The Buffalo Bills improved their pass rush in 2018 Buffalo Bills T-Shirt , even though they still ranked in the bottom half of the NFL in the category. In 2017, the Bills had only 27 sacks, which tied them with the New York Giants for the third-lowest total in the league. This season, that total increased to 36 sacks overall, which moved them from 30th to 26th overall.Why, then, would we suggest that the team is alright for now at the position? A pass rush is not all about sacks, as Buffalo¡¯s top defensive end showed during the season. Disrupting the quarterback by pressuring him, hitting him, and rushing his thought process all helps to improve a pass defense. The Bills were able to do all of those things thanks to an improved front-four, and they were able to scheme some more sacks as the year progressed thanks to the overall strength of their front seven.In our latest look at the state of the Bills roster, we check out the defensive ends, a group filled with solid veterans and young, high-motor players¡ªand one which is among the better positional groups on the current roster.Jerry HughesContract status for 2019: Signed; $10.4 million cap hit ($2.9 million dead cap if cut)Age: 30 (31 on 8/13/19)Playing time: 16 games (16 starts), 668 (65.88% of defensive total), 15 ST snaps (3.42%)Key statistics: 37 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 18 QB hits, 7 sacks, 1 pass defended, 3 forced fumblesWhile Hughes did not finish with an eye-popping number of sacks on the year, he was a terror on the edge, ranking as the eighth-best edge defender in 2018 per Pro Football Focus. He was a nuisance for opposing offensive coordinators all year, and teams had to scheme against him constantly as a result. In games where teams failed to account for him adequately, he took the game over (see the Bills¡¯ victory against the Minnesota Vikings, in which Hughes had a forced fumble, two quarterback hits, and a sack that resulted in plus-field position for Buffalo). Hughes is slated to be the highest-paid player on the Bills next season, and while the team could save nearly $8 million by cutting him, doing so would be an idiotic decision. Hughes is still a fantastic pass rusher, and he has improved his run defense greatly. The Bills may want to begin negotiating a contract extension for him sooner rather than later if they¡¯d like to keep him beyond 2019, as this is the final season of the five-year, $40 million pact his signed in 2015.Trent MurphyContract status for 2019: Signed; $8,481,250 million cap hit ($3.5 million dead cap if cut)Age: 28 (29 on 12/22/19)Playing time: 13 games (10 starts) www.buffalobillsteamonline.com , 440 snaps (43.39% of defensive total), 48 ST snaps (10.93%)Key statistics: 24 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 9 QB hits, 4 sacks, 1 pass defended, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recoveredMurphy was able to contribute in his first NFL season since the 2016 campaign. Coming off an ACL tear suffered in the 2017 pre-season, he appeared to be a bit rusty, but he settled in nicely and was a solid contributor for the defense throughout the year. As has been the case throughout Murphy¡¯s career, he dealt with nagging injuries at times, working through issues with his groin, ankle, and knee at varying points in 2018. Murphy is currently slated to be the fifth-highest paid player on the roster when sorting by cap hit in 2019, so there is a possibility the team decides to move on rather than pay him. However, good pass-rush help is hard to find, and the Bills would certainly need to spend more than the $8 million-plus that Murphy is owed in order to find that help, plus they¡¯d still be on the hook for $3.5 million for cutting Murphy. It¡¯s likely that he remains with the team in 2019.Shaq LawsonContract status for 2019: Signed; $3,270,586 million cap hit (fully-guaranteed as per CBA)Age: 24 (25 on 6/17/19)Playing time: 14 games (6 starts), 440 snaps (43.39% of defensive total), 14 ST snaps (3.19%)Key statistics: 30 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 12 QB hits, 4 sacks, 5 passes defended, 2 forced fumblesYes, you read that correctly¡ªLawson and Murphy were in an exact even split this season at left defensive end. While that was partly due to injuries, it was also due in part to Lawson¡¯s overall improvement as a football player. After struggling for the better part of his first two seasons, Lawson recommitted himself to improving in the offseason, and while many stories like that are merely puff pieces to fill the dry months between football games, Lawson¡¯s hard work paid off on the field. He led the defensive line in balls batted down at the line of scrimmage, and he was a disruptive force in the defensive backfield. The big decision for Buffalo isn¡¯t whether Lawson will be on the 2019 roster or not¡ªhis place is a given¡ªit¡¯s whether they will decide to exercise his fifth-year option on his rookie contract. Since Lawson was selected 19th overall in the 2016 NFL Draft, the formula to compute his fifth-year option salary is to average the 3rd-25th highest salaries at his position. The Bills have until May 3 to decide whether or not to exercise that option. The range of player salaries averaged will go from $15 million (J.J. Watt) to $7,768 www.authenticsbuffalobills.com ,475 (Solomon Thomas). That seems steep for a player of Lawson¡¯s ability level.Eddie YarbroughContract status for 2019: Unsigned; ERFAAge: 25 (26 on 4/24/19)Playing time: 15 games (0 starts), 307 snaps (30.28% of defensive total), 78 ST snaps (17.77%)Key statistics: 29 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 QB hitYarbrough is solid for what he is¡ªa fourth defensive end in a rotation is never expected to be a star. His contract status allows the Bills to bring him back at little cost, and if they find a better option to fill in on the defensive line, they can release him with no dead cap money accrued. Exclusive-rights free agents have no choice but to sign if teams tender them contracts, so Buffalo will have the ultimate say on Yarbrough¡¯s future. It would be foolish not to tender him a contract given that Yarbrough is at the very worst a high-quality camp body, and at best a capable stand-in for the regular season.Mike LoveContract status for 2019: Signed; $570,000 cap hit ($0 guaranteed) Age: 24 (25 on 1/22/19)Playing time: 3 games (0 starts), 48 snaps (4.73% of defensive total), 29 ST snaps (6.61%)Key statistics: 5 tacklesLove made his debut with the Bills in December after having spent the first 14 weeks of the season on the team¡¯s practice squad. An undrafted rookie out of USF, Love made some plays in pre-season play, compiling 7 total tackles, but he has yet to register a sack in limited NFL action. Love is worth keeping through the offseason, but his position on the roster is tenuous.Positional OutlookI think the Bills are set here. The rotation has all the needed pieces, and while it could certainly be better by adding a splash free-agent signing (DeMarcus Lawrence, anyone?), such an addition is not necessary given the other weaknesses on the roster. If Buffalo were to pursue someone like Lawrence, parting ways with Murphy would be the most effective way to add him; however, Lawrence will most likely command a contract in the area of the Mario Williams deal Buffalo made in 2013. With issues at running back, wide receiver, tight end, offensive tackle, and guard¡ªamong others¡ªBuffalo would be wise to keep a solid core group together. A decision on Lawson is looming, and there is a possibility that the team cuts ties with Murphy. The team can rest easy, however, knowing that they¡¯re alright for now at defensive end. A look to the future would be in their best interests, as Hughes and Lawson are both unsigned after 2019. NEW YORK (AP) â€?Start them right away? Ease 'em in? Have them sit a whole season?When it comes to developing young quarterbacks in the NFL, it all depends on who you talk to.Some teams think it's best to throw rookie QBs into the fire to learn on the job. Others prefer to gradually work them into the offense. Some say it's more beneficial to have them grab a cap and clipboard and take it all in from the sideline."I think every position is the same," Jets offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates said. "If someone can't handle it mentally, then you don't want to put them on the field, because naturally they'll play slower and be thinking instead of reacting."Sam Darnold clearly passed that test for New York, and the No. 3 overall pick in April was under center to start the season."If a player shows the athletic ability, the talent and has the mental capacity to handle a gameplan and go into a game and be successful Buffalo Bills T-Shirt ," Bates said, "then he's ready to play."That doesn't mean things have necessarily gone smoothly for the former USC star.Darnold's 14 interceptions lead the league and have contributed to the Jets' 3-6 start. So have his 55.0 percent completion rate and 68.3 quarterback rating, which also rank among the worst in the league. Still, some point to these early struggles as crucial building blocks for the future."I'm going to continue to learn," Darnold said Sunday after a 13-6 loss at Miami in which he threw four INTs. "There's always lessons to be learned."Of the 32 quarterbacks currently listed as starters for their teams, 12 were under center in Week 1 of their first season.On the flipside, some veteran superstar QBs waited a while before they got their chances.Aaron Rodgers was stuck behind Brett Favre in Green Bay before finally starting in his fourth season. Philip Rivers didn't start with the Chargers until his third year, when Drew Brees went to New Orleans. Even Brees didn't get his first NFL start until his second season.Tom Brady, Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Alex Smith weren't Day 1 starters, either."In an ideal world, it gets to be like Drew, who had a chance to watch a little, or Tom Brady and Aaron," said former quarterback Rich Gannon, the 2002 NFL MVP and now an analyst for CBS Sports and SiriusXM NFL Radio.Patrick Mahomes sat behind Smith in Kansas City until Week 17 as a rookie last year, and now is a leading MVP candidate as one of the NFL's top gunslinger s with a league-leading 29 TD passes for the 8-1 Chiefs. "We knew that Patrick was very talented, but any time that an NFL team goes with a young quarterback, usually it's a very challenging endeavor," Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said. "Sometimes it takes time, several years, but as we've seen, Andy (Reid) had Patrick ready to go Week 1."Gannon thinks the Chiefs provide the perfect blueprint."Mahomes had a chance to watch a master of his domain for a year," he said. "Alex Smith knew that system inside and out, has great huddle command and leadership skills. Maybe he doesn't throw it like Mahomes does, but this is a guy who was willing to share and help him for that year, and we're seeing the fruits of it now."That's the best situation you can have."Again, that depends on who you ask.In the past three drafts, 11 quarterbacks were taken in the first round â€?including Darnold, Cleveland's Baker Mayfield, Buffalo's Josh Allen, Arizona's Josh Rosen and Baltimore's Lamar Jackson this year.Jackson is the only one to not yet start at least one game. Baltimore has Joe Flacco leading the huddle, but Jackson has still been used in the offense and is the Ravens¡® second-leading rusher.The Browns wanted to have Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick this year, sit and learn behind Tyrod Taylor. But like most plans in Cleveland Buffalo Bills Hats , it backfired.Taylor got hurt in Week 3 and Mayfield was thrust into the lineup, helping the Browns rally to beat the Jets in a nationally televised game and end a 19-game winless streak. Mayfield has shown poise and promise, but lacks playmakers and is dealing with a coaching change after Hue Jackson was fired.In Buffalo, the Bills weren't anticipating Allen starting in the second week. They were taking what coach Sean McDermott called a "calculated" approach. But after AJ McCarron was traded before the season opener and Nathan Peterman bombed in Week 1, McDermott was left with no choice but to turn to Allen.The rookie has been dealing with a sprained right elbow , and is uncertain to play Sunday against the Jets."When you draft a quarterback like we did, there's a part of it where you have to say, ¡®Hey, he's going to play either A, B, or C â€?early, middle, or late or next year.'" McDermott said. "You have to be OK with all of that."The initial plan in Arizona was to have Rosen learn behind Sam Bradford. All that changed when the veteran was ineffective and benched in favor of the No. 10 overall pick.Rosen took his lumps with some turnover-filled performances. Then, Mike McCoy was fired as the Cardinals¡® offensive coordinator and Bradford was later cut â€?leaving the job to Rosen."His demeanor allows him to have success," new offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich said. "Quarterbacking in this league is hard and when things go bad, this kid tends to be fine."But, some say too many adverse situations could end up having long-term deleterious effects on a young player."When you put them in before they're ready, they also get hurt: Josh Allen, Josh Rosen," Gannon said. "The speed of the game is way too fast for them. ¡­ Or they have a bad experience, like what wound up happening with (the Jets') Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith, or going back to Ryan Leaf (with the Chargers). They play right away before they are physically or mentally ready or maturity-level ready. They get benched and booed and maybe run out of town, the coach gets fired, and then the next thing, they're on their third or fourth team. They think he will be a savior and he's not ready to play."How is that being responsible from a coach and ownership standpoint? It's doing a tremendous disservice."Tampa Bay's Jameis Winston and Tennessee' Marcus Mariota started right away after being the top two picks in 2015, but the jury's still out on both.For those who preach patience, 25 of the 32 current QBs started a game at some point in their rookie season. And, several held on to the job from there.Quarterbacks such as the Rams¡® Jared Goff (No. 1 in 2016) and the Bears¡® Mitchell Trubisky (No. 2 in 2017) started and struggled as rookies, but benefited from changes in coaching staffs and philosophies and took leaps in their second seasons.So, who's right?Well, all of the above."There's certainly valuable experience when you stand and watch," McDermott said. "But we all know there's no substitute for the experience when you're actually behind the wheel. There's a lot of value to that."