Pro Football Focus calls Phidarian Mathis a defensive lineman that “will fit in any defense.”
Such an assessment is something the Buffalo Bills would love, so this update checks out.
According to the Buffalo News, the Bills met with the Alabama product at the 2022 NFL combine.
At 6-foot-4, 310 pounds, Mathis profiles as the type of defensive lineman Buffalo could be in the market for. In 2021, the Bills had a top-tier defense but their run game could have used some sharpening up.
Mathis is called “run plugger with powerful hands and a dense anchor” by NFL.com–it’s also mentioned that he’s “league ready.”
The Bills have Harrison Phillips as a pending free agent. There’s a chance that Phillips does return to Buffalo, and even if he does, Mathis could be on the Bills’ draft radar.
Currently slated as anywhere from a late second to fourth-round pick, a mid-draft addition could certainly find a spot in Buffalo’s D-line rotation. Also slated to run to the Bills is Star Lotulelei, but as a bit of a veteran now, Buffalo could stand to inject some youth into their one-tech spot on the defensive line.
Ed Oliver will continue to get the starting snaps at the team’s other defensive tackle spot moving forward.
A pre-combine mock draft from NFL.com also had the Bills selecting Mathis. Buffalo nabbed him with their third-round pick.