The Buffalo Bills are in a bit of a transition time, but they could have added a dominant defensive playmaker in the 2024 NFL Draft.
While selling Stefon Diggs may signal an offensive retooling, the Bills discovered great value on the defensive side of the ball in this year’s draft class and will remain in contention as long as Josh Allen is at quarterback.
Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports compiled a list of the top NFL Draft sleepers who are projected to make an immediate impact this season, including Bills defensive lineman DeWayne Carter.
Carter was selected No. 95 overall by the Bills out of Duke after a 41-tackle senior season in which he recorded one sack and 3.5 tackles for loss.
Trapasso, however, sees great upside for Carter and the Bills’ defense, citing the 6-foot-3, 300-pound interior lineman’s 9.8 pressure creation rate over the previous two seasons.
“Any number at or around 10% for a defensive tackle’s pressure-creation rate is outstanding,” writes Trapasso. “And Carter did it on about 800 pass-rushing opportunities over his final two years as a Blue Devil. And he nearly met the 10% threshold owing to a variety of maneuvers, loose hips, a first-step burst, and consistent speed to the quarterback. Carter started the motor on the first play of each game, and it never stopped until the final whistle.”
In Buffalo, Carter has the opportunity to push for initial snaps and develop into a fundamental
Carter has the opportunity to compete for immediate playing time and establish himself as a key member of Buffalo’s front seven.
