Ranking the 15 greatest Bills ever

[GunnerBill]

14 hours ago, SoCal Deek said:

So to be clear, your ranking is limited to the second half of the franchise’s history. 

 

I think everyone should list only players they have seen play. Mine was since 2002. I just think highlights, stats and reputation are not great ways to rank guys you have never seen play. 

[eball]

It’s easier for me to separate out the top 15 offense and defense.  I don’t know how to “compare” an offensive player to a defensive player for the purposes of ranking them.

 

My top 15 Bills on offense (that I saw play) are (in no particular order):  Josh, Kelly, Ferguson, OJ, Thurman, Cribbs, Shady, Reed, Lofton, Moulds, Diggs, Hull, Ritcher, Ruben Brown, Joe DeLamielleure.  So I’ve got 3 QBs, 4 RBs, 4 WRs, and 4 OL.

 

Top 15 defense (that I saw play) are (also in no particular order):  Bruce, Biscuit, Talley, Hansen, Smerlas, Haslett, Nelson, Hyde, Poyer, Ted Washington, Odomes, Paup, Kyle Williams, Milano, Winfield.  That’s 6 DL (incl. Paup), 5 LB, and 4 DB.

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 11:07 AM by eball

[JP51]

8 hours ago, Ballsy said:

I was keeping it to football, but, yes, I agree that Kelly is better at a lot of things than Josh - surviving cancer, judging wet t-shirt contests in Daytona, etc.  The OP to which I replied made a statement which I believed was factually inaccurate:  something along of lines, "there is not one thing that Kelly is better at than Josh in football."   I found one think Kelly did better in football - getting to the Superbowl.  

I was not saying Kelly was more fortunate, or that Kelly was solely responsible for getting the Bills to the Superbowl. I'm just saying he was better than Josh at getting to Superbowls. That is indisputable.  I made no assertions as to the reason why he got to Superbowls.  Look, to be the QB of ANY team that makes the Superbowl, luck or fortune is a component.  Luck has played a part for Mahomes, Brady, etc.  So far, luck hasn't been kind to Josh in terms of advancing to the Superbowl.  Coaching, defense, injuries, refs, quarterback ability as well as a myriad of other factors all play a role in advancing a team to the Superbowl.  It's not just the Quarterback.  

We've had 59 Superbowls and I'll bet less than 70 total quarterbacks have started in the game (as many have started in multiple SBs).  Josh isn't one of them.  Does this mean Josh is a worse QB than Trent Dilfer or Tony Eason?  No.  But, like it or not, Josh will be judged on his lack of Superbowl appearances and Superbowl wins.  Charles Barkely, Allen Iverson, Barry Bonds never won rings, but they all at least made it to the finals.  Josh has yet to do that.

You had me at judging wet T Shirt constests... I said to myself... now why didnt I think of that LOL 

[SoCal Deek]

1 hour ago, eball said:

It’s easier for me to separate out the top 15 offense and defense.  I don’t know how to “compare” an offensive player to a defensive player for the purposes of ranking them.

 

My top 15 Bills on offense (that I saw play) are (in no particular order):  Josh, Kelly, Ferguson, OJ, Thurman, Cribbs, Shady, Reed, Lofton, Moulds, Diggs, Hull, Ritcher, Ruben Brown, Joe DeLamielleure.  So I’ve got 3 QBs, 4 RBs, 4 WRs, and 4 OL.

 

Top 15 defense (that I saw play) are (also in no particular order):  Bruce, Biscuit, Talley, Hansen, Smerlas, Haslett, Nelson, Hyde, Poyer, Ted Washington, Odomes, Paup, Kyle Williams, Milano, Winfield.  That’s 6 DL (incl. Paup), 5 LB, and 4 DB.

 

 

So take the next step and list your all time top eleven starting lineup on offense and defense. You can even add in a kicker, punter, and return man. 

[eball]

2 minutes ago, SoCal Deek said:

So take the next step and list your all time top eleven starting lineup on offense and defense. You can even add in a kicker, punter, and return man. 

 

Don't tell me what to do, man....

 

 

[SoCal Deek]

14 minutes ago, eball said:

 

Don't tell me what to do, man....

 

 

Ha! I think it’s that next step where some tough choices have to be made, and where some really interesting things are uncovered. For example…Kelly over Allen (probably not?). Simpson over Thomas (maybe?). How about Poyer and Hyde (did we see the best two safeties side by side for so many years?)

[oldmanfan]

28 minutes ago, SoCal Deek said:

Ha! I think it’s that next step where some tough choices have to be made, and where some really interesting things are uncovered. For example…Kelly over Allen (probably not?). Simpson over Thomas (maybe?). How about Poyer and Hyde (did we see the best two safeties side by side for so many years?)

I’ll take Saimes over both Hyde and Poyer

Edited Tuesday at 01:33 PM by oldmanfan

[SoCal Deek]

1 hour ago, oldmanfan said:

I’ll take Saimes over both Hyde and Poyer

That’s why I find this list so interesting. The game has changed quite a bit over the decades and positions like Safety have changed with it. 

[Fleezoid]

On 6/12/2025 at 7:36 PM, SoCal Deek said:

What would really be interesting is the Top Ten players who played for the Bills but went on to bigger things after leaving. 

 

This would be a lot easier if it were a Sabres list. 

[BearNorth]

I went through my data [mainly PFR]  and came up with the following All-Time Bills 22 + Kicker & Punter.

 

QB Josh Allen

RB OJ Simpson

WR Andre Reed

WR Eric Moulds

WR Lee Evans

TE Pete Metzelaars

T Dion Dawkins

T House Ballard

G Billy Shaw

G Ruben Brown

C Kent Hull

 

DE Bruce Smith

DT Tom Sestak

DT Ted Washington

DE Ron McDole

LB Mike Stratton

LB London Fletcher

LB Cornelius Bennett

CB Butch Byrd

CB Robert James

S George Saimes

S Tony Greene

 

K Steve Christie

P Paul Maguire

 

It should be noted that Jim Kelly, Thurman, and Fred Smerlas are equally worthy of a spot, those positions were very close.  

[SoCal Deek]

15 hours ago, BearNorth said:

I went through my data [mainly PFR]  and came up with the following All-Time Bills 22 + Kicker & Punter.

 

QB Josh Allen

RB OJ Simpson

WR Andre Reed

WR Eric Moulds

WR Lee Evans

TE Pete Metzelaars

T Dion Dawkins

T House Ballard

G Billy Shaw

G Ruben Brown

C Kent Hull

 

DE Bruce Smith

DT Tom Sestak

DT Ted Washington

DE Ron McDole

LB Mike Stratton

LB London Fletcher

LB Cornelius Bennett

CB Butch Byrd

CB Robert James

S George Saimes

S Tony Greene

 

K Steve Christie

P Paul Maguire

 

It should be noted that Jim Kelly, Thurman, and Fred Smerlas are equally worthy of a spot, those positions were very close.  

Well done! Just as I suspected…the only current players on the list are Josh Allen and Dion Dawkins. None on defense. Shows just what we’re dealing with on the current run to a championship. 

[US Egg]

It was Bruce Smith’s birthday yesterday.
 

Apparently, he was late to his party because he was driving and on the way there fell asleep at a red light.

[oldmanfan]

16 hours ago, BearNorth said:

I went through my data [mainly PFR]  and came up with the following All-Time Bills 22 + Kicker & Punter.

 

QB Josh Allen

RB OJ Simpson

WR Andre Reed

WR Eric Moulds

WR Lee Evans

TE Pete Metzelaars

T Dion Dawkins

T House Ballard

G Billy Shaw

G Ruben Brown

C Kent Hull

 

DE Bruce Smith

DT Tom Sestak

DT Ted Washington

DE Ron McDole

LB Mike Stratton

LB London Fletcher

LB Cornelius Bennett

CB Butch Byrd

CB Robert James

S George Saimes

S Tony Greene

 

K Steve Christie

P Paul Maguire

 

It should be noted that Jim Kelly, Thurman, and Fred Smerlas are equally worthy of a spot, those positions were very close.  

As an old timer I like your list.  I’d make a couple suggestions.  I’d have Jerry Butler instead of Evans.  I could argue for Joe D vs. Brown at G, but Brown was terrific.  But love you D backfield.

[ganesh]

Not a single list had Reuben Brown, 9 time Pro-Bowler and 4 time 2nd team All-Pro...He was a dominating guard during the transition period from Kelly to everyone else. 

[SoCal Deek]

I find it interesting that neither Reggie McKenzie or Joe D are on the all time O Line roster.