Buffalo Bills Offseason Progress Report
Is this the year the Bills finally exorcise their demons and break through to the Big Game?
Overview
2024 Record: 13-4
General Manager: Brandon Beane
Head Coach: Sean McDermott
Starting Quarterback: Josh Allen
Key Extensions:
QB Josh Allen (6 year, $330 million, $250 million guaranteed), EDGE Greg Rosseau (4 year, $80 million, $54 million guaranteed), WR Khalil Shakir (4 year, $53 million, $11 million guaranteed), LB Terrel Bernard (4 years, $42 million, $25.2 million guaranteed), CB Christian Benford (4 year, $69 million, $40.8 million guaranteed), RB James Cook (4 years, $48 million, $30 million guaranteed)
Key Additions:
EDGE Joey Bosa, DL Larry Ogunjobi, WR Josh Palmer, WR Elijah Moore, CB Maxwell Hairston, DL TJ Sanders, EDGE Landon Jackson
Key Departures:
WR Amari Cooper, EDGE Von Miller
Offense
Offensive Coordinator: Joe Brady
2024 Ranks:
EPA/play: 2nd Success Rate: 9th PPG: 2nd (30.9ppg)
Projected Starting Offense (11 personnel):
QB Josh Allen
RB James Cook
WR Keon Coleman
WR Khalil Shakir
WR Josh Palmer
TE Dawson Knox
LT Dion Dawkins
LG David Edwards
C Connor McGovern
RG O'Cyrus Torrence
RT Spencer Brown
Offense Notes:
Buffalo's offense in 2024 was blistering, scoring under 20 points only twice - one of which was with backups playing in Week 18. Led by play-caller Joe Brady, Josh Allen and the Bills were universally the second-best unit in the league, only behind the Baltimore Ravens offense. Allen's efforts down the stretch last season ultimately landed him the 2025 NFL MVP Award.
It's hard to imagine that next season should be any different. Sure, there may be some regression toward the mean, but as long as Allen is leading the way, the Bills should continue to put up points. Not many changes were made to the starting lineup, but the Bills brought in adequate depth at the receiver position. If the starters stay mostly healthy, this will be a tough unit to beat.
Defense
Defensive Coordinator: Bobby Babich
2024 Ranks:
EPA/play: 13th Success Rate: 16th PPG: 11th (21.6ppg allowed)
Projected Starting Defense (Base 4-2):
DE Greg Rosseau
DT Daquan Jones
DT Ed Oliver
DE Joey Bosa
LB Matt Milano
LB Terrel Bernard
CB Christian Benford
CB Maxwell Hairston
NB Taron Johnson
S Taylor Rapp
S Damar Hamlin
Defense Notes:
For the most part, the defense was able to play complementary football with the offense last season. While the unit was closer to league average in points and yards allowed, they made up for it by netting the third-most turnovers. This unit really didn't falter much, outside of two contests down the stretch and against the Chiefs in the playoffs.
This season should see the defense improve. One of the Bills' themes this offseason was extending key players. Matt Milano, Greg Rosseau, Christian Benford, and Terrel Bernard all find themselves with new deals. The team also brought in reinforcements along the defensive front in free agency and the draft. This defense should be stout enough to contend with the best of teams.
Outlook
Overall, no team might have higher expectations than the Buffalo Bills going into 2025. Last season, the team made it to the conference championship, where, despite losing to a more prepared team, it came within a field goal of potential overtime. With improvements to the starting units and depth, the Bills should be looking even further ahead.
Now that Josh Allen has his MVP, the only thing missing is the big game. With the Chiefs faltering last season in the Super Bowl and the Ravens having yet to get there, the Bills should be the favorite to represent the AFC in February this season. In fact, Buffalo is the only team that's favored in all 17 of their regular season contests. Anything less than a Super Bowl appearance (and to be honest, a Super Bowl win) should be considered a disappointment for this team.
Expectation/Goal for 2025: Win AFC Championship, Win Super Bowl
2025 Schedule
Primetime games are BOLDED, all times EDT/EST