Reggie

Ragland

The off-ball linebacker market has been nonexistent in free agency, so most will settle for one-year deals. Ragland profiles as a rotational member for the Giants after never materializing as a starter through his first four NFL seasons. The former second-round pick will compete for a starting spot next to Blake Martinez in DC Patrick Graham’s zone-heavy defense.

27 in September, Ragland adds much needed depth at a position for Detroit that remains in flux ahead of the draft. The Bills’ former No. 41 overall pick in 2016, Ragland missed the entirety of his rookie year in Buffalo but has since notched 160 tackles and 2.5 sacks as a reserve piece for the Chiefs the past three seasons. He also started in Super Bowl LIV, recording two tackles across 26 defensive snaps. He figures to be a rotational linebacker behind Jarrad Davis.

A first-round talent on their board, the Bills traded up in the second round to land the Alabama product. GM Doug Whaley has already tabbed Ragland as a starter, and the two-down stuffer should help shore up a run defense which surprisingly struggled last season.

Ragland injured his left knee while trying to defend a sweep. He was on the ground for several minutes, but was able to leave the field on his own power. Coach Rex Ryan admitted he’s “very concerned.” With Shaq Lawson and Manny Lawson already on the shelf, the Bills can’t afford another injury to their front seven.

The DROY award tends to go to flashier players than Ragland, but that does not mean he won’t make an impact. He is expected to start right out of the gate next to Preston Brown, and he has the downhill style to put up plenty of counting stats behind a strong defensive line. Even as a two-down player, Ragland could be an IDP asset as a rookie.

“He can blitz, he can hit, he can stuff the run,” Ryan said, “and I think he’s good [in] pass defense.” The second half of that statement is the most questionable considering Ragland’s athletic measurables and college tape, but it is clear the Bills are high on their second-round pick. He should open the season as one of the starters on the inside, but his snaps will be limited if he is forced to come off the field in sub packages.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, doctors are still unsure how long Ragland will be out and won’t know until surgery. Ragland could miss 6-8 weeks or the entire year, but RapSheet reports Ragland will land on I.R. either way. The Bills signed veteran ILBs Brandon Spikes and David Hawthorne last week.

Ragland is undergoing surgery on his partially torn ACL this week. Some partial tears don’t require surgery, but the ones that do normally end in a lost season. It’s a big blow to the Bills’ defense, and DC Dennis Thurman said it’s one that is going to change the whole scheme. Zach Brown, Brandon Spikes, and David Hawthorne are all candidates to replace Ragland next to Preston Brown.

He’s going for a second opinion, but Ragland won’t be available for Week 1 and could conceivably miss his entire rookie season. It’s an especially big blow to the Bills because they already lost first-round pick OLB Shaq Lawson to shoulder surgery. Lawson isn’t due back before October at the soonest.

Ragland went down on a non-contact injury in Friday’s practice, but it sounds like he’s not dealing with any structural issues. There should be an update on his status next week. Buffalo is counting on major snaps from Ragland as the Week 1 starter next to Preston Brown.