Buffalo Bills (Last Year: 11-6)
2022 NFL Season Preview:
Veteran Additions:
QB Case Keenum, RB Duke Johnson, WR Jamison Crowder, WR Tavon Austin, TE O.J. Howard, OT David Quessenberry, G Rodger Saffold, G Greg Van Roten, DE Von Miller, DE Shaq Lawson, DT DaQuan Jones, DT Jordan Phillips, DT Tim Settle.
Draft Picks:
CB Kaiir Elam, RB James Cook, LB Terrel Bernard, WR Khalil Shakir, K/P Matt Ariza. Bills Rookie Forecast
Offseason Losses:
QB Mitchell Trubisky, WR Emmanuel Sanders, WR Cole Beasley, G Jon Feliciano, DE Mario Addison, DE Jerry Hughes, DT Harrison Phillips, DT Star Lotulelei, LB A.J. Klein, CB Levi Wallace.
2022 Buffalo Bills Offense:
Josh Allen was viewed as a 2- or 3-year project when he entered the NFL out of Wyoming. He showed some upside in his rookie campaign, but struggled in most games. He took a big leap in his second year, but still had some bad performances. His third season, however, was exactly what Buffalo supporters had hoped for when Allen was chosen in the opening round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He became one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, throwing for 4,544 yards, 37 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions, while completing 69.2 percent of his passes. His stats took a dip in 2021 because teams used a cover-2 shell against him, but he was still able to nearly defeat Patrick Mahomes in an epic playoff shootout, only losing because of the overtime coin flip.
Allen figures to be even better in his fifth season, thanks to the upgrades the Bills made to the offensive line. Buffalo had some problems at guard last year, so it signed Rodger Saffold and David Quessenberry, both formerly of the Titans. Saffold is an excellent lineman and will provide a big boost on the left side. It’s unclear if Quessenberry will be used at right guard – he started at right tackle for Tennessee last year – but he would certainly be an alternative option to one of Ryan Bates, Cody Ford or Ike Boettger, all of whom are underwhelming players.
Quessenberry is blocked from being Buffalo’s right tackle, barring injury, because Spencer Brown did a fine job there last year. Chosen in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Brown will be better in 2022 now that he has some experience. He’ll have a great bookend in Dion Dawkins, an excellent blind-side protector. Meanwhile, center Mitch Morse should continue to do a solid job.
Allen will have plenty of time on most occasions to locate all of his talented receivers. Stefon Diggs returns as the dynamic No. 1 wideout, but fans will be almost as excited for Gabriel Davis, who showed some amazing potential down the stretch of his second season. Davis had the game of his life versus the Chiefs in the playoffs, catching eight passes for 201 yards and four touchdowns. Elsewhere, Jamison Crowder figures to be an upgrade over Cole Beasley in the slot; Beasley had formerly been a quality receiver, but his production fell off a cliff last year. There’s also Dawson Knox, who, like Davis, had some nice performances down the stretch. Buffalo added O.J. Howard to the roster, but he’s the clear No. 2 tight end behind Knox.
Not only will Allen’s pass protection improve in 2022; the run blocking will be better as well. This is crucial for the Bills to run teams out of the cover-2 shell. Devin Singletary could approach the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the first time in his career. He played better at the end of the season, though that didn’t stop Buffalo from using a second-round pick on James Cook, who will contribute to the offense with his outstanding receiving ability.
2022 Buffalo Bills Defense:
If it wasn’t for all the crazy quarterback moves that occurred this offseason, more people would be raving about what the Bills accomplished. They made a blockbuster acquisition of their own, signing Von Miller to a $120 million contract this spring.
Miller provided the Rams with some excellent pass-rushing ability during their Super Bowl run, and he’ll do the same for Buffalo. The Bills already had the No. 1 pressure rate in the NFL last year, so it’ll now be even better with Miller joining the rotation. Buffalo didn’t have one single player who racked up a ton of sacks last year. Instead, everyone contributed. Now, Miller will be that player, and everyone else will be much more potent because they’ll draw less attention. That includes Gregory Rousseau, last year’s first-round pick. He performed well as a rookie and will only improve with Miller rushing from the other side. Other young players like A.J. Epenesa and Carlos Basham will also benefit.
Miller wasn’t the only lineman the Bills signed this offseason. They also added DaQuan Jones, who will help clog the run in the interior. Stopping the rush was Buffalo’s greatest weakness last year, so Jones will certainly help in that regard. He’ll start next to Ed Oliver, a stellar defensive tackle.
Having Jones on the defensive front will give support to the linebacking corps. Buffalo has one superb linebacker in Matt Milano, but the team lacks much else at the position. Former first-round pick Tremaine Edmunds has been a big disappointment, but he’ll continue to play because there are no proven alternatives. That could change if third-round rookie Terrel Bernard looks good enough in training camp to steal the job.
Speaking of rookies, Buffalo used its opening-round selection on Kaiir Elam. The team had issues at cornerback last year because of Tre’Davious White’s injury. With No. 2 cornerback Levi Wallace gone, the Bills had a big need at the position, which Elam could fill. Of course, having White back from his torn ACL will be huge. It’s unclear if White will be 100 percent, but just having him on the field will help.
While cornerback is still a question mark because of Elam’s inexperience and White’s health, the safeties are far more secure. Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer will return as the starters, which is good news for Buffalo, given that they form one of the NFL’s top safety tandems.
2022 Buffalo Bills Schedule and Intangibles:
Tyler Bass has done a great job as Buffalo’s kicker the past two years. He was 28-of-32 in 2021, and he also made all of his extra points.
Buffalo spent a sixth-round pick on Matt Ariza to be the team’s new punter. Ariza also kicked at San Diego State, so he can handle that position if Bass were to get hurt.
The Bills failed to score a special teams touchdown, but they didn’t surrender one either.
Buffalo has a first-place schedule, so there are many difficult games. Those include battles against the Rams, Ravens, Chiefs, Packers, Browns and Bengals.
2022 Buffalo Bills Rookies:
Go here for the Bills Rookie Forecast, a page with predictions like which rookie will bust and which rookie will become a solid starter.
2022 Buffalo Bills Positional Rankings (1-5 stars):
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2022 Buffalo Bills Analysis: The Bills are arguably the best team in the NFL. Their explosive offense will be better with Rodger Saffold, David Quessenberry and Jamison Crowder joining the team. The defense, meanwhile, will be getting huge boosts from Von Miller’s presence and Tre’Davious White’s return from injury. They’re the favorites to win Super Bowl LVII for good reason.
Projection: 14-3 (1st in AFC East)
2021 Projection: 14-3. 2021 Actual Result: 11-6.
2020 Projection: 11-5. 2020 Actual Result: 13-3.
2019 Projection: 9-7. 2019 Actual Result: 10-6.
2018 Projection: 3-13. 2018 Actual Result: 6-10.
2017 Projection: 5-11. 2017 Actual Result: 9-7.
2016 Projection: 8-8. 2016 Actual Result: 7-9.
NFL Draft Team Grade: B+ Grade
Goals Entering the 2022 NFL Draft: The Bills arguably have the best roster in the NFL, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t have needs. Cornerback, guard and linebacker are problem areas Buffalo will need to address in the 2022 NFL Draft.
2022 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Buffalo didn’t get to upgrade thier guard situation, but it found help at cornerback and linebacker. In fact, the Bills used their opening-round pick on the former position, selecting Kaiir Elam to be a nice upgrade across from Tre’Davious White. Buffalo seemed to make a mistake by trading up ahead of Dallas, given that the Cowboys weren’t going to select a cornerback, but this was only a small error.
The Bills acquired nice values in the second, third and fifth rounds. Terrel Bernard is the linebacker the Bills needed to join Matt Milano. James Cook will be an intriguing weapon out of the backfield Josh Allen will love to utilize. Khalil Shakir didn’t fill a need at receiver, but he was a steal to begin the fifth frame.
I wouldn’t say the Bills’ draft class was perfect, or anything, given that they unnecessarily traded up, failed to find a guard, and made some dubious picks in the sixth round, but I like what they did overall. They definitely helped themselves in their attempt to finally overcome the Chiefs and win the Super Bowl.
NFL Draft Individual Grades:
23. Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida – B Grade
With Kaiir Elam and Andrew Booth on the board, it didn’t seem necessary for the Bills to give up a fourth-round pick to move up for a cornerback. I think this pick is solid though. Elam could have gone earlier than this, and he fills a huge need across from Tre’Davious White.
63. James Cook, RB, Georgia – B Grade
It’s no surprise that the Bills just drafted a running back. They brought in a decent number for top-30 visits, as they wanted someone better than Zack Moss to pair with Devin Singletary. This running back needed to be a stellar receiver out of the backfield, and that’s exactly what James Cook is. I would’ve taken him a bit later, but this isn’t much of a reach.
89. Terrel Bernard, LB, Baylor – B+ Grade
The Bills have needed help around Matt Milano at linebacker for quite some time now, as Tremaine Edmunds has been a disappointment. Buffalo’s linebacking corps looks lost whenever Milano is hurt, so perhaps that won’t be the case now that Terrel Bernard is on the roster. I like Bernard as a third-round prospect. He has three-down potential.
148. Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State – A Grade
The Bills didn’t really need a receiver, but they’re getting terrific value with Khalil Shakir, whom I had in the third round of my mock draft. Shakir has decent size and good athleticism, and he’s a versatile threat. I just worry that he’ll be lost on a deep depth chart.
180. Matt Araiza, K/P, San Diego State – B+ Grade
Wait, Walt is grading a kicker/punter pick favorably? Yes, and I almost can’t believe it. Two things, though. First, this is the sixth round, which is not the fourth round. Second, Matt Araiza can play both punter and kicker, so he can save a roster spot, which could end up being very valuable.
185. Christian Benford, CB, Villanova – C Grade
I never had Christian Benford on my radar as a draftable prospect. He was a productive player at Villanova, but it was just Villanova. At the very worst, he’ll provide needed depth at cornerback if he makes the roster.
209. Luke Tenuta, OT, Virginia Tech – C- Grade
Luke Tenuta is a tough run-blocking offensive lineman, but I don’t think he has the athleticism to cut it in the NFL. We’ll see if he can prove me wrong. I’m not a fan of this pick, as I didn’t have Tenuta as being drafted at all.
231. Baylon Spector, LB, Clemson – A- Grade
This is a quality value pick, as I thought Baylon Spector could’ve gone as early as the fifth round. Finding more linebacker depth was essential for the Bills.
Follow @walterfootball for updates.
Season Summary:
Thirteen seconds. That’s all the Chiefs needed to erase the Bills’ 36-33 lead in the divisional round matchup in the playoffs. Buffalo’s horrible prevent defense allowed two deep passes, setting up Kansas City’s overtime victory.
Offseason Moves:
Team Needs:
- Guard: Protecting Josh Allen is more important than anything. The Bills currently have a hole at one of the guard spots. Signed Rodger Saffold
- Defensive Tackle: The Bills must also improve against the run, which was a major weakness for them this past season. A new starter is needed next to Ed Oliver. Signed DaQuan Jones, Jordan Phillips and Tim Settle
- Linebacker: Tremaine Edmunds has been a disappointment as a former first-round pick. The Bills will want to find a better linebacker to play alongside Matt Milano.
- Cornerback: Levi Wallace is an impending free agent, so he’ll need to be replaced as the starter across from Tre’Davious White.
- Running Back: Devin Singletary thrived down the stretch, but the Bills won’t have anything at the position if he regresses back to 2020 form. Signed Duke Johnson
- Defensive End Depth: Buffalo will want to add another edge rusher if both Mario Addison and Jerry Hughes leave as free agents this offseason. Signed Von Miller
- Backup Quarterback: Mitchell Trubisky is likely to leave. If he does, a new backup quarterback will be needed. Traded for Case Keenum
- Punter: The Bills had a miserable punting unit last year that must improve.
Follow me @walterfootball for updates.
2022 NFL Free Agent Signings:
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Von Miller, DE/OLB, Rams. Age: 33. 
Signed with Bills (6 years, $120 million)
Von Miller is still one of the elite edge rushers in the NFL, despite his age. He turns 33 this offseason, however, so there’s a chance for regression in the near future.
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David Quessenberry, OT, Titans. Age: 32.
Signed with Bills (1 year)
If you didn’t read Jacob Camenker’s feature on David Quessenberry, check it out. Quessenberry overcame cancer to become a solid starting lineman in the NFL.
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Rodger Saffold, G, Titans. Age: 34.
Signed with Bills
Now in his mid-30s, Rodger Saffold has seen his pass-protection abilities decline, but he’s still a solid run blocker.
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Jamison Crowder, WR, Jets. Age: 29.
Signed with Bills (1 year, $4 million)
Jamison Crowder is a capable slot receiver, but he’s had trouble staying healthy in recent years, missing 16 games in the past four seasons.
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DaQuan Jones, DT, Panthers. Age: 30.
Signed with Bills
DaQuan Jones is a solid run stuffer who can generate some pressure on the quarterback.
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O.J. Howard, TE, Buccaneers. Age: 27.
Signed with Bills (1 year)
O.J. Howard caught only 14 passes last year. Perhaps he can revive his career elsewhere.
- Jordan Phillips, DT, Cardinals. Age: 29. — Signed with Bills (1 year)
- Tim Settle, NT, Redskins. Age: 25. — Signed with Bills
- Tavon Austin, WR, Jaguars. Age: 31. — Signed with Bills
- Greg Mancz, C, Dolphins. Age: 30. — Signed with Bills
- Marquel Lee, LB, Raiders. Age: 26. — Signed with Bills
Buffalo Bills Free Agents:
Salary Cap: TBA.
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Levi Wallace, CB, Bills. Age: 27.
Signed with Steelers (2 years, $8 million)
The Bills don’t like Levi Wallace very much, but he’s a quality starting cornerback and still happens to be fairly young.
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Isaiah McKenzie, WR/KR, Bills. Age: 27.
Re-signed with Bills (2 years, $8 million)
Isaiah McKenzie sometimes gets a chance to be a part of the offense in addition to handling his return duties. He always seems to thrive when used as a receiver.
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Harrison Phillips, DT, Bills. Age: 26.
Signed with Vikings (3 years, $19.5 million)
Harrison Phillips has just 1.5 career sacks, but he’s a stout run defender. He’s also 26 and a couple of years removed from an ACL tear, so perhaps he’ll improve next season.
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Jon Feliciano, G, Bills. Age: 30.
Signed with Giants (1 year)
Jon Feliciano is a skilled blocker when healthy, but the problem is that he has missed 17 games in the past two seasons.
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Mario Addison, DE, Bills. Age: 34.
Signed with Texans
Mario Addison was productive despite his age last year, recording seven sacks while being in a heavy rotation.
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Jerry Hughes, DE, Bills. Age: 34.
Signed with Texans
Jerry Hughes has seen his production slip as he’s entered his mid-30s. He had just two sacks in 2021. However, that number is misleading, given how much pressure he applied when on the field.
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Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Bills. Age: 35.
Emmanuel Sanders was hot to begin the year, but cooled off as the season progressed. He’s now 35, so his days are numbered.
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Cole Beasley, WR, Bills. Age: 33.
Cole Beasley had a heroic anti-establishment stance during the offseason, but his 2021 campaign didn’t go as well. His 8.5 yards-per-catch average was the worst of his career. He turns 33 in April.
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Mitchell Trubisky, QB, Bills. Age: 28.
Signed with Steelers (2 years)
Mitchell Trubisky never got a fair chance in Chicago because of Matt Nagy’s incompetence. He’s talented, so perhaps a better coaching staff can turn him into a viable quarterback.
- Ike Boettger, G, Bills. Age: 27. — Re-signed with Bills (1 year)
- A.J. Klein, LB, Bills. Age: 31.
- Star Lotulelei, DT, Bills. Age: 32.
- Vernon Butler, DT, Bills. Age: 28. — Signed with Raiders
- Justin Zimmer, DT, Bills. Age: 29.
- Efe Obada, DE, Bills. Age: 30. — Signed with Redskins (1 year)
- Matt Breida, RB, Bills. Age: 27. — Signed with Giants
- Taiwan Jones, RB, Bills. Age: 34. — Re-signed with Bills
NFL Free Agent Tracker:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K/P | FA Grades | FA Rumors
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