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Coming off a season where the Buffalo Bills’ offense ranked second in the NFL in total yards per game, as well as points per game, general manager Brandon Beane and his staff have put themselves in prime position to make a push for a Super Bowl. When the new league year and free agency begin on March 17, the Bills will be looking to add a few key pieces on offense to put the team over the edge.
The Bills do have a few of their own important free agents to make a decision on in the coming weeks. Questions on the offensive line still remain as tackles Daryl Williams and Ty Nsekhe are scheduled to hit free agency, along with guards Jon Feliciano, Ike Boettger, and Brian Winters. Offensive weapons Isaiah McKenzie, Tyler Kroft, and Andre Roberts are scheduled to hit free agency come March 17 as well. So, while the Bills rewrote many of the team’s records last season, there is plenty or room for improvement and likely to be change in key areas. Let’s dive in to see just what the team’s needs look like for the upcoming season.
Tier One
The most glaring need for the Bills this offseason is addressing the offensive line. After Mitch Morse agreed to a salary restructure on Tuesday, the Bills have two locks to start on the line in Dion Dawkins and Morse. Whether or not the team decides to re-sign Daryl Williams and Jon Feliciano, I’d expect the them to take a chance during this upcoming draft to find versatile players to help the run game next season. The Bills will also get Cody Ford back next year, after missing the majority of last season with a knee injury, and he figures to be a starter in 2021. Pro Football Focus ranked the Buffalo Bills’ offensive line as tenth-best in the NFL for the 2020 season.
Tier Two
After bouncing between the COVID-19 and inactive list, Tyler Kroft saw only 12 snaps from Week 10 until the end of the season. The Bills seemed to be testing Dawson Knox to determine whether he has what it takes to be the team’s true number-one tight end. With Kroft hitting free agency and Lee Smith contemplating retirement, the Bills will need to address the tight end position for the 2021 season. Knox tallied 28 receptions for 288 yards and three touchdowns last season. Although the Bills are still hopeful that Knox can become the dominant tight end they drafted him to be, it seems the tight end position will become a focus for the team this offseason. Names like Zach Ertz, Jonnu Smith and Kyle Rudolph come to mind as possible targets for the team.
Tier Three
Although some Bills fans may be calling for Buffalo to sign the big-named running backs, it doesn’t seem like that will be the case. Once the offensive line is fixed, it’s possible fans will be pleased with the young duo of Zack Moss and Devin Singletary. For the time being, these two seem like they will be sharing time in the featured role, but it is likely the Bills bring in another back for next season. With T.J. Yeldon set to hit free agency, the team may look to sign another veteran for the backfield. Zack Moss is coming off a serious ankle injury, and the Bills should look to add some extra insurance with an experienced vet.
Buffalo may also need a new backup QB with Matt Barkley hitting free agency and Jake Fromm and Davis Webb untested. Depending on what they do with John Brown, wide receiver could also be in the mix. We will see how the team prioritizes those positions soon.