GM Brandon Beane expressed genuine concern last January that Milano would want to maximize its value in the open market and knew that it could be difficult to keep him in his squad. But credit Buffalo’s front office for freeing up the space needed to maintain a critical game element of its top seven on the roster for the foreseeable future.
“He is a very good defensive player and you always want to keep as many as possible,” said Beane last January. “He has done a great job since he came here to improve from 2017 until now.”
Milano has joined LB Tremaine Edmunds for the past three seasons as defenders of Buffalo’s defense, a unit that lined up in a nickel defense 90 percent of the time last season.
“Dude, he makes a difference,” said Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier last season. “He did an excellent job for us and his presence is felt on the pitch. Whether we are putting him under pressure or whether he was on the cover, he is a vital part of our defense success.”
And that vital part will continue to make plays in Buffalo’s defense as his new contract runs through the 2024 season.