Looking back on the 2024 offseason and how it helped build the Buffalo Bills to an unexpected playoff run, the team gained a lot of momentum throughout the season and they accomplished so many goals, both expected and unexpected. Last year’s offseason was highlighted by the departures of multiple tenured veterans who helped changed the culture in Buffalo. Surely the Bills were going to take a step back, right? Guess again.
Due to their salary cap issues, the Bills had to part ways with players like Mitch Morse, Tre’Davious White, Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde. They also let Gabe Davis walk in free agency and eventually traded Stefon Diggs. There was no question that they needed to bring in some help to try and replace some of if not all of these players.
They didn’t have any big free agent signings like they used to have, but they did a make good amount of signings based on their salary cap situation. Dalton Wasserman from Pro Football Focus (PFF) created a list of the best and worst free agent signings in 2024 by every team (subscription required). For the Buffalo Bills, it comes from within the same position group.
Wasserman listed Mack Hollins as the best signing for Buffalo, while labeling Curtis Samuel as the worst. This should be no surprise to any fan that watched Bills games consistently.
"At a modest cost of $2.6 million, Mack Hollins has provided the Bills with reliable production as both a receiver and a special teams contributor while earning high regard in the locker room. Notably, he led the team with five receiving touchdowns during the season."Dalton Wasserman, PFF
"Samuel has produced at a significantly lower clip than the aforementioned Hollins despite signing a contract that pays him more than triple the annual value. He amassed just 253 receiving yards in the regular season. Cutting him this offseason doesn’t bring Buffalo much benefit with regard to the salary cap, but Samuel will need better production in 2025 if he hopes to get another solid payday."Dalton Wasserman, PFF
Mack Hollins thrived while Curtis Samuel was a bust
If you were to tell me that Mack Hollins, who has been a journeyman throughout his career with the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders, and Atlanta Falcons, would be the Bills’ leader in touchdown grabs I wouldn’t have believed you for one second. However, Hollins became of Allen’s go-to guys in the passing games despite finishing fourth in receiving yards (378) on the team as well as targets (50).
Hollins was a little bit of a steal for the Bills based on how he meshed with the offense. That couldn’t be said about Curtis Samuel. Even though he signed a three-year, $24 million deal, Samuel only had 253 yards through the air and one touchdown. The best play of his season took place in the wild card round against the Broncos when he had a 55-yard touchdown grab to put the nail on the coffin of Denver.
Samuel was a bust this year for the Bills. There’s no other way of saying it. Even though the Bills run an offense where multiple weapons get involved, Samuel’s contract shows an expectation of some sort of production.