After wage cap constraints compelled them to half methods with a number of notable veterans earlier this offseason, the Buffalo Payments are hoping a few of their younger gamers and new faces emerge as impactful contributors in 2024.
Whereas the accidents proceed to pile up within the preseason, Buffalo nonetheless has the expertise essential to make a push for its fifth straight division title.
Listed below are the franchise’s most useful individuals for 2024.
5. Broad receiver Curtis Samuel
Though second-year tight finish Dalton Kincaid could in the end lead the workforce in targets, Samuel may show to be Buffalo’s most vital pass-catcher this season, assuming he can bounce again from his latest turf toe harm. Following the offseason departures of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, the Payments are counting on a large receiver corps missing a real No. 1 choice to fill the void.
Buffalo will certainly unfold the ball round, however Samuel is well-positioned to make the most important influence among the many workforce’s wideouts. The 28-year-old signed a three-year, $24M deal with the Payments this previous offseason after racking up 613 receiving yards and scoring 5 whole touchdowns for the Commanders in 2023. Regardless of the modest totals Samuel has posted all through his profession, his versatile ability set and historical past with Payments OC Joe Brady present loads of optimism that he might be a difference-maker this season.
In 2020, when Samuel performed for the Panthers whereas Brady served because the workforce’s offensive coordinator, the previous second-round decide loved the very best season of his profession. In 15 video games, Samuel amassed 1,051 yards from scrimmage (851 receiving and 200 speeding) and scored 5 whole touchdowns. Contemplating Samuel caught passes from Teddy Bridgewater and PJ Walker that season, the quarterback improve to two-time Professional Bowler Josh Allen may pave the way in which for the dynamic wideout to get pleasure from a full-fledged breakout in 2024.
4. Defensive sort out Ed Oliver
Oliver has but to earn a Professional Bowl or All-Professional choice, however the 26-year-old is starting to dwell as much as his standing as a former top-10 draft decide. Whereas he by no means seemed the a part of being thought-about a draft bust, Oliver’s first 4 seasons within the league left a lot to be desired, as he posted simply 151 tackles and 14.5 sacks.
Nonetheless, Buffalo remained assured in Oliver’s talents and signed him to a four-year, $68M extension final offseason, which has already begun to seem like a steal. In 16 video games final season, Oliver set profession highs throughout the board, making 51 whole tackles, 14 for loss, 9.5 sacks and one interception. Moreover, Oliver generated 65 pressures, tied with Dexter Lawrence for the fourth-most amongst defensive tackles final season, in line with Pro Football Focus.
Buffalo’s cross rush is a little bit of a query mark getting into 2024, on condition that final season’s sack chief Leonard Floyd signed with San Francisco, and since there is no telling how Von Miller will carry out. Nonetheless, if Oliver can proceed to be a constant drive on the inside, the unit has the potential to exceed expectations this season.
3. Cornerback Taron Johnson
The Payments secondary misplaced key contributors and leaders in Tre’Davious White, Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde this offseason, however the unit nonetheless has star energy returning for 2024. Although CB Rasul Douglas is among the most underrated gamers at his place, Johnson, who signed a three-year, $31M extension this offseason, is the anchor of Buffalo’s defensive backfield.
Johnson, among the best nickel cornerbacks within the NFL, broke out in 2023 en path to incomes second-team All-Professional honors. Johnson performed 89.09% of Buffalo’s defensive snaps final season, posting 98 tackles, three for loss, one sack, eight cross breakups and three compelled fumbles. As per Next Gen Stats, the Weber State product allowed the fourth fewest yards per goal within the slot in 2023 (4.8) whereas rating second from that alignment in run stops (10).
2. Head coach Sean McDermott
McDermott, who’s getting into his eighth season as Payments head coach, has been instrumental in establishing a powerful tradition and reworking his workforce right into a perennial contender. Not solely is McDermott the second-winningest coach in franchise historical past (73 wins), however he additionally ranks first amongst Payments coaches in profitable proportion (.640).
Below McDermott, Buffalo has received the final 4 AFC East division titles, although his 5-6 document within the playoffs has seemingly overshadowed his success. Whereas among the criticism is warranted, it is onerous to think about McDermott is on a lot of a scorching seat getting into 2024. In spite of everything, Buffalo rebounded from a disappointing 6-6 begin final season to win its closing 5 video games because of McDermott’s teaching.
Nonetheless, regardless of the roster turnover the Payments have endured this offseason, you are anticipated to guide your workforce on a deep playoff run when you have got a expertise like Allen at quarterback. If McDermott can accomplish that with this group, any speak about his job safety doubtlessly being in jeopardy could be put to relaxation.
1. Quarterback Josh Allen
In simply six seasons, Allen has established himself as one of many biggest dual-threat quarterbacks ever, as he’s the only player in NFL historical past to account for over 40 whole touchdowns in 4 consecutive seasons.
Allen, who has 4 of the 5 greatest passing seasons in franchise historical past, has already begun to rewrite Buffalo’s document books, and he is steadily climbing the workforce’s all-time ranks. Along with rating third in franchise historical past in passing yards (22,703), passing touchdowns (167) and speeding touchdowns (53), Allen’s 3,611 speeding yards are the seventh-most by any Invoice.
Though he is solely been to at least one AFC Championship Recreation, Allen has been good within the postseason. As identified by Sleeper, Allen ranks first amongst quarterbacks in speeding yards via their first 10 playoff video games whereas rating second in whole yards and touchdowns.
The turnover points which have adopted Allen all through his profession have not been a lot of a priority within the postseason, both. His 1.3% playoff turnover price is lower than half of his regular-season mark in that division (2.8%), in line with CBS Sports activities’ Douglas Clawson.
One may argue that Allen deserved to be named NFL MVP over Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson final season. Even so, if Allen can replicate final season’s manufacturing in 2024 regardless of having a weaker supporting solid, he must be the front-runner for MVP honors this time round.
