The Buffalo Bills are known as a young team on the rise in the NFL. Finally after years of rebuilding operations, a team led by homegrown talent now ranks among the league’s elite.
Still, the Bills actually… aren’t that young. According to Andrew Walker, the Indianapolis Colts’ team writer, the Bills have seventh-oldest roster currently in the league:
According to rosters on all 32 team websites, the #Colts currently are tied for the eighth-youngest roster in the NFL, with an average age of 24.98.
Here's the rest of the list, @JimIrsay. pic.twitter.com/5lN1Ga4qkS
— Andrew Walker (@AWalkerColts) May 15, 2021
While perhaps surprising, the results of this study are pretty standard for a Sean McDermott team. When McDermott took over duties as Buffalo’s head coach, he almost immediately put an emphasis on veteran leadership in the Bills locker room. Early in his tenure, vets such as Lorenzo Alexander and Kyle Williams were always touted regarding their leaderships behind the scenes.
Such players now include guys like the recently signed 34-year-old Emmanuel Sanders and 33-year-old Mario Addison. Even following the recent NFL draft where Buffalo selected pass rushers Greg Rousseau and Boogie Basham with their top-two picks, McDermott immediately raved about how veterans such as Addison will play key roles in grooming such prospects.
Still, the Bills, overall, aren’t the oldest of teams in terms of impact-makers. Part of this has to be put in the correct context. Young players such as quarterback Josh Allen (24), Tremaine Edmunds (23) and Ed Oliver (23) have big responsibilities on the field for the team, so some youthful talent isn’t just waiting for their turn on the field. In some cases, they’re leading the way.