On the night of the 2019 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills got a steal in the first round. They selected Ed Oliver with the ninth pick,giving them an aggressive player on the defensive line. Oliver had a ton of expectations coming in and it took time for him to meet them.
It was an up-and-down season for the rookie out of Houston. He started the first seven games of the season and struggled out of the gate. He was benched in Week 9 against the Washington Redskins but Oliver did not panic. Oliver returned to form and starting playing like the beast that Buffalo was expecting.
Oliver was a key piece to one of the league's best defenses. He will be an anchor there for a long time. As the Bills prepare for the playoffs, they hope Oliver can continue to get better. His first regular season in the NFL is in the books. Let's take a look at his rookie grade.
Progression is critical. Teams want to see their rookies progress and grow from their first game to their 16th game. Oliver certainly did that during his rookie campaign.
Oliver had just one sack heading into Week 10. He finished with four sacks over the final seven games. Oliver had his best game on the biggest stage. During a nationally televised game on Thanksgiving Day against the Dallas Cowboys, Oliver decided to go nuts. He finished with two sacks, a pass deflection, and a forced fumble. It was a 26-15 win for the Bills and a breakout game for their rookie.
From there on out, Oliver began playing with more confidence. He began making a bigger splash on defense. When looking at his season as a whole, there is little reason to doubt that he is going to be a monster for years to come. There were some surprising teams that passed on him but the Bills are happy to have Oliver.
For Oliver, progression was there during his first year. The numbers began to show up late. His presence was felt down the stretch of the season. With Tre'Davious White and Oliver, the Bills have a strong foundation on the defensive side of the ball. Sean McDermott has proved that he is a very good football coach. The Bills Mafia has a lot to cheer about and it begins with their rookie lineman out of Houston.
Oliver's Rookie Season Grade: B
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