Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - While the 2025 offseason is not over, by any means, let's take a look at the moves the Buffalo Bills made on each side of the football, and how they might impact the team heading into the football season this summer.
We start with the offense, and everything on that side of the ball revolves around the quarterback.
Good news, Bills fans: Josh Allen is still the quarterback in Buffalo.
Even better news: One of the many offseason moves involving the offense included the Bills extending the contract of their franchise quarterback and the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player through the 2030 season.
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But what about the weapons around Allen?
The biggest changes this offseason came at wide receiver. Out go Mack Hollins (New England Patriots) and Amari Cooper (unsigned free agent), and in comes the likes of Joshua Palmer, Elijah Moore and Laviska Shenault Jr.
The loss of Hollins isn't crushing, by any means, but as the 2024 season went on, his production went up and he became a trusted receiver.
I was excited, at first, when the Bills traded for Cooper ahead of the NFL Trade Deadline last year, but that move never really amounted to anything.
Palmer was the biggest acquisition of the offseason for the offense. He brings something the receiving group desperately needed: Speed and ability to separate.
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During his time with the Los Angeles Chargers, Palmer was mostly an outside receiver over four years with the organization. Last season, he averaged 15.26 yards per-air target, ranked 12th in the NFL in route win rate, and was 17th in separation score. He totaled less than 600 yards the last two seasons, but did have 72 catches for 769 yards in 2022.
He should be in the top-three group of receivers along with Khalil Shakir and second-year wideout Keon Coleman.
I would anticipate Curtis Samuel being No. 4 on the depth chart, so Moore and Shenault will be in a group battling for one or, perhaps, two other spots.
The Bills did draft a receiver, taking Kaden Prather in the seventh round, but he'd be hard pressed to do better than making the practice squad coming out of the preseason.
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The offseason included the re-signing of free agent running back Ty Johnson, a very smart move by general manager Brandon Beane.
Johnson turned out to be a solid complementary piece in the running backs room with James Cook and Ray Davis. Johnson had 213 yards rushing, 284 receiving and four touchdowns. The trio of Cook, Davis and Johnson combined for 1,664 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns. They added 731 yards receiving and eight more touchdowns.
The Bills definitely have one of the deepest backfields in the league with this group.
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There was only one change at the tight end position, as the No. 3 man at that position, Quintin Morris, left via free agency and signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jackson Hawes, drafted by the Bills in the fifth round, will likely compete with Zach Davidson for Morris' old job.
The tight end story for the upcoming season will be more about whether Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid can bounce back from average performances in 2024.
The Bills didn't have to do much with the offensive line this offseason. All five starters were under contract and are back for this season, while they drafted Chase Lundt in the sixth round of the NFL Draft and signed Kendrick Green in free agency.
Organized team activity workouts (OTAs) for the Bills will be held May 27-29. Additional OTAs will be on June 2, 3 and 5, while mandatory minicamp will take place June 10-12.