Who’s the Superstar?

[H2o]

19 minutes ago, AlCowlingsTaxiService said:

Guys like Palmer and Moore (mentioned by yall) are coming into the best situations they have ever been in. 
 

 

I swear I heard the same stuff regarding Shurfield/Hardy

Sherfieild and Harty both previously had a single flash in the pan season, that was still lower tier even for a flash in the pan. Palmer and Moore have already shown they could be more and have dwarfed the production of the other two you mentioned. I see Moore as being another John Brown type, but a better route runner, with JA17 throwing him the ball. Palmer is more of a Tyler Boyd type, who had some really solid years in Cincy. We don't need a Diggs or some other top end WR to have a great offense with JA17. We just need the sum of those parts to be greater than they were last year. I think we have that. 

[QB Bills]

Probably nobody. This team does not have any elite talent outside of Josh. Luckily he's that good that it might not even matter.

[Artful Dodger]

Reid Ferguson, the Bill's long snapper.  He's the longest tenured player on the team and he just signed an extension with Buffalo for another four years, so he must be really good at what he does.  Also, there are no superstar long snappers in the league, so that's a gap waiting to be filled.  

[DrDawkinstein]

Seems no one wants to admit the obvious, the only Bills skill position player to make NFLN's Top 100...

 

Another year running behind the same line, in the same system, that helped take him to his best season yet. If he does it again it will be known as his breakout year.

 

James Cook.

 

 

[ganesh]

2 hours ago, yall said:

I'm thinking Moore had a legit shot to take off.

Locked On Bills had a good point today...  Allen threw almost 200 passes lesser than Burrow.....475 or something like that....None of the WRs are going to get any "superstar" result as the Bills have completely moved over to a run-first offense..

 

I am waiting for a repeat of  Moulds + Price both getting 1000 Yards in the same season....but not keeping my hopes up

[HappyDays]

It's a good question. The Bills have lacked stars and those are the players that you need to make game changing plays in critical moments of critical games. If Kincaid was a star last year we might have gone to the Super Bowl. So yeah it's a meaningful talking point.

 

The obvious place to look first is young players from last year that looked like they were on the verge of breaking out, especially at premium positions. In that respect there aren't any obvious candidates for the Bills. I expect Coleman to take a significant step but I can't say he is on the verge of being a superstar. Bishop at this point I'm just hoping becomes a decent player. Same goes for the rest of last year's rookie class. From the 2023 class Kincaid is the only name that seems even remotely possible, and yeah I'm not ready to predict that.

 

So then I would look to the first picks of this year's draft class. It's very difficult to become a star as a rookie but we drafted some players with high end athletic traits for a defense that badly needed those traits so it's at least reasonably possible. Sanders I expect to have an impact but being part of a rotation behind an established vet in Oliver will limit his opportunities. Same for Jackson and I think he's two years away from reaching his ceiling in any case. So for me the most likely candidate on the team is Maxwell Hairston. His path to a full time starting position is clear. CB is a premium position and makes impact plays. And he has the athletic ability to make plays that go above and beyond the scheme which is what defines stars. In actuality I'm not predicting he becomes a star that quickly because of the learning curve but he's the only candidate on the roster I feel reasonably hopeful for.

 

A sneaky pick might be Spencer Brown. He doesn't meet the usual traits of a breakout star because he plays a non-premium position and is already several years into his career. Penei Sewell and Lane Johnson are probably the only RTs playing today that would be considered to be stars. But if Brown takes another step forward from last year he could be in that discussion. To me he's already a star as a run blocker. If he can get his pass protection a little closer to that level I'd put him in the star category.

[SCBills]

I think the only guys I’d be money on becoming superstars this year are Spencer Brown, James Cook and Dalton Kincaid. 
 

As @HappyDays points out above, Spencer Brown is a notch below Lane Johnson & Penei Sewell, with Lane himself talking up Brown as one of the young studs of that position.   He was incredibly raw coming out of college and has made a jump every recent year as a pro.   If he makes another one, he’s in that caliber of RT that could be considered a weapon. 
 

Kincaid has the traits to be a star tight end.  1) He has to stay healthy as injuries torpedoed him last season and rendered him pretty much mediocre with a drop to end the season.  2) He and Allen need to get on the same page.  If they do, he was open quite a few times for big plays down the field. 
 

Cook, if used more in the passing game and shows some semblance of increased pass blocking ability, becomes Alvin Kamara in his prime.  I don’t think that hyperbole.  We know he can catch and run routes, we know he’s a top tier runner, but his inability to pass block has hindered his usage in that area.   I think we’d all consider Kamara in his prime a superstar, so with Cook it’s up to him with his pass blocking and up to Brady/McDermott on usage. 
 

I think McGovern and Torrence are both Top 5-10 at their position potential, but maybe a notch below the top guys, with Dawkins Top 5 but as at his age/development, pretty much at his prime.

 

Quite a few WR2 potential guys in Coleman, Palmer, Shakir and a dark horse in Moore, but not sure I see any WR1 guys yet.

 

On Defense, I think guys like Benford, Rousseau, Bosa, Oliver, Bernard, Milano and Johnson all have high end potential but for various reason, I don’t see superstar ability aside from maybe Rousseau if he still has another jump to make (very possible) and Bosa, if he can stay healthy.  That would leave the rookies, and of them, Hairston & Sanders have superstar traits.. but are rookies. 

[RoscoeParrish]

1 hour ago, H2o said:

Sherfieild and Harty both previously had a single flash in the pan season, that was still lower tier even for a flash in the pan. Palmer and Moore have already shown they could be more and have dwarfed the production of the other two you mentioned. I see Moore as being another John Brown type, but a better route runner, with JA17 throwing him the ball. Palmer is more of a Tyler Boyd type, who had some really solid years in Cincy. We don't need a Diggs or some other top end WR to have a great offense with JA17. We just need the sum of those parts to be greater than they were last year. I think we have that. 

I can’t think of a worse comp for Palmer than Tyler Boyd.

 

Boyd was a slot predominant guy who had 2 1000 yard seasons in his first 4 years.

 

Palmer is a boundary WR with like half the production.

Edited July 19 by RoscoeParrish

[PonyBoy]

3 hours ago, I'm Spartacus said:

Reid Ferguson.

 

His friends call him Turd..

 

[Maynard]

If we are just going with rooks here my pick would be Walker. If his back is fully healed and he is able to return to his 2023 form, watch out.

[BuffaloBillyG]

1 hour ago, Maine-iac said:

Bosa is a healthy season away from still being a superstar.  While it may be unlikely it's not impossible to think that if Bosa stays healthy he could be a force on defense.  He looked really good in last years playoffs.  So many pessimists, and maybe they're right, but I'm going hope he's still got at least one more good season in him.

I agree with this 100%.

 

The thing I think helps is out is Bosa is here on a 1 year deal. This is his "prove it". Really the last chance he has to turn this season into a big contract. And he realizes this. He knows if he wants a big payday next year, he needs to produce this year. That means he has to stay on the field. I think a lot of the injuries that saw him out in the past he will play through. I think he appears on the injury report frequently, but is game day active for a high % of games.

[julian]

I think Hairston will quickly show people what a play making corner he is and cement himself as CB1 by the end of the season.

 

 Cole Bishop has a chance to surprise as well.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

6 hours ago, Billsfed1 said:

Who’s the guy not named Allen that really takes off?

 

Barger for the Blue Jays is a great example, kids gonna be a star.  

 

When I look at the Bills I’m thinking Jackson, Walker and Strong.  Possibly Hawes.

 

Walker is going to get the opportunity, same for Hawes. I think they both really light it up at home but we’ll see

 

interesting take re Hawes. But I will say that our third TEs though never have gotten chances to really do anything. I always thought Q Morris was a stud, but never got enough game action. And everyone was high on Davidson, but he also never played. 

[Draconator]

Bass

[yall]

3 hours ago, ganesh said:

Locked On Bills had a good point today...  Allen threw almost 200 passes lesser than Burrow.....475 or something like that....None of the WRs are going to get any "superstar" result as the Bills have completely moved over to a run-first offense..

 

I am waiting for a repeat of  Moulds + Price both getting 1000 Yards in the same season....but not keeping my hopes up

With this offense, two guys hitting 1k is super unlikely.

 

I could see Moore getting 900-1100 yards and 7-9 TDs. I think he has that level of talent.

 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

They already have two

James Cook

Spencer Brown

 

I know it's been stated numerous times, but Elihah Moore could be the breakout star WR especially if one of the other top 4 misses any time. 

 

I would like to say Kincaid but I don’t think Brady will use him like other elite TEs. That's a shame.

 

On defense, sorry but I don't see anyone being a star. If I had to pick anyone I'd say a healthy Milano may have the best chance to be a star again. If you want to take a flier, I will choose Bishop. He is supposed to be athletic and McD took average looking guys and turned them into superstars in the past. 

 

Benford not even getting a mention in top CBs anonymous poll makes me really worry we have overrated him. 

[SCBills]

RGIII chimes in.. for whatever that’s worth. 
 

 

[PoundingDog]

I am intrigued by James Cook. 2 probowl seasons over 1000 yards rushing. Does he have another gear in 2025?

 

There is no question he's probably 2nd best skilled player on this team. While people may say 2024 is his breakout season, look at 2023, and he was not even the starter to start that season. We noticed him more because in 2024, those big runs - he had 4 runs going for 40+ yards and 6 going for 20+. In comparison, Derrick Henry had 6 runs going for 40+ yards but 19 going for 20+, and that my friend is a stats that make DCs say "we gotta stop him" (Our HoF Thurman Thomas'  best is 1991 like 11 20+ yard runs). Now you also have to consider Henry had 320+ carries compared to Cook's 200+ carries.

 

Cook will no doubt buckle down and try his best in 2025 with his contract situation. You gotta think McDermott's preference to run the ball and Brady's review of the 2024 season recognizing the weapon Cook was. Trust me opposing DCs will look out for Cook more this season, but if he is able to put another step forward with the likely more work load thsi season, the Bills offense could be better than last year.

 

Before everyone accuse me comparing Cook to Henry, Cook is obviously a class below Henry, but they have very different styles. Henry is not good blocker either. Cook's vision, the way he sees/sets blocking crossing the LOS while using his horizontal speed is very unique and effective, almost looked effortless. Henry is deceptive in terms of his speed (not quite horizontal speed). Cook also has deceptive speed. Ask Poyer, who knew Cook since he came to the league, that if you take a slight bad angle on Cook ... 

Edited July 20 by PoundingDog

[Ethan in Cleveland]

44 minutes ago, PoundingDog said:

I am intrigued by James Cook. 2 probowl seasons over 1000 yards rushing. Does he have another gear in 2025?

 

There is no question he's probably 2nd best skilled player on this team. While people may say 2024 is his breakout season, look at 2023, and he was even the starter to start that season. We noticed him more because in 2024, those big runs - he had 4 runs going for 40+ yards and 6 going for 20+. In comparison, Derrick Henry had 6 runs going for 40+ yards but 19 going for 20+, and that my friend is a stats that make DCs say "we gotta stop him" (Our HoF Thurman Thomas'  best is 1991 like 11 20+ yard runs). Now you also hae to cosider Henry had 320+ carries compared to Cook's 200+ carries.

 

Cook will no doubt buckle down and try his best in 2025 with his contract situation. You gotta think McDermott's preference to run the ball and Brady's review of the 2024 season recognizing the weapon Cook was. Trust me opposing DCs will look out for Cook more this season, but if he is able to put another step forward with the likely more work load thsi season, the Bills offense could be better than last year.

 

Before everyone accuse me comparing Cook to Henry, Cook is obviously a class below Henry, but they have very different styles. Henry is not good blocker either. Cook's vision, the way he sees/sets blocking crossing the LOS while using his horizontal speed is very unique and effective, almost looked effortless. Henry is deceptive in terms of his speed (not quite horizontal speed). Cook also has deceptive speed. Ask Poyer, who knew Cook since he came to the league, that if you take a slight bad angle on Cook ... 

Cook is a star. Dont apologize because you know it and many on here don't. 

To be fair, many recognize the talent they just don't want to pay a RB top dollar. It's a fair argument, just dont say he is not worth top 3 RB money. 

[SCBills]

6 minutes ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Cook is a star. Dont apologize because you know it and many on here don't. 

To be fair, many recognize the talent they just don't want to pay a RB top dollar. It's a fair argument, just dont say he is not worth top 3 RB money. 

Fair, but to us he is not.  Not on a team with an elite OL and Josh Allen. 
 

On other teams, especially if he proves he can play more on passing downs, yes.

 

My caveat, as I alluded to above, I think his ceiling is Alvin Kamara in his prime.  That’s a superstar.  And if he shows that this season, I’d pay for that.   That will require both an upgrade from Cook in the less sexy aspects of being a RB, along with more trust and opportunity from Brady and McDermott - along with him showing he won’t wear down over the season.  
 

A lot of if’s. 
 

Edited July 19 by SCBills