An optimist's guide to the 2024 Buffalo Bills

After gutting their roster earlier this offseason as a way to free up cap space, many expect the Buffalo Bills to take a step back in 2024.

Even though the team might look different this season, Buffalo should still firmly be considered a Super Bowl contender. Here is why.

Josh Allen is Josh Allen 

As long as Allen is at the helm, Buffalo's window of contention will never be shut. Say what you want about the interceptions (he's thrown the most since 2018), but Allen is still a top-three quarterback in the NFL, and he's not slowing down anytime soon.

In 2023, the two-time Pro Bowler had the most total yards (4,830) and touchdowns (44) among quarterbacks, marking his fourth consecutive season with at least 42 TDs. To put into perspective how dominant Allen has been to start his career, his 221 total touchdowns are the most of any quarterback through his first six NFL seasons.

Despite being knocked out by the Kansas City Chiefs in last season’s AFC Divisional Round, Allen's performance provides optimism that he's still capable of delivering Buffalo its first Super Bowl. Following a disappointing 2022 playoff run, Allen completed 68.1% of his passes for 389 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions during the 2023 postseason while rushing for 146 yards and three scores on the ground.

The Bills can count on Allen to shoulder a massive load in the playoffs, but they will need more from his supporting cast. Perhaps the changes the team made this offseason will prove to make all the difference. 

Better off without Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis?  

Buffalo's most notable offseason losses were Davis (signed with Jacksonville) and Diggs (traded to Houston), leaving the team's receiving corps in a state of uncertainty. 

Last season, Diggs and Davis were Buffalo's two leading receivers, combining for 1,929 yards and 15 touchdowns. While that appears to be a significant amount of production to lose, it's possible each player's departure could be a case of addition by subtraction.

It's no secret that Diggs wasn't happy with his role in Buffalo. However, aside from the drama he stirred, his play declined drastically once the team replaced former OC Ken Dorsey with Joe Brady. 

Buffalo adopted a run-first offensive approach under Brady, resulting in Diggs averaging a mere 45 yards over his final seven regular season games, during which he scored just one touchdown. Considering Buffalo will be running the same offense this season, it probably won't miss the 45 yards per game Diggs was producing too much. 

Davis, on the other hand, struggled to consistently make an impact throughout his Bills tenure. Although he amassed the second-most receiving yards of his career last season (746), Davis failed to catch a pass in four games, and he also appeared in three other contests in which he didn't gain more than 21 yards. 

The Bills will now have to lean on talented, but rather inexperienced pass-catching weapons consisting of second-year TE Dalton Kincaid, second-round rookie Keon Coleman and WRs Khalil Shakir and Curtis Samuel. Kincaid might end up leading the team in targets this season, though Coleman (658 yards and 11 touchdowns for Florida State in 2023) should quickly emerge as Buffalo's new No. 1 wide receiver. 

Rookie class could have several instant contributors

Coleman won't be the only rookie to receive significant playing time for Buffalo. GM Brandon Beane made the most of his 10 draft picks and may have landed four players who could become starters down the road.

Aside from picking up Coleman, the Bills added two intriguing pieces to their defense in safety Cole Bishop and DT DeWayne Carter on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Bishop, who racked up 60 tackles, 6.5 for loss, three sacks, four pass breakups and two interceptions at Utah last season, has a versatile skill set and could ultimately be a Week 1 starter. Meanwhile, Carter, a disruptive pass-rusher and the first three-time captain in Duke history, will likely be a rotational piece to start his career, but he should serve in multiple important roles for Buffalo. 

In the fifth round, the Bills selected Georgia's Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, a center who could take over as their starter if Connor McGovern's transition to the position doesn't pan out. Across his three seasons as a starter at Georgia, Van Pran-Granger won more national championships (two) than he allowed sacks (one).