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Denver Broncos free agency: Underrated defensive line options

By Sayre Bedinger

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 29: Defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson #99 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates sacking quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 (not pictured) of the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on December 29, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 29: Defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson #99 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates sacking quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 (not pictured) of the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on December 29, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /
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Denver Broncos, Jordan Phillips
ORCHARD PARK, NY – DECEMBER 29: Jordan Phillips #97 of the Buffalo Bills puts on his helmet during the second quarter against the New York Jets at New Era Field on December 29, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. New York defeats Buffalo 13-6. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

Jordan Phillips, Buffalo Bills

Jordan Phillips isn’t often mentioned among the top free agent defensive linemen in 2020, but he’s a really good player who has developed nicely since he was let go by the Miami Dolphins, the team that drafted him in the second round in 2015.

Phillips’ size — 6-foot-6, 341 pounds — often implies he is a nose tackle type, but that’s not the case.

The more you watch Buffalo in 2019, the more you see the Bills using Phillips all over the defensive front, and he was particularly effective playing outside of the 0T (over center) or 1T (shaded over center).

Phillips racked up 9.5 sacks and 16 QB hits last year, both career highs by a longshot. Considering the Bills don’t exactly have the best talent off the edge in the NFL, it stands to reason that Phillips’ production last year was a sign of things to come, even if it was a bit of overachieving.

He shouldn’t be expected to hit 9.5 sacks every year, but Phillips is a big body who hustles up front and he’s coming into his own as an NFL player. He could be the Broncos’ version of Akiem Hicks when the Bears signed Hicks in 2016.

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