Who are the two players on the existing roster that need to up their game to get us to the dance

[BillsShredder83]

10 minutes ago, Gregg said:

Jim Leonhard. He is the one who will be responsible for building a good defense. If he does a good job, then the Bills will have an excellent chance to finally get the Lombardi. I realize he is not a Bills player but with the exception of 17 and 4 he is probably one of the most important people in the Bills organization. He ultimately has to fix the side of the ball that has been the main reason for the Bills playoff failures.

Man this is great.  How amazing would it be to find out we have several "undiscovered" studs on the team already!!  Or even just guys we got nothing from - turn into nice rotational pieces.

 

Super excited to see how he can develop our existing guys.  I think their is a boatload of untapped resources on this roster.  WE HAVE NOT DEVELOPED OUR DL AT ALL!!  SO MANY HEAVY INVESTMENTS THERE, AND ALMOST NONE OF THEM HAVE IMPROVED. BY FAR THE WORST HOLE IN OUR STAFF OVER THE LAST 7 YEARS

[D. L. Hot-Flamethrower]

Kincaid and Bernard

[nuklz2594]

gm beane. I know its only one. guy needs to stop trying to be the smartest guy in the room.  

[BillsShredder83]

2 minutes ago, JP51 said:

I mean if the dude becomes a true number 1... this could be the biggest impact of all...  I just have visions of Claypool, Palmer, MCV, Sherfield, Coleman and Samuel dancing in my head...  probably unfair of me...  

Oh my forgot about Hoecht, just kinda felt like it was gonna be a recovery year, but if the dude hits it running that could be a major impact for sure.  

Man you should really dig into some film breakdown.  The kid doesnt have the sexiest name, and its because of affiliation with a horrendous Panthers and Bears (except last year).  The kid is unreallllllll.  Do not let last years number dip fool you, but dont believe me, go find some "all 22 breakdown" or "film breakdown" on youtube.

 

If we dont add another big time WR via trade/draft I fully expect:

75 catches, 1,200 yds, 8 td's, 16ypr, 65yd long

[Matt_In_NH]

1 hour ago, LEBills said:

Kincaid and Hairston imo

I have no e expectations for Kincaid.  He has a chronic knee thing that is not getting fixed.  

[JP51]

9 minutes ago, BillsShredder83 said:

Man you should really dig into some film breakdown.  The kid doesnt have the sexiest name, and its because of affiliation with a horrendous Panthers and Bears (except last year).  The kid is unreallllllll.  Do not let last years number dip fool you, but dont believe me, go find some "all 22 breakdown" or "film breakdown" on youtube.

 

If we dont add another big time WR via trade/draft I fully expect:

75 catches, 1,200 yds, 8 td's, 16ypr, 65yd long

I have heard people rave about him and I have seen other less than enthused I will check it out. 

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

Ill say kincaid and bernard.  If bernard's healthy and plays well i think the defense will actually be quite good.  If he's in and out of the lineup again it will spell issues in the back end middle of the field.  

[DrDawkinstein]

Kincaid and Hairston are great answers. I agree with Rousseau as well.

 

I clicked in expecting all the Oliver mentions, but really, he has been the one stud on our Defense. Especially in big games. If everyone/anyone else could step up to his level, we probably wouldnt even notice his perceived inconsistency. The problem is, when he isnt making plays, no one else is either.

[JP51]

4 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

Kincaid and Hairston are great answers. I agree with Rousseau as well.

 

I clicked in expecting all the Oliver mentions, but really, he has been the one stud on our Defense. Especially in big games. If everyone/anyone else could step up to his level, we probably wouldnt even notice his perceived inconsistency. The problem is, when he isnt making plays, no one else is either.

So I did have Oliver going thru my head, I was concerned about 3 things with him... one the injury biceps and pecs are nasty, two was the new scheme what does that mean for him, lastly, does he have much more to improve, like is his ceiling pretty close... but for him to come back an be a monster would be enormous especially if he stayed healthy... 

[ganesh]

1 hour ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

On offense one of Coleman or Palmer. On defense, one of Bernard or Dorian Williams. We need a guy to step up on those rooms in the worst way.

 

Added bonus pick: Since they seem committed to him, we need Bass to step it up. If he cannot I kinda want to see what we have with Maddux Trujillo. 

You can't hope to have your 4th and 5th best players in a position become the stars to win the SB.  You want your top players to play like Blue Chip players.  A DJ Moore has to come through making those clutch catches that we missed in the playoffs.  You want Rosseau to be a 15-sack guys to turn the tide on the defense. 

[billsfan89]

I think it is going to come down to the following guys most likely. 

 

On defense

1. D. Walker - Popped a lot his rookie year, now needs to take that big leap in year two and be a massive game wrecker. 
2. Hairston- Much like Walker he flashed his rookie year and he is going to have to take over a consistent starting role.

On offense

1. Josh Palmer - I freaking hate saying this but Palmer is currently the WR2 and while Moore will help the WR room still needs more pop. Right now that is on Palmer and Keon to try to deliver that. 
2. Alec Anderson - I like that the Beane team brought in Corbett as some vet competition but Anderson has been in this system for years and was even the teams 6th O-linemen for a season in 2024 (he did technically have that role in 2025 IIRC but Hawes as a blocking TE took those snaps effectively). It is going to be on Anderson to lock down the starting guard spot and solidify the O-line. 

Honorable mentions (Kincaid staying healthy and TJ Sanders) 

[Dunkirk Donski]

AJ Klein, comeback player of the year.  

[US Egg]

1 hour ago, nuklz2594 said:

gm beane. I know its only one. guy needs to stop trying to be the smartest guy in the room.  

Not me. All for it.

[JP51]

30 minutes ago, billsfan89 said:

I think it is going to come down to the following guys most likely. 

 

On defense

1. D. Walker - Popped a lot his rookie year, now needs to take that big leap in year two and be a massive game wrecker. 
2. Hairston- Much like Walker he flashed his rookie year and he is going to have to take over a consistent starting role.

On offense

1. Josh Palmer - I freaking hate saying this but Palmer is currently the WR2 and while Moore will help the WR room still needs more pop. Right now that is on Palmer and Keon to try to deliver that. 
2. Alec Anderson - I like that the Beane team brought in Corbett as some vet competition but Anderson has been in this system for years and was even the teams 6th O-linemen for a season in 2024 (he did technically have that role in 2025 IIRC but Hawes as a blocking TE took those snaps effectively). It is going to be on Anderson to lock down the starting guard spot and solidify the O-line. 

Honorable mentions (Kincaid staying healthy and TJ Sanders) 

I thought I would have gotten more hits on Walker, to me he was really the only rookie that really made a difference outside of Hawes... (Hairston was hurt too much) and Sanders and Jackson were pretty much useless...  I have very little hope for either TBH... but Walker looked to me like he had a lot more ceiling to go but even in his raw form was going to be a significant disturber...  I am just not sure what the change in Defensive scheme means... if they are going to try to make him play hand down true NT, I am not sure thats his natural position he is too tall with back issues...  but maybe they make him a DE... I dont know... either way I like the kid. 

[billsfan89]

21 minutes ago, JP51 said:

I thought I would have gotten more hits on Walker, to me he was really the only rookie that really made a difference outside of Hawes... (Hairston was hurt too much) and Sanders and Jackson were pretty much useless...  I have very little hope for either TBH... but Walker looked to me like he had a lot more ceiling to go but even in his raw form was going to be a significant disturber...  I am just not sure what the change in Defensive scheme means... if they are going to try to make him play hand down true NT, I am not sure thats his natural position he is too tall with back issues...  but maybe they make him a DE... I dont know... either way I like the kid. 

 

TJ Sanders came on strong to end the season, he wasn't some sort of elite playmaker but he looked like a decent rotational DT to end his rookie year which is good growth. Landon Jackson ugh I had a lot of issues with his rookie year but he was always a super raw prospect with big upside, just wish he didn't get hurt. 

[JP51]

4 minutes ago, billsfan89 said:

 

TJ Sanders came on strong to end the season, he wasn't some sort of elite playmaker but he looked like a decent rotational DT to end his rookie year which is good growth. Landon Jackson ugh I had a lot of issues with his rookie year but he was always a super raw prospect with big upside, just wish he didn't get hurt. 

I just didnt see it in TJ so I really really hope I am wrong there... lots of people step up and say that I missed the boat with him at the end of the year... I would be so very happy to be wrong...  Landon, he was the one I thought would be great... he in his limited exposure just didnt show out... but he indeed was a project... so there may be hope there as well... 

[Kirby Jackson]

Fun topic @JP51!! I’ll say Hairston on defense and Dawkins on offense.

[Freddie's Dead]

Imma say Coleman and Bernard.

[JP51]

18 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

Fun topic @JP51!! I’ll say Hairston on defense and Dawkins on offense.

Thanks! I was thinking its a bit slow... lets put out a topic for fun... lol 

[BillsShredder83]

2 minutes ago, JP51 said:

I have heard people rave about him and I have seen other less than enthused I will check it out. 

His production with the QB's throwing to him have been nothing less than spectacular! 

 

Cam Newton — CAR: 2018 (14 GP), 2019 (2 GP), 2021 (8 GP) --washed up version***

Taylor Heinicke — CAR: 2018 (6 GP)

Kyle Allen — CAR: 2018 (2 GP), 2019 (13 GP)

Will Grier — CAR: 2019 (2 GP)

Teddy Bridgewater — CAR: 2020 (15 GP)

P.J. Walker — CAR: 2020 (4 GP), 2021 (5 GP), 2022 (6 GP)

 

Sam Darnold — CAR: 2021 (12 GP), 2022 (6 GP) -- this was not modern day Sam... this Sam was so bad that they let a future franchise QB (desperate for one) walk without attempting to retain... he then went to '9ers for another year as a backup, until good Sam appeared

 

 

Baker Mayfield — CAR: 2022 (7 GP) - everything I wrote for Sam applies here too. Insane that Panthers team had BOTH Sam & Baker same time L-O-L

 

Justin Fields — CHI: 2023 (13 GP)

Tyson Bagent — CHI: 2023 (5 GP), 2024 (4 GP), 2025 (3 GP)

Caleb Williams — CHI: 2024 (17 GP), 2025 (17 GP) -- 2024 was trash, 2025 was between trash to mildly above average***