Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott has long been associated with a defensive alignment commonly known as the “big nickel.” While McDermott was the defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers, this often meant playing a linebacker (Shaq Thompson, in this case) rather than a nickel corner; in Buffalo, the team has used safety Siran Neal in this role, among others.
It should come as no surprise, then, that the Bills have targeted many linebackers who specialize in coverage during McDermott’s tenure. Someone like Matt Milano, for example, was initially thought of as a sub-package player thanks to his coverage skills.