10 Bills players who could have bigger roles in 2024

10 #Bills players who could have bigger roles in 2024:

Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane made headlines as of late by pointing to where the Bills need to get younger at key positions and hit on their upcoming NFL Draft picks.

He also forecasted a 2024 roster in which younger players may need to step in and step up to play more hands-on roles than the team usually asks of them early on in their professional careers.

Without knowing who this offseason’s new additions might be via the draft and free agency, some players already on the Bills depth chart could prove to be contributors this upcoming season.

Here are 10 Bills players who could have bigger roles in 2024:

Best photos from rookie season of Bills 2023 draft class

Best photos from rookie season of #Bills 2023 draft class:

The Buffalo Bills did not have the biggest of draft classes in 2023 but their haul from it ended up being an impactful one.

At the top, tight end Dalton Kincaid slowly came along during his first year in the pros after being a first-round pick. Then as a surprise selection in Round 2, offensive lineman O’Cyrus Torrence became a Day 1 for Buffalo.

On the flip side, some players from the Bills’ recent draft class were even too good to stick around. The likes of seventh rounder Nick Broeker now lines up on the Houston Texans’ offensive line after Buffalo had to cut Broeker and try to get him on their practice squad.

Following the conclusion of all six draft picks’ first year in the NFL, here are some of the top photos of each from their first season in 2023:

Stock up, stock down following the Bills’ AFC Wild-Card win over the Steelers

Here is Bills Wire’s stock report following Monday AFC Wild Card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Buffalo Bills made it back to the AFC playoffs in one of the more unlikely fashions as they finished the season with five-straight victories to clinch the AFC East title.

The season didn’t stop there as they still had to keep winning as their main goal is getting to the Super Bowl. That started with Monday’s AFC Wild Card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers via a 31-17 win.

To make this game more interesting than it was already as a win-or-go-home scenario, this contest was originally supposed to take place on Sunday. However, due to the dangerous conditions in Buffalo over the weekend, the NFL postponed the game until Monday.

The change in schedule didn’t seem to affect the Bills in a negative way as they took it to the Steelers from the beginning with a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

Here is the stock report following the playoff win over Pittsburgh:

PFF: 5 highest-graded Bills players on defense in Week 11

PFF: 5 highest-graded #Bills players on defense in Week 11 vs. the #Jets:

The Buffalo Bills defeated the Nee York Jets, 32-6, in their Week 11 matchup on Sunday afternoon.

The Bills (6-5) had a few players that stood out above the rest in this one. On offense, the Bills were lead by quarterback Josh Allen who led a new-look offense with Joe Brady now calling the shots as offensive coordinator.

But not everyone had a game to remember, defense included.

To get more wins, Buffalo will hope such efforts will remain throughout the rest of the 2023 season as the push toward the postseason unfolds… particularly, they’ll need these efforts from these players to continue, according to Pro Football Focus.

Here are the five highest-graded Bills players on defense against the Jets (4-6) according to PFF’s metrics:

PFF: 5 worst-graded Bills players on defense in Week 10

Not their best day:

The Buffalo Bills lost to the Denver Broncos, 24-22, in their Week 10 matchup on Monday Night Football.

According to Pro Football Focus, here are the five worst-graded Bills players on defense during the contest:

PFF: 5 worst-graded Bills players on defense in Week 9

Not their best days:

The Buffalo Bills lost to the Cincinnati Bengals, 24-18, in their Week 9 matchup on Sunday Night Football.

The Bills (5-4) had a few players that stood out above the rest in this one. Particularly on defense, Buffalo had a sound game plan. However, the Bills were not perfect and in the end, the final score tells that story.

The Bills will hope consistency and wins return in their throughout the rest of the 2023 season. But Buffalo will need these players to turn it around a bit as far as Pro Football Focus is concerned.

With that, here are the five worst-graded Bills players on defense against the Bengals (5-3) according to PFF’s metrics:

5 takeaways from the Bills’ 24-18 loss to the Bengals

5 takeaways from the #Bills’ 24-18 loss to the #Bengals:

The Buffalo Bills were defeated by the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9 on Sunday Night Football.

The Bills (5-4) simply looked like the second-best team on the field against the Bengals (5-3) and that’s how the final score was reflected: A 24-18 defeat for Buffalo.

The game looked like it was going to be fireworks early, but both teams ended up getting stuck in the mud. Cincinnati were a little bit cleaner on the field and that made the difference in the end.

Of those factors, which of them stood out the most?

Here are five takeaways from the Bills’ loss to the Bengals in Week 9:

NFL Next Gen Stats: Bills’ pass-rush defense sorely missing Matt Milano

NFL Next Gen Stats: #Bills’ pass-rush defense sorely missing Matt Milano:

The Buffalo Bills have been hit with the injury bug hard during the past couple weeks of the 2023 NFL season. The defensive side of the ball has seen key injuries across several starting positions.

Earlier this month, former All-Pro cornerback Tre’Davious White was placed on injured reserve and four days later, starting linebacker Matt Milano and defensive tackle DaQuan Jones joined White on the IR list.

Of the trio, Milano’s loss being felt the most according to NFL Next Gen Stats. According to the football analytics out, Buffalo’s pass rush is lacking without the linebacker.

Since Milano’s knee injury in Week 5, the Bills defense has been unable to defend the middle of the park. Not only has Buffalo stopped generating turnovers, but they are providing offenses ample time to find their open receivers to score touchdowns and performing at a league-worst rate:

Bills head coach Sean McDermott has his work cut out for him after taking over the defensive coordinator duties this season.

Rookie linebacker Dorian Williams is being given an opportunity to fill Milano’s shoes but it has not gone well. In two of three games, he’s been pulled for Tyrel Dodson.

If the first-year pro gets another shot, the is hope that Williams can make the jump up to a high-caliber level on Thursday against a strong, newly revamped Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3) offensive line.

He’ll have his work cut out for him.

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Bills’ Dorian Williams on benching: ‘Have to do what they feel is best’

#Bills LB Dorian Williams is taking being benched in stride & what Sean McDermott said:

The Buffalo Bills have had a slew of injuries during the month of October which has put the spotlight on a few new faces, including rookie linebacker Dorian Williams.

The Bills’ injured reserve list has seen several players added to it such as linebacker Matt Milano (leg).

Bills’ third-round rookie linebacker Dorian Williams took on the role that Milano excelled in prior to his injury.

After Bills coach Sean McDermott assumed defensive coordinator duties the Tulane product has been trying to make the necessary jump to contribute. It made sense, as Williams was expected to be an instant impact player for Buffalo when he was drafted.

But the jump from college to the pros is tough, especially for defenders.

McDermott benched Williams during their 29-25 loss against the New England Patriots in Week 7. It was the second time Williams lost snaps to Tyrel Dodson, however, this time it was for the majority of the game.

In true McDermott form, he has done the expected since.

Following Pats loss, he expressed confidence in Williams. Even so, on Tuesday McDermott kept his secrets as usual.

When asked who would start between Williams and Dodson, the coach said “we’ll see.”

That we will, as the this position will catch the attention of many in Buffalo when the Bills defense take their first snap of the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3) on Thursday.

Regardless of the decision, Williams is taking it all in stride. He’s going to try and learn and move forward, which is the best choice he can make as such a young player.

“It’s definitely tough,” Williams said. “I know it’s all out of love–all the coaches want the best for me– but I mean, they have to do what they feel is best to put the team in a position to win.”

For more from Williams, see the attached WROC-TV clip below:

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Bills vs. Buccaneers: 7 things to watch for during Week 8’s matchup

#Bills vs. #Buccaneers: 7 things to watch for during Week 8’s matchup:

The Buffalo Bills (4-3) continue their regular season journey at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3) on Thursday Night Football in Week 8.

Once the battle arrives, there will be a few particular things to keep in mind.

Here are seven things to watch for during Thursday’s Bills-Bucs matchup: