Which Former Bill Are We Going to Miss The Most

[NoName]

Trying to figure out which offseason loss could quietly hurt the Bills the most this year. 

 

Could be a starter, role player, depth piece, leadership guy, coordinator favorite, whatever.

 

Who's the one player from last year's team that you think we're going to miss more than people realize?

Edited May 28 by NoName

[ScottishBills]

Mitch Trubisky. I just don't think Kyle Allen has the chops to absolutely dominate Week 18 the way Mitch could.

[Stenbar]

Gilliam

[T.E.]

The Van Denmark/D. Edwards loss is a bit of a double whammy that makes me nervous.

 

I've always thought our o-line was a bit overrated and losing two reliable pieces can't help matters.

 

[frostbitmic]

Matt Prater

[Dunkirk Donski]

I miss Bruuuuce.  We could really use Bryce at linebacker as well

[Dillenger4]

4 minutes ago, T.E. said:

The Van Denmark/D. Edwards loss is a bit of a double whammy that makes me nervous.

 

I've always thought our o-line was a bit overrated and losing two reliable pieces can't help matters.

 

Good answer.

My added answer is Epenesa. He played a lot of snaps and contributed throughout the past two seasons.

[BillsFan130]

I would probably say Gilliam

[Kirby Jackson]

23 minutes ago, NoName said:

Trying to figure out which offseason loss could quietly hurt the Bills the most this year. 

 

Could be a starter, role player, depth piece, leadership guy, coordinator favorite, whatever.

 

Who's the one player from last year's team that you think we're going to miss more than people realize?

Great topic!!

 

There have been some sneaky good responses too:

- I think Trubisky is 1,000x better than Kyle Allen (who stinks). I’m still hoping someone else is the number 2 and he can be Josh’s buddy on the PS. 
- Gilliam was a very important piece but I think that the Bills will use Hawes in that spot with the tush push. They should still be good there but will miss him on teams.

- I trust Prater way more than Bass.

- They have depth guys to adequately replace the OL and DL IMO.

- Tre had a GREAT year but this scheme feels so different and not to his strength. I don’t think he would fit well. 

 

I guess that my answer will be: Milano, Thompson and Brandin Cooks. That’s kind of cheating but they provided a high floor, veteran presence that could be counted on. The Bills did not lose any impact guys so I’m going with 3 guys that I trust more than the guys currently penciled into those roles. The current guys MAY all end up as upgrades over those guys but they all MAY end up as worse players. 

Edited May 28 by Kirby Jackson

[BuffaloBillyG]

21 minutes ago, Stenbar said:

Gilliam

Outstanding answer. Guy did a lot of smaller things that added up on gameday. I think last year was his best as a blocker as well. 

13 minutes ago, frostbitmic said:

Matt Prater

I....really hope not. I HOPE Bass comes back healed, rested and has his best season yet. 

 

As for my answer, right now my fear is we will be regretting not bringing Shaq back. The ILB spots have a lot of potential, but potential doesn't always play out. 

[NoName]

Added a poll to the thread for anyone who already commented but wants to officially cast a vote. 

 

Curious to see where the fanbase actually lands on this one because there are some really interesting arguments being made already. 

Edited May 28 by NoName

[Bray Wyatt]

I went with Milano as he was a veteran presence in probably weakest position group

[Nihilarian]

Poyer!

[nuklz2594]

nate washington

[Lost]

Leodis McKelvin

[boyst]

David Edwards was a starter on a top line in the league. He's the only obvious choice. However, that does not diminish the roles of several key players on the roster in 2025. Tre White filled in admirably in 2025 having one of his best seasons on paper. Taron Johnson was a starter but phased out in the system as the season went on and we are moving to a whole new scheme where he may not have been a factor. Reggie Gilliam was a pivotal piece for our team to contribute on special teams and offense. He was a consistent guy to depend on given any situation. Cam Lewis was a universally available piece on understood the McD defense to a T playing 4 positions (FS, SS, NB, Field CB). AJE made himself irrelevant on this team, as did the other guys who are aging out. Matt Milano will be missed for his loud vocal presence commanding the team in his outgoing way. (I kid). His constant anchor of the defense was huge for a long time and I wish I could find my quote when we were debating Tremaine Edmunds early on and I said Milano would be more important than Edmunds ever will be - and I was right. 

 

I hope we bring White, Edmunds, Lawson back. I'd even take a flier on AJE. 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

I chose Epenesa because I can't pick on him any longer....lol

 

OP you left off Bosa and Shaq.  I'd take Bosa back as a situational pass rusher on a 1 year deal again. Of all the players unsigned he is probably the guy I would bring back. I'm fine with going with the young guys at LB.

 

Milano could have been a great Bill for a long time if not for the injuries. 

 

DQ had flashes of being very good, but stretches of being bad.

 

Edwards was good but OG has to be the easiest position on the team to replace.

 

White was a very good player but I never thought he was an elite CB even before the injuries.  That said I would take him back as CB #3 or 4 for another year and hope he rarely plays. 

[BarleyNY]

Went Edwards over Milano. Tough to say about Gilliam since we don’t know how much we will use a FB now. We could really use Milano if he were still in his prime, but those days are gone. It’s tough to miss a guy who’s on IR. Edmunds was part of a very, very good OL. I think that his stability next to Dawkins, who is getting long in the tooth, would be welcome. Hopefully someone steps up and fills that role. 

[Big Turk]

Gilliam is critically underappreciated by most Bills fans for the role he played in multiple phases.

[MJS]

4 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

Gilliam is critically underappreciated by most Bills fans for the role he played in multiple phases.

I think he was appreciated appropriately.