Bills Player Ages

[Buffalo716]

6 minutes ago, VW82 said:

 

This isn't really addressing Septide's point which is that Josh's physical style of play likely has a shelf life. Elway and Young weren't exactly bowling guys over.

 

The better comparison is Cam Newton who hit a wall in his 30s and couldn't dominate the same way anymore. Josh is more talented than Newton as a passer and overall player so there should be lots of confidence he can change his game over time with considerable effectiveness, but he likely does have to change. Septide's related point about our receiving talent is on point as presumably one part of Josh running less is him needing to make more plays in the pocket; we could also lean more into our RBs. Anyway, I share the same concern about the Superman timeline. We maybe only have a year or two left of this version of Josh.    

Cam Newton had a shoulder injury which ruined his arm 

 

He could still run his entire career lol

 

I have posted multiple statistics over the years which breaks down 30 years of quarterback injuries showing that running quarterbacks do not get hurt at any more rate than a pocket passer

 

In fact it's safer outside the pocket than inside the pocket and Josh Allen is taking on smaller corners and safeties , even some linebackers are smaller than Josh when he gets outside the pocket 

 

Inside the pocket you are stationary with 300 hound men flying around your kneecaps... 

 

Most quarterback injuries happen inside the pocket over the last 30 years and no data shows running quarterbacks are more likely to be hurt 

 

Josh is usually delivering blows not taking them... Most defensive backs don't want to tackle Josh

[Wacka]

3 hours ago, Rubes said:

 

I've got a few prime years left in me, but my performance is probably going to start tailing off in a couple years.

 

That's what she said!!!

[VW82]

1 hour ago, Buffalo716 said:

Cam Newton had a shoulder injury which ruined his arm 

 

 

Right he hurt it trying to be a physical football player and was never the same. If memory serves, he was tackling someone after throwing a pick.

 

And Josh doesn't just run into DBs. We do designed sneaks and runs right into the teeth of the defense all the time. It exposes him to getting hit. There are few examples throughout NFL history of teams using their QB like we use Josh, so you can say the data says x but it's mostly meaningless. Josh is a unicorn. 

 

I'll make you a friendly bet that at some point in the next 2-3 years we stop doing as many designed QB runs/sneaks and reference Josh's continued health as the reason. Even if you believe Josh to be indestructable, the threat of coaching intervention is still there, and that will force the kind of changes I'm talking about. 

[Buffalo716]

55 minutes ago, VW82 said:

 

Right he hurt it trying to be a physical football player and was never the same. If memory serves, he was tackling someone after throwing a pick.

 

And Josh doesn't just run into DBs. We do designed sneaks and runs right into the teeth of the defense all the time. It exposes him to getting hit. There are few examples throughout NFL history of teams using their QB like we use Josh, so you can say the data says x but it's mostly meaningless. Josh is a unicorn. 

 

I'll make you a friendly bet that at some point in the next 2-3 years we stop doing as many designed QB runs/sneaks and reference Josh's continued health as the reason. Even if you believe Josh to be indestructable, the threat of coaching intervention is still there, and that will force the kind of changes I'm talking about. 

In those studies design quarterback runs were safer than scrambles...

 

 because they are already bracing for impact knowing they are a ball carrier 

 

I never once said Josh is indestructible I said there is no correlation between mobile quarterbacks and injuries... In fact the safest quarterback run plays are designed not scrambles

 

Quarterback injuries are not due to play style... That's why toughness used to be one of the biggest quarterback traits because you needed to be able to play while being banged up 

 

At some point in a season every quarterback is going to be banged up whether you are a runner or a pocket passer you're toughness is more important than your play style

 

Josh is not statistically any more likely to get hurt than Joe burrow who actually has been banged up worse much more and he's a pocket passer

Edited August 17 by Buffalo716

[Fan boy '92]

I definitely think the franchise qbs of today can go late 30s, where 36ish seemed to be the cutoff in Kelly's days.

[BurpleBull]

On 8/17/2025 at 1:12 PM, Kaenon said:

Was looking today out of curiosity and a couple of things stood out to me.

 

Deone Walker, youngest (21) and biggest dude on the team.

 

Our 2024 Rookie class is as young as our 2025 class with Bishop and Coleman being only 22, as is Hairston and Sanders. 

 

Christian Benford is only 24! Wow.

Oliver is only 27.

 

Bills Core:

OFF:

Allen - 29

Cook - 25

Shakir - 25

Palmer - 25

Kincaid - 25

Dawkins - 31

Brown - 27

 

DEF:

Rousseau - 25

Oliver - 27

Sanders - 22

Bernard - 26

Benford - 24

Hairston - 22

Bishop - 22

 

If we can somehow keep this band together, we have a long window ahead of us.

 

The biggest risks I see are offensive line continuity in terms of being able to pay everyone, but hopefully the reserves can be mostly plug and play.

 

We can't keep everyone of course, but if a few of the 2024 and 2025 draft picks can really excel, this Bills team will be better than ever. 

 

Go Bills.

 

You forgot McGovern, he's kinda key in the offense, and I think is only 27.

 

Bills still have O-linemen Tylan Grable and Sedrick Van Pranger on the roster. I liked what both of them showed a lot. They might be up there in age by the time they're actually needed to play starter minutes, but the good news is that OL have longer NFL lives.

[Jauronimo]

On 8/17/2025 at 12:12 PM, Kaenon said:

Was looking today out of curiosity and a couple of things stood out to me.

 

Deone Walker, youngest (21) and biggest dude on the team.

 

Our 2024 Rookie class is as young as our 2025 class with Bishop and Coleman being only 22, as is Hairston and Sanders. 

 

Christian Benford is only 24! Wow.

Oliver is only 27.

 

Bills Core:

OFF:

Allen - 29

Cook - 25

Shakir - 25

Palmer - 25

Kincaid - 25

Dawkins - 31

Brown - 27

 

DEF:

Rousseau - 25

Oliver - 27

Sanders - 22

Bernard - 26

Benford - 24

Hairston - 22

Bishop - 22

 

If we can somehow keep this band together, we have a long window ahead of us.

 

The biggest risks I see are offensive line continuity in terms of being able to pay everyone, but hopefully the reserves can be mostly plug and play.

 

We can't keep everyone of course, but if a few of the 2024 and 2025 draft picks can really excel, this Bills team will be better than ever. 

 

Go Bills.

Our window is based on Allen and Allen only.  I don't know how his game will translate into his late 30s.  He is so big and strong that I think he could continue to have the ability to escape the pass rush even as his speed and quickness decline similar to Big Ben but does that mean he will be able to roll out to the right and deliver off schedule dimes as he's so accustomed?  I don't think any QB makes it into their 40s without playing primarily from the pocket.

[Matt_In_NH]

Is that their ages or number of injuries?