Top five bills that need to step up efforts in 2024 – Infraction

It’s the start of a new era for Buffalo Bills football. After highlighting the major changes on the defensive side of the ball and naming the players who need to step up their play to help this unit succeed, it’s time to switch sides and look at the team’s offense.

Gone are two of the most decorated players on the Bills offense: Stefon Diggs, the team’s best player over the past four seasons, and Mitch Morse, the constant presence and leader of the offensive line. These are not easy roles to fill, but Buffalo has several names eager to take advantage of the new opportunities and become the new cornerstones of this offensive group. Here are my top five players who, if they are able to elevate their game to a new level, should help this new version of the Bills offense the most.

5 — Curtis Samuel, WR

The former Washington Commanders wide receiver already has plenty of experience, entering his eighth year in the league, now with the Bills. However, don’t mistake Samuel’s signing for one of those decadent veterans trying to join a solid team in search of a Super Bowl ring – turning 28 in August, the speedy receiver may be in his prime peak right now, combining great athletic traits that made him a second-round pick in 2017, with the experience gained over the years.

Add to that the fact that he will, for the first time in his career, catch passes from a true franchise quarterback, and his best year as a professional occurred while playing for the offensive coordinator he just joined, and it’s entirely fair to expect Samuel to produce the best seasons of his career as Bill. After John Brown, Cole Beasley and Stefon Diggs all came to Buffalo and enjoyed an uptick in production, Samuel could be next in line. It will all be about opportunities.

4 – Connor McGovern, C.

Last year, McGovern signed with the Bills to become a true starter, after spending the early years of his career as a depth player on the Dallas Cowboys depth chart. After a successful season starting at left guard, the former third-round pick will have to make another transition, this time from guard to center, where his responsibilities will increase.

McGovern will have to replace a longtime veteran in Mitch Morse, a player who was a leader on the offensive side of the ball and a reliable piece in the middle of this offensive line. I find it hard to take for granted that Morse’s qualities will be easily replaced. That said, I definitely trust Aaron Kromer as one of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL, and it seems like this move has been in the works since last season, when McGovern started taking some snaps at center during workouts.

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There’s no guarantee this move will work, but with the confidence of his coaches, McGovern seems very excited to return to the position he loves to play the most. McGovern wants to take responsibility and believes he is ready to take on this position and never look back. His relationship with his quarterback is evolving in the right direction and, being younger and having better physical characteristics than his successor, he could even become an upgrade in the best case scenario.

3 — Khalil Shakir, WR

Keon Coleman, Curtis Samuel, Marques Valdes-Scantling, Mack Hollins, Chase Claypool — the Bills added several new candidates to become Josh Allen’s go-to player at wide receiver in 2024. However, one returning player selected by the The team in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft is my favorite in this battle.

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Khalil Shakir earned Allen’s trust by making the most of every opportunity he received last season. Reliable hands, yardage production after the catch and versatility to win while lining up inside and outside have made him one of Allen’s preferred options week in and week out. He has the physical characteristics and the right mindset to succeed. Plus, having Eric Molds as a mentor and tutor definitely helps a lot. I look forward to seeing him in his first full year as a starter, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he becomes a 1,000-yard wide receiver in 2024.

2 – James Cook, RB

No skill position player has a better opportunity to become the second biggest superstar in the Bills offense than James Cook and the reason is simple – unlike passers who will only be able to shine during a single phase of offensive production , the former second-round pick will have the opportunity to catch the ball and rush it. We know that Joe Brady loves to take advantage of the light boxes to pound the rock and establish a solid running game, and that trend should continue in 2024, giving Cook the opportunity to touch the ball a lot.

But it’s not just about production on the ground. The former Georgia Bulldog has all the tools to make a difference in the passing game as well. He struggled with some costly drops, leaving at least three touchdowns on the field last season. However, we’ve seen what kind of mismatch he can be for linebackers in coverage, and he’s shown good hands in other opportunities, which makes me believe his drops are more of a concentration issue than possession in the wrong hands.

Another key area where Cook can benefit from some improvement is pass blocking. We saw a lot of Latavius ​​Murray on the court in two-minute drills and obvious passes last season, mainly to be more reliable as a blocker. If Cook can improve there, he should find more playing time and then produce more.

After becoming a Pro Bowl in 2023, Cook could still have a higher ceiling. This is a guy who can become an All-Pro selection and a household name around the league, improving the Bills offense and taking some of the weight off Josh Allen’s shoulders.

1 — Dalton Kincaid, TE

No matter how much of a run-intensive team the Bills have become, the passing game will always lead the way when the quarterback is Josh Allen – it’s a passing league after all and Buffalo has the better quarterback. back of the league, in my opinion. This is why I have Dalton Kincaid over James Cook as the player who can have the biggest impact on this offense in 2024.

Don’t be fooled by all the talk about Stefon Diggs getting attention: number one pass catchers always end up finding ways to contribute and lead their teams in key receiving statistics. That wasn’t the case with Diggs playing under Joe Brady since Kincaid had been that guy since the recently promoted offensive coordinator took over on an interim basis. Midway through the 2023 season. Diggs was more “eye candy” than the go-to guy for the new offense, and it worked out very well.

Without an established WR1 on the roster now, the first-round pick from a year ago should continue to be the centerpiece of the Bills’ passing attack moving forward. He offers a great blend of size and athletic ability alongside excellent hands, while also being a nightmare matchup for opposing linebackers and safeties. Now entering his second year in the league and already having experience as a primary target in the offense, Kincaid should be able to continue his rise to NFL stardom.

Allen often punished opposing defenses by throwing the ball downfield and out of the hash. Kincaid’s growth into a feared mismatch on the interior should do wonders for the Bills’ new group of pass catchers on the outside, allowing them to face more one-on-one opportunities and make people pay for them . Continuity in his development and how he presents himself on offense should be the biggest X-factor for this unit in 2024.

Final Thoughts

Looking at the names that have left the team and remembering their biggest highlights during their Bills’ careers, most people are definitely worried about all the uncertainties at the top of the depth chart. That said, the regression of former players is real, and I don’t think many people will disagree when I state that Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis and Mitch Morse are leaving the team at a time when they were not producing within of the elite. level expected of them when you see these guys step on the field.

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Call me a home run if you want, but honestly, I don’t consider any of the scenarios stated above to be unrealistic: all of these players have been moving in the right direction, not past their prime, showing their potential on the ground. already, and we have made the necessary efforts to improve. The Bills have focused on players with the right mindset, and it’s hard to bet against players willing to work hard to achieve success.

Obviously, we can’t expect each of them to reach their full potential or have everything work out well in their favor throughout the year, but the Bills don’t need that – two of these best scenarios accompanied by other players doing the work. The bare minimum expected of NFL starters should be enough to give Josh Allen an offense he can elevate. The Bills don’t need 11 All-Pros on the roster and all of the players mentioned in this article have already established themselves as nice complementary pieces. Now is the time to step up and take over, becoming the Bills’ new household names in the league.

Find out all this and more in my latest edition of Leading The Charge!