This isn’t how the season was supposed to end.
After the first matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals was canceled due to the Damar Hamlin emergency, this was supposed to be an emotional, invigorating playoff victory.
Instead, the Bengals dominated the Bills in their AFC Divisional Playoff game, 27-10. Now, the Bills go into an offseason with several pending free agents. Many of them will not be back, and thus have played their last game with the team. How the Bills navigate their upcoming offseason questions will tell us a lot about their priorities going into the 2023 campaign.
We’re going to focus on five players in particular who likely won’t be back with the Bills next season.
Buffalo Bills who likely won’t return next season: David Quessenberry, OT
One of the biggest concerns with this Bills team, all year, was the play of their offensive line. Josh Allen was under duress far more often than Buffalo would have liked to see, and there were many culprits.
David Quessenberry was mostly a reserve for the Bills this year, playing just under 400 offensive snaps. Still, he allowed four sacks. Quessenberry was also even worse in run blocking than he was at pass blocking.
By the time next season is underway, Quessenberry will be 33 years old. The thought of re-signing a backup lineman at that age seems silly. Sure, his story is a great one. Surviving cancer and playing in the NFL once again is nothing short of amazing.
But, Quessenberry likely won’t be back with the Bills next year, as they’ll look to get younger and deeper up front.