The Buffalo Bills suffered another heartbreaking playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2024 AFC Championship. Now, it is time for the Bills to evaluate their season and see where they can improve. They couldn’t get past the Chiefs and will spend yet another offseason brainstorming ways to finally get over the hump.
Looking inwards Bills general manager Brandon Beane talked about two of his young offensive weapons and their performance this season. He was disappointed in what they got from TE Dalton Kincaid and rookie WR Keon Coleman, but Beane still expressed the trust and excitement he has for both of these players to contribute in 2025.
Brandon Beane’s Evaluations of Dalton Kincaid, Keon Coleman
To recap the Bills season, Beane took to the podium to reflect on the season. He touched upon his slight disappointment in Coleman and Kincaid. Coleman had a solid start to the season for a rookie with 417 yards and three touchdowns in his first nine games. He suffered a wrist injury in Week 9 and was not the same player when he returned in Week 15.
“I would say, probably was a little disappointed in the return from the injury. I did not see the same player down the stretch from a physicality, some of the things that he needs to use his size. Some of that is youth, some of that is, I’m not sure how many injuries he’s had to overcome in-season and come back. That takes a certain experience level, how to deal with an injury and how to return,” said Beane.
The connection between Allen and Coleman wasn’t nearly as fluid after he returned from injury. Beane knows Coleman is young with plenty of room to grow. He attributed Coleman’s struggles to his inexperience in returning from injury midseason and instantly contributing at a high level in the NFL. He expressed optimism that Coleman will be able to make a Year 2 jump and continue to improve.
As for Kincaid, he also struggled with an injury. Kincaid suffered a PCL injury in Week 10 against the Indianapolis Colts. Kincaid broke the franchise rookie receptions record but didn’t live up to that in his second season.
“I would say Dalton didn’t have the year that he expected, or we expected. Nothing for any particular reason that I can say, other than some durability things. He got nicked up during the season,” said Beane.
"This team did a lot of really good things this season. We're going to keep fighting, and I'm determined we'll get there."
Brandon Beane breaks down our 2024 season and addresses offseason plans: https://t.co/xFzRLOZdDN pic.twitter.com/pXy59hFeXW
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 31, 2025
Kincaid’s season will likely be remembered for his injury and the drop that ended the Bills season in the AFC Championship Game. While it wasn’t the easiest of catches, Kincaid probably wants that one back. But just like Coleman, Beane does not doubt that Kincaid will be back to his rookie form and play a pivotal role in the offense next season.
“That’s one of the nuances of this game, in college, you don’t play 17 games plus playoffs. So building your body up to withstand what it takes … we believe in Dalton, and he is a big part of our plans going forward. No one in here has lost confidence in him,” Beane said on what he sees for Kincaid going forward.
Other Notable Moments From Beane’s Media Session
Beane spoke highly of the camaraderie in the Bills locker room this season. Comparing the close-knit nature of the team to his successful teams when he worked for the Carolina Panthers, adding, “this team was as close as you could ask for.”
He addressed the midseason acquisition of Amari Cooper. He revealed that Cooper had recommendations for surgery for a wrist injury but decided to play through it. Beane had no regrets about being aggressive in making the move for Cooper even though he didn’t produce to the Pro Bowl level he had shown before.
Lastly, the big decisions for the offseason will be to determine how to improve this roster to take down the juggernaut Chiefs. He addressed cornerback as a potential position that will be looked into after the Chiefs went after Kaiir Elam following Christian Benford’s concussion. CB Rasul Douglas will enter free agency, and the Bills will need to improve this position to give themselves a better chance to win.
“We want to give [Josh Allen] every chance every single year to see if that team in ’25, ’26, ’27, and as many years as he can play can contend for a title,” Beane said about his offseason plans.
Allen gives the team a competitive floor every year. Giving him the pieces to help the Bills achieve their Super Bowl ceiling with Allen running the offense is of utmost importance. Beane’s offseason will be one to watch as the Bills keep searching for ways to reach the top of the AFC once again.
