At least one ESPN NFL insider is wasting no time jumping aboard the Buffalo Bills bandwagon.
In a recent roundtable discussion among ESPN NFL analysts, Dan Graziano picked the Bills to win their first Super Bowl next season.
Should we start planning the parade route now? Graziano says the Bills will best the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI in at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
“I have no idea who to pick in the NFC, but I don’t want to pick the [Buccaneers] because I don’t believe in repeats in this league,” he said. “The Rams look good, and we’ll go with them — until the next time I’m asked for a pick. But the headline here is the first Super Bowl title in Bills history and a statue for [head coach Sean] McDermott in Buffalo.”
That is quite the headline, and indicative of how highly the Bills are regarded around the league.
Buffalo managed to keep its core intact coming off an AFC Championship Game appearance, re-signing stalwarts such as linebacker Matt Milano and right tackle Daryl Williams, as well as extending safety Micah Hyde to affordable deals. In addition, they re-upped a valuable ancillary piece like Isaiah McKenzie. The speedy playmaker said he would’ve gotten paid in candy to stay in Buffalo.
But the Bills didn’t stop at bringing back their own players.
General manager Brandon Beane landed veteran wideout Emmanuel Sanders on a one-year deal, and even signed Mitchell Trubisky to back up Josh Allen at quarterback. The team’s biggest weak spot, defensive edge rusher, was addressed via the 2021 NFL Draft with Greg Rousseau and Carlos Basham Jr.
Right now, the biggest personnel question facing the Bills revolves around Allen’s inevitable extension. They picked up his fifth-year option earlier this month.
A Super Bowl win would complete Buffalo’s incredible upward trajectory since hiring McDermott in January of 2017. The Bills have qualified for the playoffs three times over the last four years, capturing the AFC East last season for the first time since the 1995 season.
Though the New England Patriots spent a record-setting $160 million in guarantees this free agency, the Bills are still rightfully considered the favorites in the division. They have one of the best rosters and operations in the National Football League.
As training camp approaches, expect the Bills bandwagon to become pretty full. Graziano was wise to get his ticket early.
