Buffalo Bills (Last Year: 11-6)
Season Summary:
The Bills looked like the best team in the NFL prior to their London game. Unfortunately for them, they suffered massive injuries and then lost to some poor opponents. They managed to rebound and reach the second round of the playoffs, but more injuries derailed their chances.
2024 NFL Season Preview:
Veteran Additions:
QB Mitchell Trubisky, WR Curtis Samuel, WR Mack Hollins, OT La’el Collins, C Will Clapp, DE Casey Toohill, DT Austin Johnson, LB Nicholas Morrow, S Mike Edwards.
Draft Picks:
WR Keon Coleman, S Cole Bishop, DT DeWayne Carter, RB Ray Davis, C Sedric Van Pran. Bills Rookie Forecast
Offseason Losses:
QB Kyle Allen, RB Damien Harris, WR Stefon Diggs, WR Gabe Davis, WR Trent Sherfield, C Mitch Morse, DE Shaq Lawson, DT Linval Joseph, DT Tim Settle, DT Poona Ford, DE/OLB Leonard Floyd, LB Tyrel Dodson, CB Tre’Davious White, CB Dane Jackson, S Micah Hyde, S Jordan Poyer.
2024 Buffalo Bills Offense:
The Bills were supposed to possess one of the top offenses in the NFL last year, so it was a huge surprise that the team was limited to 25 or fewer points in seven of their first 10 games. They were held to fewer than 20 points on three occasions. Given that the scoring unit was loaded with great talent like Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs, something had to change.
Offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey fell on the sword and was replaced by Joe Brady. The upgrade was instantaneous, as the offense scored 24 or more points in every game except for one following Brady’s promotion. Allen began scrambling more after failing to do so during the early stages of the season. The Bills also relied more on James Cook, who was utilized heavily in the passing game. The front office spent a fourth-round pick on Ray Davis in an effort to keep relying on the run.
The only aspect of Buffalo’s offense that didn’t improve following Dorsey’s firing was Stefon Diggs’ production. It’s possible that Diggs may have been playing with an undisclosed injury late in the year, but his numbers plummeted under Brady. The Bills realized that they didn’t need Diggs anymore, opting to ship him off to Houston. Gabe Davis is also gone, so the Bills are down their top two receivers from a year ago. They responded by signing Curtis Samuel, who has experience in Brady’s system from their Carolina days, and drafting Keon Coleman atop Round 2. Coleman is a huge end zone target, though it remains to be seen how he’ll perform immediately. There’s also Khalil Shakir, who had a couple of solid performances in 2023, and Dalton Kincaid, who had terrific production for a rookie tight end.
While the Bills will need at least one young receiver to step up this season, the question marks on the offensive line are equally imperative. Long-time center Mitch Morse is gone, so Connor McGovern will take over that spot. McGovern struggled at guard last year, but will he be able to improve his play at center? If not, can fifth-round rookie Sedrick Van Pran show enough to displace McGovern in the event that the Bills have poor play at center? Furthermore, can David Edwards effectively replace McGovern’s spot at guard? Then, there’s right guard. Can O’Cyrus Torrence improve upon his pedestrian rookie campaign?
The Bills at least don’t have any question marks at tackle. Dion Dawkins is still a Pro Bowl-caliber blocker on the blind side, while Spencer Brown has proven himself to be a rock-solid bookend for Dawkins.
2024 Buffalo Bills Defense:
The Bills looked to have a terrific defense last year. They limited their first four opponents to 22 points or fewer, and two of those teams scored a combined 13 points. Disaster struck after Week 4, however, as numerous defenders went down with injuries.
The most prominent loss was Matt Milano, one of the better linebackers in the NFL. Milano’s absence may have been a silver lining because it allowed second-year Terrel Bernard to shine. Bernard had a solid season, so he and Milano project to be a great duo in the middle of Buffalo’s defense.
Tre’Davious White also suffered an injury. The Bills compensated for this by trading for Rasul Douglas. The former Packer did not disappoint in his new home. He’ll continue to start across from Christian Benford, who played some terrific football in his first season as a starter in 2023. Like Benford, Taron Johnson improved his play and should keep performing well in the slot.
While the Bills return all the cornerbacks who finished the 2023 season, they’ll have some major turnover at safety. The mainstays at the position, Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde, are both gone. They’ll be replaced by Taylor Rapp, who was a solid starter for the Rams a couple of seasons ago, and second-round rookie Cole Bishop, an athletic player.
Another player who spent plenty of time on the injury report was Von Miller, though this was expected because he tore his ACL in November 2022. Miller is still on the roster, but isn’t expected to serve in a role larger than a situational pass rusher. The two players ahead of him on the depth chart, Greg Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa, both performed on a high level last year. They’ll have to take on more of a responsibility this year, as Leonard Floyd and his 10.5 sacks are gone. However, Epenesa and Rousseau combined for 11.5 sacks last year despite neither playing more than half the snaps.
Buffalo’s top returning sack leader is Ed Oliver, who accounted for 9.5 sacks in 2023. Oliver isn’t very good in run support, but he more than makes up for it with his terrific ability to generate pressure on the quarterback. He’ll once again start next to DaQuan Jones, who was another player who was sorely missed last year due to injury. Jones, who played just seven games, excels as both a run stuffer and a pass rusher.
2024 Buffalo Bills Schedule and Intangibles:
Tyler Bass didn’t have a great year by his standards, but he was still decent. He went 24-of-29, including 4-of-6 from 50-plus.
Buffalo spent a sixth-round pick on Matt Ariza to be the team’s new punter, but Ariaza unjustly lost his job due to false accusations. Sam Martin became the punter instead, and he struggled last year, finishing near the bottom in net punting average.
Buffalo has a tough schedule for the most part. Outside of Arizona, Tennessee and New England twice, the Bills don’t have any easy opponents on the slate.
2024 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.
2024 Buffalo Bills Positional Rankings (1-5 stars):
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Projection: 11-6 (Tied 1st in AFC East)
2023 Projection: 13-4. 2023 Actual Result: 11-6.
2022 Projection: 14-3. 2022 Actual Result: 13-3.
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+ GradeGoals Entering the 2024 NFL Draft: The Bills lost their top two receivers this offseason, so they need to find a new No. 1 target for Josh Allen in order to compete with the other top teams in the AFC. With extra picks, the front office can make that happen. Buffalo also has to find some more talent defensively to compensate for some departures this offseason.
2024 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Many thought the Bills would trade up for a receiver like Brian Thomas Jr. or Xavier Worthy. Instead, the front office traded down twice. While this was frustrating for some Buffalo fans, the team acquired more assets and still came away with a receiver who received first-round consideration in Keon Coleman.
The Bills didn’t obtain another receiver after that, instead focusing on the offensive line and defense. They secured a potential replacement for departed center Mitch Morse in the fifth round with Sedrick Van Pran, who was a steal at that selection. Safety Cole Bishop and defensive tackle DeWayne Carter provided good value in the second and third rounds, respectively, as well.
Because the Bills traded down twice in the opening round, they ended up with 10 selections. Of the 10, none scored worse than a “B” grade. Only three were A- or better, but this shows that Buffalo had a strong draft overall. The team didn’t always get the best players, but it strengthened its roster, filled needs, and acquired more assets.
NFL Draft Individual Grades:
33. Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State – A+ Grade
Charlie Campbell reported that this would be either Ladd McConkey or Keon Coleman, and surprise, surprise, Charlie is right again. Coleman makes a lot of sense for the Bills, as he fills a huge need. He also comes with some value because I know of one team that considered him at the end of the opening round. I also love that Buffalo moved down twice to land Coleman.
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60. Cole Bishop, S, Utah – B+ Grade
The Bills lost both starting safeties this offseason. This pick obviously fills a big need with a player I had going a bit earlier than this, so I like the value. Cole Bishop has tons of upside with his great athleticism. He’s a bit raw, but he could turn into a great defender for Buffalo.
95. DeWayne Carter, DT, Duke – B+ Grade
DeWayne Carter makes sense here for the Bills as a fringe second-day prospect. Buffalo had a weakness in the interior of the defensive line as far as depth is concerned, so Carter will help in that regard as he improves the team’s ability to stop the run.
128. Ray Davis, RB, Kentucky – B+ Grade
Ray Davis is a tough, physical back who can catch passes well, so he complements James Cook well. This is a solid move for the Bills, as Ray Davis could have been chosen 20-30 picks earlier without any complaints, and he fills a need.
141. Sedrick Van Pran, C, Georgia – A Grade
The Bills said goodbye to their long-time center Mitch Morse recently, so they needed to find a new player at the position. Sedrick Van Pran could be a solid starter in the near future, as he projects as a quality pass protector.
160. Edefuan Ulofoshio, LB, Washington – B Grade
The Bills needed a linebacker after losing players at the position in free agency. Edefuan Ulofoshio makes sense here at the end of the fifth round. He’s a raw player, but has plenty of potential, so perhaps he can be a starter one day.
168. Javon Solomon, DE, Troy – B+ Grade
Javon Solomon is a terrific pass rusher who would have gone much earlier than this if he weren’t undersized. Solomon won’t be able to play a ton of snaps in the NFL, but he’ll be impactful as a designated pass rusher, which is something the Bills needed to acquire.
204. Tylan Grable, OT, Central Florida – A- Grade
I like this pick, as some of Charlie’s sources listed Tylan Grable as a sleeper. Grable has plenty of athleticism, and protecting Josh Allen is never a bad thing.
219. Daequan Hardy, CB, Penn State – B Grade
Daequan Hardy was not expected to be the first Penn State cornerback chosen, but here we are. Daequan Hardy is a fast corner, but is very small. He’s a projected nickel cornerback, and he’ll be able to satisfy a need for the cornerback-hungry Bills.
221. Travis Clayton, G, England – B+ Grade
Travis Clayton is a lengthy tackle who ran a 4.81. He’s super raw, but perhaps he can be the next Jordan Mailata, a seventh-round prospect who had no football experience but turned into a Pro Bowler.
Season Summary:
The Bills looked like the best team in the NFL prior to their London game. Unfortunately for them, they suffered massive injuries and then lost to some poor opponents. They managed to rebound and reach the second round of the playoffs, but more injuries derailed their chances.
Offseason Moves:
Team Needs:
- Wide Receiver: Buffalo sorely needs downfield weapons for Josh Allen to complement Stefon Diggs. This was apparent last offseason, but the problem was not addressed. (Update: Diggs was traded, so another receiver is needed.) Signed Curtis Samuel
- Two Interior Offensive Linemen: Interior blocking has also been a problem for the Bills for a long time. An upgrade at guard is still needed.
- Safety: Micah Hyde and Taylor Rapp both have expiring contracts in March. Hyde has been tremendous for a long time, but at 33, he’s no longer the same player he once was. Signed Mike Edwards
- Defensive Tackle: DaQuan Jones would be a significant player to lose via free agency. He’ll need to be replaced if the Bills can’t keep him. Signed Austin Johnson
- Edge Rusher: Von Miller looked like a shell of his former self last year, while Leonard Floyd is due to hit free agency.
- Running Back: James Cook doesn’t seem like he can handle an entire workload, so the Bills may want to find someone better than Latavius Murray or Damien Harris to share it with him.
- Linebacker: Linebacker depth will be needed if Tyrel Dodson leaves via free agency. Matt Milano is great, but cannot be trusted to stay healthy. Signed Nicholas Morrow
- Backup Quarterback: Kyle Allen is an impending free agent. Signed Mitchell Trubisky
- Kicker: Can the Bills rely on Tyler Bass in a big moment again?
- Punter: Sam Martin was in the bottom 10 of net average last year.
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2024 NFL Free Agent Signings:
Buffalo Bills Free Agents:
Salary Cap: TBA.
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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