For a team considered to be one of the biggest threats to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC, the Buffalo Bills enter the 2024 NFL season with plenty of question marks.
While the Bills still have Josh Allen under center, their roster underwent a lot of turnover this offseason, parting ways with long-time veterans on both sides of the ball at key positions.
Let’s look at the five biggest unanswered questions for the Bills heading into this season.
Unanswered Questions Ahead of Buffalo Bills Training Camp
The Buffalo’s offseason comings and goings have been well documented. With big-name playmakers like Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis no longer in the fold, it will be up to newcomers and younger guys to step up to fill the gaps.
We discuss the ongoing roster churning and four other questions that the Bills still face ahead of training camp.
Who Will Be Josh Allen’s Main Target at Wide Receiver?
When you lose two of your main offensive weapons in one offseason, finding production to replace them becomes Priority No. 1. With the signing of Curtis Samuel and the draft selection of Keon Coleman, the Bills set out to do just that.
The Bills also added Marquez Valdez-Scantling and will look for Khalil Shakir to step up in a big way in 2024. With all these new names, and an unsettled pecking order, who may be Allen’s main target at WR?
While the question will sort itself out in due time, the early guess may point to veterans like Samuel. He has been around the league and has been productive in less stable places throughout his career due to his versatility.
From being a weapon out of the backfield to being a catch-and-run underneath threat, Samuel looks to be a true playmaker who can be multiple and is viewed as an early favorite to be Allen’s go-to guy.
However, ultimately the ideal situation for everyone involved would be seeing Coleman eventually take over that role. How long it takes remains to be seen, but if his big-play ability can translate from college to the pros, the Bills WR may be in better hands than many originally thought.
Keon Coleman is an elite contested-catch and red-zone threat. 😤#NoleFamily | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/5cplT4eLJi
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) April 26, 2024
Can Von Miller and Matt Milano Return to Pre-Injury Form?
Von Miller and Matt Milano’s availability and productivity are key to the Bills’ success. Miller has been a feared pass rusher, and Milano has turned into one of the NFL’s best linebackers. However, after both dealt with significant injuries in 2023, the question remains: Can both regain their form?
In the case of Milano, who suffered a tibia fracture and is still under 30 years old, you have to feel good about the prospects of him bouncing back and looking like his old self. Healing a bone and taking the proper precautions to make sure your body is ready to go is crucial, but when done right, players can bounce back and look like their old selves rather quickly at times.
As for Miller, he is on the wrong side of 30, currently 35 years old. As the 2024 season is set to commence soon, he is still fighting back from a torn ACL in 2022. He never looked quite right in 12 games of action last season, and after going sackless last season, Miller is hoping a full offseason can work its magic.
It’s a tall task, as Father Time is undefeated, but Miller has been productive his entire career and shouldn’t be counted out prematurely in 2024.
How Will the Bills’ Defense Change Under New DC Bobby Babich?
While any coaching changes will assuredly see some differences, with Bobby Babich now at the helm as the new defensive coordinator, the changes may not be as sweeping as some think.
Babich has been with the Bills since 2017 when he started as an assistant defensive backs coach. Now, he gets to take full control of a group he is very familiar with.
Look for the new DC to try to bring confidence and simplicity to a talented but young group. With a chance to build on what they were already accustomed to doing, Babich will most likely fine-tune rather than overhaul the group.
Will James Cook Reach Another Level in 2024?
Start with 1,122 rushing yards, 4.7 yards, and two touchdowns on the ground. Add 44 receptions, 445 receiving yards, and four more touchdowns. Together, it made 2023 a breakout season for the former Georgia Bulldog. Despite the quality numbers Cook reached last season, it feels like he is merely scratching the surface of the impact he can make going forward.
Cook is a truly dynamic running back who can play all three downs and be productive in any situation. His ability to catch passes out of the backfield and make something happen with the football in his hands makes him an important weapon for the Bills offense.
#PFN365 Offensive Player of the Week: #Bills RB James Cook 🏆
➡️ 179 rushing yards
➡️ 42 receiving yards
➡️ 2 total TDsPFN's RB Rankings: https://t.co/kTOVhZsfqS#BillsMafia | #NFL pic.twitter.com/Fs2d7KFbhi
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 19, 2023
With not much of a veteran presence, or proven production behind him at the RB spot, Cook looks to be getting handed the keys to the position this season. With so many questions at the pass-catching positions, it will be paramount for Cook to continue to ascend and help Allen and Co. keep the offense humming as the new guys find their rhythm.
How Will Changes at Safety Impact the Defense?
So long are the days of looking at the Bills’ secondary and seeing veteran playmakers Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer roaming the back end together. With Poyer now in Miami and Hyde still unsigned, 2024 rings in a new era for Bills secondary.
With veteran pieces like Taylor Rapp and Mike Edwards added, presumably to be the starters, the group will be off to a completely new start. Both Rapp and Edwards have been productive during their NFL careers, but if the Bills’ defense, under new leadership, is going to flourish this season, these guys may need to elevate their game.
We talked about the defense potentially looking similar to years past and how that will benefit many returning players already in the building. However, with the newcomers, it will be crucial that they can hit the ground running for a seamless transition.
How well this group handles it could go a long way in how productive this group will be this season.
