This upcoming season for the Buffalo Bills could very well determine what future the team has moving forward. They have a Top 3 quarterback in Josh Allen, a coaching staff that has continuity, and a rising tight end and running back in Dalton Kincaid and James Cook. However, they have had a lot of changes this past offseason at wide receiver and in the secondary of the defense. For the first time since 2017, Bills fans will not see players like Tre’Davious White, Jordan Poyer, Micha Hyde (potentially), Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis take the field as a Buffalo Bill this season.
The Bills are going to look different without question and that puts certain players in a bigger spotlight than they already have been in. There are five specific players who are facing make-or-break seasons with the Bills that could show what Bills fans are in for with the next couple of seasons, or whether or not they are in Buffalo this time next season.
Here are the five Bills that fans need to keep a close eye on this season.
5.) RB James Cook
The Bills were finally able to get a running back to rush for over 1,000 yards for the first time since LeSean McCoy. James Cook rushed for 1,122 yards with the Bills but only ran for two touchdowns, making it four in his career. Cook had four receiving touchdowns alone last season. The running back committee of Cook and Latavius Murray was a solid duo for the Bills down the stretch and then the late addition of Ty Johnson brought more versatility to the run game.
Heading into 2024, the Bills will have Cook as the main back with Johnson and rookie Ray Davis behind him. This will be his third year with the Bills making it just one season away before he enters a contract year. As a second round pick in 2022, Cook does not have a fifth-year option to his contract so the Bills will need to make a decision on whether or not Cook will be the franchise back the Bills have been lacking since McCoy.
4.) QB Josh Allen
Despite what the Bills have done this offseason that could affect Josh Allen’s play, having a top quarterback in the league means expected results no matter what is around. It showed last season with Patrick Mahomes who outside of Travis Kelce, did not have a true big time weapon at wide receiver but yet still led the Chiefs to greatness for a second consecutive season. Even though it looks like the Bills went down in talent at wide receiver, there is still pressure on Allen to deliver a great season himself for the Bills.
This obviously does not mean that if Allen has a bad year then he won’t be on the Bills, no one is thinking that. However, if Allen cannot show some sort of greatness or continue his level of play, there will be some concerns moving forward on whether or not Allen can elevate players around him instead of players helping him elevate as a player.
3.) CB Kaiir Elam
There is no sugarcoating it, Kaiir Elam has been a disappointment for the Bills since being drafted in 2022. He has had a tough time getting the opportunity to dress on game days, let alone get any playing time.
He showed flashes in his rookie season but has struggled since then. The fact that a former first round draft pick can’t beat out a sixth round draft pick like Christian Benford at times, it shows that Brandone Beane may have a miss on his hands in Elam.
Going into his third season with Buffalo, this was a major make-or-break season for Elam. Even before then, he needs to have an impressive training camp if he wants to be on the Bills heading into 2024.
2.) DE Von Miller
When the Bills made a big splash in 2022 by signing Von Miller to a massive contract, it put the Bills in the Super Bowl window as the favorites as they addressed the pass rush that they had been lacking up to that point. Miller has not been a great investment for the Bills as he tore his ACL halfway through his first year with the Bills and was not able to be the same player he was when he came back onto the field last season. In 12 games played last season, Miller recorded just three tackles. That is unacceptable, no other way of putting it.
According to overthecap.com, the Bills can save over $17 million if they release Miller post June 1st so unless Miller becomes a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year next season, this will more than likely be Miller’s last season in Buffalo.
1.) TE Dawson Knox
When the Bills extended Dawson Knox’s contract heading into the 2022 season, it was a head scratching move considering the fact that he would be earning $13 million a year. In 2022, Knox only had 516 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns off of 48 receptions. That is not a great start for the contract extension. Then last year, Knox suffered a wrist injury that took him for five games but it allowed Dalton Kincaid to emerge as the top tight end for the Bills.
Knox would finish last year with just 186 receiving yards and two touchdowns. According to overthecap.com, the only sensible move that the Bills could make if they wanted to move off of Knox after this season is trading him post June 1st, which would save them $9 million and only incur a $5 million dead cap hit.
Even though the Bills have Kincaid as their starter, Knox has to make this contract look somewhat decent which he has not been able to do up to this point.