more consistent and dominate more often. Leonard Floyd is no longer on the club, so someone needs to step up to take down opposing passers. Outside of Miller, Rousseau and Epenesa, the Bills have Kingsley Jonathan, Casey Toohill, Dawuane Smoot, and rookie Javon Solomon among those competing for spots on the edge of the defensive front.  

On the interior of the defensive line, Ed Oliver is back off his stellar 2023 season, and DaQuan Jones resigned with the club to anchor the middle. Jones was having a fantastic year before he was injured in Week 5, returning for the final two regular season games and two playoff games. 

Oliver and Jones must be great again for the Bills defense to succeed the way they hope under new defensive coordinator Bobby Babich.  

They also added Austin Johnson, DeShawn Williams and rookie DeWayne Carter to the defensive tackle group. Carter is exactly the type of player Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane like - a high-motor guy with great leadership traits. He could have a large role in the rotation right from the jump. 

Many eyes during training camp will be focused squarely on Olympic gold-medal winning wrestler Gable Steveson, who’s playing football for the first time in his life. While he has the background and athletic traits (and we know McDermott loves his wrestlers), I don’t think we’re talking about a player who has a chance to make the 53-man roster out of camp. This is a project to see how quickly Steveson can pick up the game, and at best, find a spot on the practice squad to continue his development.