The Buffalo Bills had to bid farewell to several fan favorites and longtime starters in order to get under the cap and adopt a more long-term team-building strategy that could lay the groundwork for a new core around Josh Allen in the future. This was necessary because they had spent years piling on veteran talent in the hopes of beating the Kansas City Chiefs and representing the AFC in the Super Bowl.
Will it work? Can these young players step up to replace talents like Stefon Diggs, Jordan Poyer, and Tre’Davious White, who have all departed for various reasons? Maybe yes, maybe no. However, if it does happen, the team will need significant contributions from their first two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.
These rookies could be players for the Buffalo Bills in 2024.
2. Keon Coleman will push Khalil Shakir for WR1
Assuming both players are healthy, the Bills’ opening offensive plays in Week 1 will probably see Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir on the field simultaneously, one with a foot on the line of scrimmage and the other a few steps back, either as a flanker or in the slot.
Sure, the team signed Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Chase Claypool, Mack Hollins, and Curtis Samuel in free agency, and at least one of those players will likely contribute as WR3. However, when it comes to Buffalo’s top two pass-catching options at receiver, Coleman and Shakir are expected to be number one and two. This is especially crucial since the team traded away Diggs without a clear depth chart for Week 1.
But just because Coleman and Shakir are likely to lead the team in receiving yards — barring an exceptional season from Dalton Kincaid or Kawson Knox — doesn’t guarantee who will finish as the top performer by season’s end or who Allen will favor in crucial moments.
Standing at 6-foot-3, 213 pounds, with an impressive 127-inch broad jump but a less impressive 4.61 40-yard dash time at the 2024 NFL Draft Combine, Coleman is a compelling player with a unique skill set. He uses his size and length effectively, making him a viable target even when seemingly covered, and a threat in the endzone due to his size advantage. Despite his limited experience as a traditional X receiver and struggles with separation in college, Coleman has the potential to improve in this area at the professional level. If he can address these challenges, there’s a real chance he could emerge as the team’s top receiver this upcoming season, with Shakir retaining his number two role from 2023.
1. Cole Bishop will push Mike Edwards at free safety
After enjoying the presence of standout safeties like Poyer and Micah Hyde for several years, the Bills are starting fresh in 2024. Taylor Rapp, entering his second year as a starter, will anchor the strong safety position. Meanwhile, Mike Edwards, a two-time Super Bowl Champion who has been a fixture in Tampa Bay and Kansas City’s secondaries, is set to take over the free safety role on a one-year prove-it contract he signed in March.
With 28 starts in 75 appearances during his five-year NFL career, Edwards is a dependable but not flashy defensive back who should capably fill the free safety position. His signing to a one-year deal indicates a mutual understanding of his role and potential contribution to the team.
In contrast, Cole Bishop represents the future at the safety position, provided he lives up to his draft status and potential.
Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 206 pounds, Bishop possesses the physical attributes of a modern-day safety. He has the speed to cover sideline to sideline and the strength to make an impact in both run defense and as a blitzing threat. While his coverage skills at Utah may not have fully satisfied some fans, positioning him more as a traditional safety rather than a hybrid slot/box role, he enters One Bills Drive with the energy to immediately challenge Edwards. With a strong summer, Bishop could even secure a starting role by Week 1.