Will the Bills’ third-round pick make an immediate impact?
All offseason and especially gaining traction ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, defensive tackle was observed as a position of need for the Buffalo Bills. Though starting defensive tackles Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones return to once again front the team’s defensive interior, bringing in talented players to rotate in behind the pair was of paramount concern.
That perceived need held even greater weight when considering the fact that Jones played just seven games in 2023. At times, the defensive line was forced to adapt on the fly during much of the regular season.
As a result, the Bills tackled that need during the third round of this year’s draft, selecting defensive tackle DeWayne Carter out of Duke with pick 95. Carter, standing 6’3” and 302 pounds, has key traits NFL teams covet with interior defensive linemen — though some see him as a little short in comparison to his peers.
DeWayne Carter’s intangibles as an off-field difference maker are superb and he immediately felt like a fantastic fit culture-wise for head coach Sean McDermott’s organization. Carter’s ready to get to work with his boots on the ground in and around his new home of Buffalo, NY.
The Duke Blue Devil was solid during his final season in college, totaling 41 tackles, but he will clearly benefit if given time to develop within Buffalo’s defensive scheme. What sort of impact might he have with the Buffalo Bills in 2024? Let’s see what the film says about the prospect out of Durham, NC.
DeWayne Carter brings power in the trenches
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Carter showed his power off during this play. Pre-snap, Carter lined up on the outside shoulder of the Pittsburgh guard. At the snap, he pushed the guard back with one hand, then quickly gained the angle on the guard.
DeWayne Carter’s disruptive spin move
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Every defensive lineman needs a reliable pass-rush move to win at the next level. At the start of the play, Carter was on the outside shoulder of the left guard. Once the play started, Cater went inside the guard with a spin move, quickly getting past him and after the quarterback in a hurry.
DeWayne Carter’s football intelligence shines through
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Sometimes a defensive lineman being disciplined enough to stay in their rush lane is more important than getting the sack. During this play, Carter engaged the offensive tackle — which forced the quarterback to try scrambling between the left tackle and guard. Carter shed the offensive tackle’s block at the perfect time, and lunges toward the QB for the stop.
DeWayne Carter shows a relentless hustle
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Carter started this play inside of the guard. Once the run play began, the Louisville tackle came downhill on Carter to engage him, which Carter thwarts. Carter then ran across the field after the ball carrier and chased him down to help make the tackle on the other side of the field.
The Fast Lane
DeWayne Carter has the potential to be a solid, productive player for the Buffalo Bills. His film — both here and elsewhere — shows plenty of solid traits and impactful play. Carter has pure power, is a hustler, and keeps good rush-lane integrity. He also has a reliable pass-rush move to win one-on-one, and will most likely look to build up his toolbox.
Perhaps most importantly to his landing with the Buffalo Bills, Carter’s most underrated ability has been his proficiency in lining up all across the defensive line.
What grade would you give the Bills for their selection of Dwayne Carter? How productive do you envision his rookie season if pressed into action?