The Buffalo Bills had one of the best offenses in the NFL last season but that hasn’t stopped the front office from trying to improve this side of the ball. In fact, they have added free agents to every position on offense this offseason except for one.
Even with the moves in free agency, the offense will likely get even more new players during the 2023 NFL Draft. The depth charts below will almost certainly change because of this but the predictions now could be an indication of what positions are a priority for the front office entering the NFL Draft.
Predicting the depth chart for the Buffalo Bills offense before the 2023 NFL Draft
Quarterback
Starter: Josh Allen
Backup: Kyle Allen, Matt Barkley
The quarterback position is one of the most set positions on the Buffalo Bills roster and is unlikely to really change much through the remainder of the offseason.
The Bills still have Josh Allen as their starting quarterback but have made a switch at backup by signing Kyle Allen after losing Case Keenum in free agency after he signed with the Houston Texans.
The third quarterback will be Matt Barkley who will likely be inactive most weeks or even be moved to the practice squad at the start of the season. This has been the formula for the Bills for a few seasons now and there is no reason to think it changes much for this year.
Running Back
Starter: James Cook
Backup: Damien Harris, Nyheim Hines, Reggie Gilliam (FB)
The running back position doesn’t necessarily have starters and backups but more players with defined roles. If there was a starter, or featured back, for this offense then it would likely be James Cook.
The second round pick from last year looked like he was ready to take on an expanded role towards the end of last season and with Devin Singletary not returning it is his job to lose. He is an excellent pass catcher out of the backfield but showed he can be a threat on the ground as well.
The Bills did add Damien Harris in free agency but he is going to be primarily be utilized on the ground as he has not made much of an impact through the air during his NFL career. What he does bring to this offense is power and should see about 10-15 carries a game along with a majority of the work in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
After Harris will be Nyheim Hines, who the Bills traded for during the regular season last year, however he saw very limited snaps on offense. He is a versatile running back that is more of a threat in the passing game but could be motioned presnap to line up in the slot. Offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey needs to make it more of a point in 2023 to have Hines involved.
Wide Receiver
Starters: Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, Khalil Shakir (slot)
Backup: Deonte Harty, Trent Sherfield, KeeSan Johnson, Isaiah Coulter, Dezmon Patmon
The top of the depth chart remains unchanged with Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis as the starting wide receivers on the outside. There is a possibility this could change if the Buffalo Bills elect to trade Davis during the 2023 NFL Draft which could be an option as he enters the final year of his contract.
However, while possible I think it’s unlikely and the front office will focus on adding competition at slot receiver. As it currently stands, the favorite would have to be Khalil Shakir who showed some flashes toward the end of the season and in the playoffs.
After Shakir is two new players who were signed as free agents this offseason in Deonte Harty and Trent Sherfield. Harty is expected to replace Isaiah McKenzie, who was released this offseason, as that gadget player in this offense.
Sherfield is probably the replacement for Jake Kumerow, who was primarily a special teams player but also the backup for Gabe Davis on the outside.
Tight End
Starter: Dawson Knox
Backup: Quintin Morris, Zach Davidson
The tight end position is the only one on the offensive side of the ball that the Buffalo Bills have not added any free agents to this offseason. In fact, the only change to this point has been the departure of Tommy Sweeney, who was signed by the New York Giants.
As the depth chart currently stands, the Buffalo Bills still have Dawson Knox who has been the starter for the past three seasons and should remain the starter for the foreseeable future after signing a contract extension last offseason.
After Knox is Quintin Morris, who was a pleasant surprise after beating out O.J. Howard in training camp to be the backup or second tight end for this offense. He should once again compete for that spot but with how deep the position is in the 2023 NFL Draft, Morris likely will find himself competing with a rookie.
Offensive Line
Starters: Dion Dawkins (LT), Connor McGovern (LG), Mitch Morse (C), Ryan Bates (RG), Spencer Brown (RT)
Bench: Tommy Doyle, David Quessenberry, Ike Boettger, David Edwards, Greg Mancz, Ryan Van Demark, Alec Anderson, Kevin Jarvis
The way the season finished, it seemed safe to assume that the Buffalo Bills would be looking to make some changes to their offensive line. The most likely area they could improve was on the interior and the Bills did that by signing Connor McGovern, who previously played for the Dallas Cowboys.
However after that, this group is relatively unchanged with the only other free agent signing being guard David Edwards, who previously played for the Los Angeles Rams. The Bills were able to re-sign David Quessenberry and Ike Boettger and both could compete for starting spots at right tackle and guard respectively.
The Buffalo Bills could look to add competition through the 2023 NFL Draft but at this point this seems to be the most likely starting five for the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 of the 2023 season.