Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - It feels like a different kind of excitement this year for the Buffalo Bills.
There was plenty of intrigue with the team the past three years, but ultimately the message really came down to “they don’t ask how, but how many” in the win column.
The Bills were the betting favorites for several years, but unable to finish the job. Most recently, it was losing in the ever-popular AFC Divisional Round, Game of the Year against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Such heavy expectations can ruin the curiosity of a roster, especially when the team was essentially running it back with the same core.
As if the loss to Kansas City didn’t hurt enough, the Bills and the fanbase had to say goodbye to a lot of big names that propelled Buffalo into a contention window. While some players had some diminished impacts in 2023 like Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde and Tre’Davious White, the Bills also let go of the likes of Mitch Morse, Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis.
It was a tough offseason, one that should be likened to taking medicine: It tastes awful, it’s bitter as hell, but the team will be better off for it.
But in the NFL, when old faces leave, new ones have to step in.
That brings me to the fascination of the 2024 Bills roster: The new faces will make the "how" more interesting.
The Bills have big shoes to fill at wide receiver, offensive line and in the secondary. While Buffalo is still expected to win games with Josh Allen as their quarterback, the roster construction is far more interesting.
On defense, rookie safety Cole Bishop should be a face to look out for, as the second-round pick from the University of Utah will be seen as the future at safety.
When Rasul Douglas came in from the Green Bay Packers at the trade deadline last year, he had an immediate impact.
Will Kaiir Elam be able to step up in Year 3? Elam adds even more intrigue to the secondary, if he can live up to the potential he showed in his rookie year.
Buffalo also signed away Mike Edwards from the Chiefs to be a projected starter with Taylor Rapp at safety.
The Bills made a lot of depth signings on the front seven of the defense as well, highlighted by defensive end Dawuane Smoot and linebacker Deion Jones.
Related
Then there is the offense.
Replacing Morse, Davis and Diggs, players that have been healthy and productive in their time in Buffalo, would be a tall task on its own.
At center, Morse is set to be replaced by last year’s starting guard, Connor McGovern. Meanwhile, there will likely be competition for McGovern’s spot led by David Edwards.
How Morse’s departure will impact one of the better offensive lines of last season will be worth looking into. However, the Bills still return the other four in Dion Dawkins, Spencer Brown, O’Cyrus Torrence and McGovern.
Last, but not least, there is wide receiver.
While a certain show of ours may have created a monster that could not be stopped on draft night, the sentiment was clear: Invest in the position, while holding onto an ace under center in Allen.
The names brought in were not very flashy, but it looks more like a by-committee approach to replace Diggs and Davis. And fans will be paying attention to this group to see what it will end up looking like.
Rookie Keon Coleman comes in with the youth and the personality that makes anyone want to root for him.
Curtis Samuel has played with awful quarterbacks his entire career, so playing with Allen may boost his career arc.
Marquez Valdez-Scantling comes in as a deep threat.
Chase Claypool is hoping to revive his once-promising career.
Mack Hollins has shown to have some offensive prowess in addition to his ability as a special teams contributor.
K.J. Hamler is hoping to overcome injuries that derailed a promising 2020 rookie season.
Khalil Shakir is the only wide receiver in this room that has caught a pass from Allen in the regular season.
Altogether, the 2024 Bills are far more fascinating in "how" they will win, because with Allen at quarterback, we no longer worry much about the "how many." And watching how they win (and who becomes the new core) will be far more entertaining this time around.
