Buffalo Bills stock up, stock down

Organized team activities are in full swing, and there are plenty of storylines and position battles to monitor for each team. Here are how the stocks of four Bills are shaping up heading into the season:

Stock up

Josh Allen, quarterback: At this point last year, many considered Allen the second-best quarterback in the NFL, but he struggled in his first season without Brian Daboll as his play-caller. Allen often played carelessly, which resulted in him leading the league with 19 turnovers. 

It's worth noting, however, that an injury to his throwing elbow suffered in Buffalo's Week 9 loss to the Jets may explain his inefficiency.

Over the first seven games last season, Allen averaged 314 passing yards per game, completing 65.5% of his passes. Through the final nine regular-season games, the 27-year-old threw for just 231.7 yards per game with a 61.4% completion rate. (Buffalo only played 16 regular-season games in 2022 because one game, against Cincinnati, was canceled following Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsing on the field.)

Added weapons, a return to full health and another year under OC Ken Dorsey could be what Allen needs to re-establish himself as the best QB not named Patrick Mahomes. 

Dorian Williams, linebacker: Last season's leading tackler, Tremaine Edmunds, departed in free agency. Despite 2022 third-rounder Terrel Bernard appearing to be Edmunds' likely successor, Williams — Buffalo's third-round pick this year — could be the one ultimately to land the job. GM Brandon Beane initially said Williams, who played at Tulane, would begin his career as an outside linebacker, but he has worked alongside the middle linebackers during OTAs. 

Head coach Sean McDermott announced that Williams is focused solely on learning middle linebacker, which should indicate that he's Buffalo's preferred option. Williams should be able to use his 4.49 speed in the 40-yard dash to his advantage, as he did while in college. His 132 tackles last season were the second most in the American Athletic Conference. 

Stock down

Gabriel Davis, wide receiver: The third-year breakout expected of Davis following a four-touchdown performance in a 2021 AFC divisional-round loss to Kansas City never materialized. While the Central Florida product still posted career highs in receptions (48) and receiving yards (836) last season, it's evident he's not the most reliable receiver.

Davis dropped seven passes last season, tied for the most in the league. Drops are bound to happen in a high-volume passing attack like Buffalo's, but Davis repeatedly failed to haul in routine targets. As long as he's attached to Allen, Davis should be able to deliver decent results, but he hasn't shown enough to suggest he's a premier No. 2 wideout.

James Cook, running back: A second-round pick in last year's draft, Cook shined in a complementary role to Devin Singletary, rushing for 507 yards and catching 21 passes for 180 yards in 2022. Cook's promising dual-threat capabilities led to the Bills trading Zack Moss at midseason to the Colts for RB Nyheim Hines, who served as Buffalo's returner. 

Buffalo let Singletary walk in free agency, which provides Cook with a path to act as lead back, albeit with certain obstacles. The Bills signed veterans Damien Harris and Latavius Murray this offseason, two running backs heavier than Cook. Harris and Murray will likely handle the red-zone touches, and with Allen always a threat to run, Cook's ceiling will be capped.