Bills Earn Notable Ranking For 'Scattershot' Approach This Offseason

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Jun 24, 2025 10:20 PM ET

The Buffalo Bills were three points away from a Super Bowl appearance in 2024, with Josh Allen having the ball last, but failed to get into field goal range.

Once again, the Bills fell to the Kansas City Chiefs, and this offseason has seen the franchise address what they think are the big weaknesses of the roster.

Allen got three new weapons in Joshua Palmer, Elijah Moore, and Laviska Shenault Jr., but the big change was defensively with the Bills adding pass rush help with Joey Bosa, along with Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi.

Plus, Buffalo's first five draft picks went on defense.

Such has been the Bills' offseason work, CBS Sports has ranked it in the top 10.

"Buffalo's offense was already in good shape, but Josh Palmer and Elijah Moore could be assets to that unit," CBS Sports writes. "The real changes were made on defense through a scattershot approach. Along the front seven, they added veterans Joey Bosa, Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi, as well as rookies T.J. Sanders, Landon Jackson and Deone Walker. They get dinged a bit because Ogunjobi and Hoecht will serve six-game suspensions to open the season, but the collection of those players should lead to improved results."

Offensively, the Bills appear set, with the addition of Palmer expected to give Allen his deep ball back, complementing slot star Khalil Shakir, along with Keon Coleman and tight end Dalton Kincaid.

But the biggest difference should be defensively, and Buffalo's ability to get off the field on critical downs. The Bills managed just 39 sacks in 2024 last season (ranked 18th), while the defense allowed a third-down conversion 44 percent of the time (ranked 30th).

That is the two biggest areas the Bills think they've improved.

And the hope is that the investment in free agency and the draft will be one of the reasons the 2025 season will be a successful one for Buffalo...finally.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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