The Buffalo Bills defense is going to be tested in 2024. The Bills will be facing some high-flying offenses from a season ago, and one of those offenses they will see twice (Miami). The Bills will see six of the top ten offenses from last season in 2024. Needless to say, the revamped Buffalo secondary will be tested by the likes of Tyreek Hill, Amon Ra St. Brown, Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, and Brandon Aiyuk to name a few.
Sean McDermott will need to be creative in his efforts on defense this year to keep these highly skilled pass catchers at bay. Against man coverage last season the Bills allowed 311 points which is a testament to the development of Christian Benford and the trade deadline deal for Rasul Douglas. But, in 2024 there is no Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde, or Tre’Davious White.
Make no mistake, the Bills defense will not be outmatched by any stretch of the imagination. Sean McDermott is one of the bright defensive minds in the NFL and will have a plan for each star wideout his defense will play, but those star wide receivers get paid the big bucks for a reason. However, not every receiver the Bills play in 2024 is the best in the league.
When you make a list of the receivers the Bills will face in 2024, someone has to be first and someone has to be last. This is the latter. By no means am I implying these players are bad, I am just not considering them the best the Bills will play in 2024. Through no fault of their own these receivers have different types of issues to contend with which plays a lot into how they fall on this list. The skill and ability is there, but these receivers are ones that will scare this Buffalo defense the least.
Who are the 5 worst wide receivers the Buffalo Bills will play in 2024?
Rashee Rice (Kansas City Chiefs)
It took 11 weeks for Rashee Rice to find his footing in 2023 and maybe even that long for Patrick Mahomes to trust him. In Weeks 1-11 Rice had 36 receptions 420 yards and 4 touchdowns. but in Weeks 12-17 Rice had 43 receptions 518 yards and 3 touchdowns. Off the field issues may affect his availability for 2024 which puts him on this list for me. Rashee Rice was a big piece of Kansas City’s postseason run to another Super Bowl but compared to the caliber of receiver the Bills will play over the course of 2024, Rice is near the bottom of the list.
Garrett Wilson (New York Jets)
It cannot be understated how impressive it was that Wilson managed a 1000-yard season with Zach Wilson as his quarterback in 2023. If Aaron Rodgers stays healthy for the Jets then Wilson may just be able to vault himself into the conversation of best wide receivers in the NFL, but that is a big if. Wilson had only two games over 100 yards last season and 3 touchdowns. He’s still young and will be a thorn in the sides of defenses for years but as for 2024, he needs to rely on his quarterback’s health to show he can meet his potential.
Zay Flowers (Baltimore Ravens)
Lamar Jackson is the reigning MVP. He threw for 3,678 yards and 24 touchdowns. Zay Flowers accounted for 858 yards and 5 touchdowns in his rookie year. Zay Flowers will develop more trust with Jackson and will be a bigger part of the offense as his career goes on. For now though, Flowers is good but doesn’t strike fear in the hearts of defenders.
Christian Kirk (Jacksonville Jaguars)
In 2022, Christian Kirk had 1,108 yards and 8 touchdowns in a very surprising season to many. In 2023, Calvin Ridley returned from suspension and Kirk’s numbers dropped to 787 yards and 3 touchdowns. Kirk is a very capable receiver but with the additions of Gabe Davis and 2024 first round pick Brian Thomas Jr., Kirk’s numbers might take another hit and even his spot at the top of the receiver depth chart in Jacksonville is written in pencil not pen. The Bills will have to account for Kirk, but not have to worry about him.
Kendrick Bourne (New England Patriots)
Much like Garrett Wilson, Kendrick Bourne in New England had to deal with gross quarterback play in Mac Jones. Bourne mustered 406 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2023. Exit Mac Jones and Bill Belichick, enter Jerod Mayo and Drake Maye. A new coach in Mayo might help bring new life to the Patriots but the amount of competition behind Bourne might work against him. I think Ja’Lynn Polk will rise up the depth chart as the season progresses but as for Bourne he’s a product of a team in a deep rebuild and a receiver the Bills may not lose sleep over.