3 Buffalo Bills Players Ready to Break Out in 2024

The Buffalo Bills embarked on a youth movement this offseason, cutting veteran contracts and creating opportunities for players on rookie contracts to secure larger roles.

At two positions in particular – defensive end and pass-catching weapon – the Bills will likely need some young talent to break out and fill the voids in 2024.

Here are the three most likely candidates on Tuesday’s Bills roster.

Dalton Kincaid, TE

Is it possible to be a breakout candidate after catching 73 balls as a rookie? The answer is yes when talking about Kincaid, as the 2023 first-round selection has the chance to move from being a significant contributor to being a primary option in the Bills’ passing game.

With Buffalo losing its top two receivers from the 2023 roster, Kincaid’s target share should naturally increase. His snap count should also increase as the Bills are expected to deploy numerous two-TE sets.

Greg Rousseau, DE

With an aging Von Miller and the absence of Leonard Floyd, Rousseau has the opportunity to step up and become the team’s No. 1 rusher. The 2021 first-round pick has shown great promise in his first three seasons in the NFL, but has yet to display consistent dominance.

The Bills put their faith in Rousseau by exercising his fifth-year option this offseason. Now it’s time for the physically imposing defensive end to reward his team with a breakout season.

Dorian Williams, LB

Williams appeared in all 17 games as a rookie, but he took a backseat to Tyrel Dodson when it came to linebacker reps. The 2023 third-rounder, who saw significant snaps on special teams, totaled 40 tackles, but still needs to earn the coaches’ trust on defense. With the linebacker corps depleted for the AFC Divisional Round battle against Kansas City, Buffalo matched journeyman free agent AJ Klein against Williams.

The hope is that Williams will follow the path masterfully traced by Terrel Bernard a year earlier. Bernard, a 2022 third-round pick who played sparingly as a rookie transitioning to the next level, exploded onto the scene as an impact starter in year two.