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Must-see players at Buffalo Bills 2024 mandatory minicamp

Theo

The Buffalo Bills finish their offseason program with a mandatory three-day minicamp beginning Tuesday. It’s another opportunity for players on the fringes of the roster to make a statement before training camp begins in July.

Although the Bills enter the 2024 season as the defending AFC East Division champions for the fourth straight year, the team’s roster is in flux after several high-profile departures. The list includes Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer and Tre’Davious White.

Replacing these stars won’t be easy. This will require both internal improvement and rapid acclimation through Buffalo and free agent additions. This process makes June minicamp more important than it has been for the franchise in years.

Bills players to watch at mandatory minicamp

WR Chase Claypool

By all accounts, Claypool was one of the best players on the field for the Bills during organized team activities (OTAs). Head coach Sean McDermott praised the 25-year-old receiver’s dedication in his early days with the organization.

“(Claypool) is very focused, he works extremely hard day in and day out,” McDermott told reporters in late May. “…Very impressed with his daily approach, a true pro, high character, intelligent player, and he has been a good addition to our team.”

Notre Dame’s 2020 second-round pick looked like a future Pro Bowler during an impressive rookie season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He recorded 62 catches for 873 yards and nine touchdowns. He was never able to match that production.

Claypool, who also played for the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins, admitted he hasn’t lived up to his own standards in recent years.

“I think it’s hard to believe the player you are or can be and not live up to those expectations, especially over the last couple of years,” the Canadian forward said last month. “I know there are times when it can be frustrating if I don’t live up to my potential. But if it’s frustrating to the outside world, it’s even more frustrating to me. I understand where I should be.

The Bills are working to replace Diggs, Davis, Deonte Harty and Trent Sherfield. Khalil Shakir is the only receiver on the 2024 roster to have a catch for the team in 2023, so there are plenty of snaps and targets available. Not to mention the chance to catch passes from MVP candidate Josh Allen.

Shakir, Curtis Samuel and rookie Keon Coleman lead the depth chart. However, anything beyond that is up for grabs, and Claypool makes a strong case to win the No. 4 receiver role based on his play during OTAs.

Claypool’s upside far outweighs that of other players in the competition, led by Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Mack Hollins, but he has sorely lacked consistency in recent years. That’s why it’s crucial for him to lean on solid OTAs during minicamp.

EDGE Von Miller

It could be argued that Miller, a future Hall of Famer, was the worst player in the NFL in 2023 after returning from a torn ACL. He recorded just three total tackles and no sacks in 12 appearances. He was absolutely not a factor in every game.

In most cases, players return to form during their second season after ACL surgery. However, it is more difficult to know whether this will be the case for a 35-year-old player entering his 15th season. It is more difficult to recover from a serious injury during the later stages of a career.

Miller remains confident he can yet reemerge as an impact player.

“It’s definitely been trying, but at the end of the day, all I have is my optimism and my faith,” Miller said last week. “I know what I can still do and you have to keep pushing. Every time God says it’s over, it will be over, but I always think I have a few years left and I’m going to give it my all.

Yet the Bills quietly prepared to move on from the Denver Broncos legend. They signed Dawuane Smoot and Casey Toohill to provide defensive depth behind starters Greg Rousseau and AJ Epenesa. They also drafted Javon Solomon in the fifth round.

If Miller struggles during training camp, it’s possible he could be released. Removing him wouldn’t save Buffalo much this season ($280,000), but it would open up $17.5 million for next season, according to Over The Cap. This is important for a capital-strapped team.

Make no mistake: the Bills are a more dangerous team with a full-strength Miller. He was once a virtual lock for double-digit sacks, and rushing the passer has been a problem at times for Buffalo during its current run as a Super Bowl threat. Getting back to this level would be a huge boost for the team’s defense.

Alas, those days may be in the past and the Bills may need to move on before the regular season begins in September.

CB Rasul Douglas

Douglas ignored the Bills’ entire OTAs. This raised questions about whether he was potentially heading towards a contract termination as he enters the final year of his previous contract.

Tim Graham of The Athletic reported Friday that Douglas’ absence was “not related to any contractual issues.” Graham’s source, however, provided no further information on why the 29-year-old cornerback was not present at voluntary workouts.

A mandatory minicamp should bring clarity to the situation. Either the corner, acquired from the Green Bay Packers in an October trade, will be on the field or it will become clear whether or not his absence is excused. The latter would result in a fine.

Douglas was outstanding for the Bills after his arrival. He collected 29 total tackles, eight passes defended, four interceptions, two fumble recoveries, one sack and one defensive touchdown. This helped Buffalo fill the No. 1 CB void left by White’s torn Achilles.

The Bills continue to lack depth at corner. Their other two projected starters, Christian Benford on the edge and Taron Johnson in the slot, are strong, but all of the options behind the starting trio are untested or unproven.

In turn, Douglas has leverage if he ultimately seeks a new contract before Buffalo plays the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1. For now, it doesn’t appear that his absence from the organization portends long-term staying power.

Main photo: Jamie Germano/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle-USA TODAY NETWORK

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