With the NFL combine just around the corner, it's now that time of year again to watch and evaluate some of this year's upcoming draft prospects at all positions. With many questions in certain areas, the Buffalo Bills may be looking to make some key acquisitions.
The team has needs across the board, and general manager/President of Football Operations Brandon Beane, with head coach Joe Brady, will need to nail this evaluation process to determine better who to draft in late April.
Before they even head to the NFL Combine, they need to focus on which players fit the system and who may need to be replaced.
5 Concerning Buffalo Bills positions that need to be addressed
1. Wide Receiver
The Bills have been struggling to find a top-notch pass catcher since trading Stefon Diggs away to the Houston Texans in 2024. For the past couple of seasons, they used the phrase "Everybody Eats" as a way to use a receiver by committee. While the Bills enjoyed early success with it, teams began to realize that their defenses needed to take away their deep passing option because they didn't have a true No. 1 wideout.
Despite that concern, Khalil Shakir led the Bills with 719 receiving yards, but he was the only receiver to finish with over 500 yards. The second player to do it was tight end Dalton Kincaid. Although he is basically a hybrid of a receiver and tight end, if he stays healthy long-term, he could be a valuable asset.
They do have returners and competent ones at the receiver position, in Josh Palmer, Curtis Samuel, and Keon Coleman. But adding a true number one receiver in the draft could give Josh Allen the permanent target he's been lacking.
2. Interior Offensive Linemen
This is a position where they have had continuity in the past, as well as the rest of the starting five on the offensive line. This year could be the time, though, where the Bills could lose both Connor McGovern and David Edwards to free agency.
As of right now, the team has internal options in Sedrick Van Pran-Granger and Alec Anderson to fill both of those players' roles, and they are on cheaper deals.
Whether they release both players or retain them in free agency, the Bills should still draft a couple of guards and a center for depth purposes. The offensive line is the most important group on offense, and if one of its players gets hurt, it can disrupt the rest of the unit's continuity.
3. Linebacker
Going into the offseason, addressing the linebacking corps was already a priority. With new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard now running a 3-4 scheme, having both quality starters and depth at linebacker is vital, especially when running an odd-man front. The only two expected starters right now are Dorian Williams and Terrel Bernard.
Both of these players can be starters in a 3-4 scheme, but because Matt Milano and Shaq Thompson might be gone due to age and cap cuts, where's the depth on this squad?
They're going to need depth because Williams has yet to play a full year as a starter, and Bernard has been absent in 12 games as a three-year starter. If those are the only two linebackers available for your 3-4 defense, that is alarming.
And even if they do bring back Milano and/or Thompson, that's still not enough insurance to have for the position. The Bills' brass can always look to the draft, as linebackers don't seem to go as fast.
4. Edge Rusher
Because of the switch from the 4-3 to the 3-4 scheme, some players will be moved to determine where they fit best in a Jim Leonhard-run defense. Right now, the cupboard is bare at the edge rusher position.
The edge-rushing position, along with the receiver position, has been the Achilles' heel for the team over the last few seasons. When the Bills needed a key sack, they never really tackled it. When the receivers needed to make a big play, it was only during bubble screen play calls.
If they resign both Bosa and A.J. Epenesa, it would allow the Bills to draft an edge rusher either in the first round before drafting a wide receiver or in the second round after drafting a wide receiver.
5. Cornerback
Don't let draft experts say that a team doesn't need a corner because they've most likely never asked a coach or a GM what they think. They both will tell you that there's no such thing as having enough corners, especially in a passing league.
While the run game and jumbo sets have been making a comeback the last few years, it's still a throwing league. With Leonhard running an attacking 3-4 defense, you will need a lot of ballhawking corners who can hit and also intercept passes to create turnovers.
The Bills can re-sign Tre White if they want to, but they should look in the third round or later rounds to draft more depth corners to find another late-round gem, just like they did with Christian Benford.
So the next time you hear a team doesn't need a corner, remember that's always a not-so-well-regarded take.