[jwplayer sfc9vdNK-ThvAeFxT]
Pro Football Focus recently named the top-three needs for the Buffalo Bills as the 2021 offseason has arrived.
Two of those three land in one position group: The offensive line. The football analytics outlet said cornerback is an area the Bills could address, but also put both offensive tackle and guard in that area.
On all three spots, here’s how PFF explains their outlooks:
-
Guards Ike Boettger, Brian Winters and Jon Feliciano are all free agents. The one weak spot on this offense was some inconsistency with running the ball; the Bills’ average of 1.3 yards before contact per carry ranked just 21st last season. Their status as the 21st-ranked unit in pressure rate is more due to Josh Allen’s tendency to hold the ball for a good bit of time, but either way continuing to invest in protecting Allen should be a priority.
-
RT Daryl Williams (PFF’s 21st-highest graded tackle) is a free agent. All in all, only the Panthers, Dolphins and Seahawks have fewer 2021 dollars devoted to the offensive line. This front office has only drafted three total offensive linemen in the last five drafts.
-
Corners Levi Wallace and Josh Norman are free agents. Tre’Davious White is brilliant, but the Bills were more hesitant to use him in shadow coverage in 2020 compared to past years. Improving the supporting cast around him might coax them back into letting White attempt to blanket the opposition’s No. 1 WR more weeks than not.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane discussed the state of the team’s roster at his end of season press conference. The GM touched on many topics, but the one that was unprompted was his thoughts on the run game. Beane wants to improve Buffalo’s rushing attack on offense. He also said he doesn’t blame running backs Devin Singletary and Zack Moss for their lack of successes in 2020.
That points to the offensive line, and PFF backs up Beane’s belief that Buffalo can stand to improve as a run-blocking team. Now it remains to be seen how Beane and the Bills try to address this. Try to keep their own guys and run it back? Or maybe add some new faces, but how? Via the draft or free agency?
On cornerback, Levi Wallace is more likely to return because he’s a RFA. Norman appeared to lose a step, but one name PFF does not mention is Dane Jackson. The seventh-round rookie might get a shot to battle for the No. 2 job next season according to Beane, as he did pretty well in his limited playing time in 2020.
[lawrence-related id=78376,78369,78367,78333]