Once again, another season for the Bills falls at the hands of Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Buffalo has been to the playoffs six times in the last seven years, yet they have still not been able to advance to the big game.
The Bills won the AFC East for the fourth time in a row last season, lead by Josh Allen. Allen put up great numbers in 2023 but that was with a lot of weapons that he will be without in 2024. Buffalo took a hit this offseason with many notable departures on both sides of the football.
Obviously the biggest news this offseason for the Bills was the loss of Stefon Diggs. Josh Allen's favorite target was traded to Houston this offseason for a couple of late round picks. Diggs had always seemed to have lots of verbal confrontations and clear frustration with other Bills, so it wasn't surprising that the Bills felt it was time to move on.
Along with Diggs, Gabe Davis also walked in free agency as he signed with the Jags. Just like that, Josh Allen's two favorite options are both gone. The only familiar face in the receiver room from last year now is Khalil Shakir. The Bills did try to replace Diggs and Davis as they drafted Keon Coleman out of Florida State.
Around the organization there is high hopes for Keon Coleman as a Bill. Coming straight into the NFL as a top receiver on your team with Josh Allen throwing you the football could very well help your career take off instantly. Coleman showed at Florida State that he has the ability to takeover as WR1 on the Bills at some point this season.
Josh Allen didn't lose all of his weapons as he still has his trusted tight ends, Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox, and running back, James Cook. Cook had excellent numbers last season after he proved to be a threat through the air and on the ground. The sky is the limit for Cook in 2024.
The defense, on the other hand, looks a whole lot different. Buffalo moved on from a big chunk of their defense during the offseason. The three players who ran the Bills secondary for most of recent history, Jordan Poyer, Tre'Davious White, and Micah Hyde, all departed. The faces of the Bills secondary for years, all gone in 2024.
Luckily for the Bills, they have a very deep secondary that can still hold down the fort for Buffalo even without their veterans that have moved on. For a defense that ranked in top ten a season ago, Buffalo was able to retain most of their defensive line and linebackers for 2024. With the production of the offense taking a hit, the Bills are going to need their defense to step up at times this year.
Analysts and experts around the league believe that the Bills will be able to get back to the postseason once again, but I don't think it will be that easy. For the first time since 2019, the Bills will surrender the division and hope to make a wild card, but don't be surprised if they are on the outside looking in come playoff time.
No comments:
Post a Comment