Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
#Bills have NFL high three players claimed on waiver wire:
The Buffalo Bills ended up having multiple players picked up by other teams on the waiver wire after they were left off the 53-man roster.
In total, the Bills had three players that were grabbed. That tied with the San Francisco 49ers for the most among any NFL team.
The full rundown of those three can be found below:
Stay on top of the #Bills’ roster cuts right here:
The Buffalo Bills have begans their quest to 53 players (and a practice squad). The team must be down to that to total number of players by 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
But as is often the case, the NFL is wasting little time skimming down their rosters. Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott included.
Here is Bills Wire’s 2023 roster tracker for Buffalo as the Bills work their way down to 53 players:
Only one #Bills offensive lineman above an 80 rating in #Madden24:
EA Sports is going position-by-position and releasing player ratings for their upcoming NFL video game, Madden 24.
This year’s game will feature Bills quarterback Josh Allen on the cover and we now know how the game rates all offensive line positions in the game.
Here are the Madden 24 ratings for every Bills O-lineman set to feature in the game:
5 easiest games on the #Bills 2023 schedule:
Bills head coach Sean McDermott often remarks in his post-game locker room talks that “winning isn’t easy in this league.”
That’s true in the NFL.
On any given game day, a team can take the field and have their best performance of the year, underdog or not.
Some teams and matchups are easier on paper, however.
An advantage that has seemingly caused this Bills team to take their foot off the gas at times in recent seasons, losing some matchups they were lopsided favorites. An area that is in need of correction.
Suffice it to say the team will look to do just that in their upcoming campaign, taking no opponent for granted.
That being said, here are the five easiest games on the Bills 2023 schedule:
Ranking every 2023 #Bills game from easiest to toughest:
The Buffalo Bills have been one of the top teams in the NFL in the last couple of seasons, and have improved the talent and depth in their lineman and receiver groups while adding talent to positions on their defense and special teams as well.
It’s a good thing considering that the team ranks in the back end of the top ten most difficult schedules for the 2023 regular season. What’s more, eight of the other teams in that top ten face Buffalo this season.
According to head coach Sean McDermott, quarterback Josh Allen has entered his preparation for the 2023 season with a new sense of focus and determination, and a style of play that is smarter and safer. That and the bolstered offensive group around him could lead to good results.
Amidst adjustments for players, and additions and subtractions to coaching staffs and rosters for both the Bills and their opponents, here’s a look at how this year’s matchups rank from easiest to toughest:
McCarthy was McGovern’s last head coach:
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Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane set out on a mission this offseason to improve the offensive line and protection for Josh Allen.
He’s done just that, adding talent and depth to the position group to improve competition for starting roles as well as, ultimately, the on-field results.
While the position battles in training camp have yet to unfold, there are some players, like recent free agent signing and new Bills guard Connor McGovern, who come with hopes high. Enough so that Buffalo signed him to a three-year deal at age 25 following a four-year stint with Dallas, as he could be a plug-and-play offensive lineman between C Mitch Morse and OT Dion Dawkins.
Still, for someone who has room to improve in their run defense, a several-year pact may have raised some questions or curiosity about the signing.
Beane noted upon coming to terms with the offensive lineman in free agency that he believed his best play was ahead of him, and he’s not alone in that prediction.
McGovern’s previous head coach has echoed a similar sentiment as well.
“I think he’s definitely on the rise,” said Dallas Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy earlier this year during the NFL’s annual meetings. “Really, Connor’s challenge were his injuries early in his career,” McCarthy said. “His best football is in front of him.”
McGovern was a 2019 third-round NFL Draft pick who was out his rookie season (and McCarthy’s first year with the team) with a pectoral injury. He’d go on to start 29 of his 45 regular-season games and three playoff games from the 2020 season through his final year with Dallas.
McCarthy’s not wrong about the injuries, and the Bills training staff and facilities do have a repute for helping players stay healthy.
Last season for the Cowboys, McGovern only committed one penalty and gave up two sacks while playing over 900 snaps, which shows potential.
For an offense that is proactive in keeping broken plays alive as well as taking shots downfield when flags are thrown against opponents, it’s important to keep penalties as limited as possible so as to not cost them. Penalties have been an issue for the Bills offense in the past.
The 25-year-old and his fellow offseason additions to the offensive line, like O’Cyrus Torrence, David Edwards, and Nick Broeker will aim to do just that as they compete for time in the starting spots.
One thing is for certain, playing for the Bills is a dream scenario for McGovern, who said as much upon signing with the team.
“I’ve always thought that like last year, if there would be a dream team like where I can go, Buffalo was always at the top of that.”
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Breaking down the #Bills 2023 draft class:
The Buffalo Bills 2023 NFL draft class is officially in session, kicking off their rookie minicamp this week.
What type of role could each player have, and when might they make an impact on the field?
The answers to those questions ultimately remain to be seen, but in the meantime here is a breakdown of each member of the draft class.
4 roster needs the #Bills still must address:
The Buffalo Bills front office has been busy as of late, looking for opportunities to improve the team’s roster as well as its salary cap situation.
Among the tasks at hand have been adding to certain areas of need among position groups.
While we’ve seen a number of new faces join the team this offseason, some areas still require long term solutions.
With that, here are some roster needs the team must still address.
Projected rookie contracts for each of the #Bills’ 2023 draft picks:
The Buffalo Bills have six new rookies via the 2023 NFL draft. Eventually they will all sign their contracts, but those are mostly known already.
The NFL has a system in place which essentially locks in rookie contracts through a wage scale. Depending on where a player is drafted, his contract value will vary. The standard rookie deal is four years, so that applies across the board, but their salaries, signing bonuses and total value depend on their draft slot.
Spotrac has those numbers down for all rookies. Here’s how they project for the Bills:
A rundown of where all of the #Bills’ 2023 NFL draft picks were ranked on “big boards” before the event, including Kiper, McShay, & more:
The Buffalo Bills did not leave the 2023 NFL draft with the largest of hauls. After a few trades, the Bills added six players in total.
But most of that six pack was well known throughout the pre-draft process. Some of these newest Bills players ranked very high on the big boards of NFL draft analysis.
Here’s a full board-by-board look at where all six selections the Bills made ranked on 2023 NFL draft big boards before the event:
