Two Bills Drive

‘After parting ways with former offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey midway through last season, Joe Brady had a golden opportunity to prove himself capable of taking the reins as the team’s full-time offensive playcaller. Over the final 10 games of the year, he fared well, helping the Bills deploy some much-needed changes that helped the team gain the consistency it lacked under its form OC. Brady’s impact on the offense during the 2023 campaign earned him the right to return to his role and have the interim tag removed.’

‘Shakir showed promise toward the back half of his second professional season. In the last nine games, including playoffs under Brady, Shakir recorded 30 receptions, 438 yards and 3 touchdowns. Over a 17-game season, Shakir would have projected around 57 receptions, 827 yards and 6 touchdowns. Buffalo would take that type of production and volume from the third-year pro in 2024.’

‘With two significant pieces to the CB room moving on, McDermott and new defensive coordinator Bobby Babich must get the most out of the players on the roster. McDermott and Babich have an excellent track record in player development, especially in the defensive back position. Former Bills Jordan Poyer, Levi Wallace and Jackson all flourished under the coaching of McDermott and Babich. Micah Hyde also turned into an All-Pro with Buffalo.’

‘With so much to do and so little time to do it, the onus is on McDermott and Beane to produce a positive return on the team’s offseason activity. This is as tall a task as has been placed in front of this duo since their early years in Buffalo, but that won’t stop the fans from holding their feet to the fire as the Bills adapt to a new-look roster.’

‘Whatever way you put it, Buffalo’s opportunity to reach the promised land is still viable. The new faces around the building and the staples in McDermott and Allen offer excitement to a team with high aspirations. Writing them off is a popular trend, but sometimes, change must happen to attain the ultimate goal.’

‘I think change can be good. Sometimes people are resistant to change and naturally so. A lot of the things we’ve been able to do, we’ve had success. So why are you changing it? But it’s the nature of the business. You always want to stay a step ahead. This is a new team. Every team is a new team and this is truly a lot of new faces, some players coming from other teams that have had success or maybe things didn’t work out as well and we’ve got a fresh opportunity for them to re-establish themselves. As always, it’s been a good spring, we’ve got some guys nicked up, we’ve got to get them healthy. But I’m ready to get a break, ready for everybody to get a break. But I’ll be excited when we get to St. John Fisher. I’ll be fired up.’

‘At this point, it appears that Shavers, Keys and Johnson are destined for the practice squad at best.’

‘The question everybody is asking. How will the Bills account for the 241 targets left behind by the departure of Gabe Davis and trade of Stefon Diggs? The simple answer is they will do it by committee. But if you were to ask which player has the best chance of becoming the team’s top wide receiver this season, things may be pointing in rookie Keon Coleman’s direction. Except roster bubble candidate Chase Claypool, there isn’t another WR on Buffalo’s roster that has the skill set needed to dominate 1-on-1 matchups along the outside to the level at which Coleman appears capable.’