The Buffalo Bills surprised a lot of people with how they operated during the 2024 NFL Draft. With clear needs at a few positions, they traded back twice, picking up some more assets but leaving fans scratching their heads.
The biggest need for the Bills coming into the draft was some weapons for quarterback Josh Allen to work with. The team saw No. 2 receiver Gabe Davis depart in free agency, signing a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars, before trading No. 1 receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans.
That left a gaping hole in the team’s skill position group. To help offset those losses, the team signed veteran Curtis Samuel in free agency. With their first selection on Day 2, No. 33 overall, the Buffalo Bills added Florida State star Keon Coleman.
In the opinion of Dalton Wasserman of PFF, how the Bills navigated this offseason and the 2024 NFL Draft is a sign of their game plan changing. The biggest takeaway from these moves is the team attempting to find more balance on offense and not just relying solely on the heroics of Allen.
“After trading Stefon Diggs, the Bills don’t have one individual player, outside of quarterback Josh Allen, who can take games over. What they have done with the additions of Keon Coleman and Ray Davis is give Allen a deep group of viable options to work with.
Coleman joins a wide receiver group that includes Khalil Shakir and Curtis Samuel. He adds an element of size and contested catch ability to a team that made just 29 contested catches during the 2023 regular season. Allen and offensive coordinator Joe Brady proved down the stretch last year that they could succeed by more evenly distributing targets throughout the offense.
Also of note is the selection of Kentucky’s Ray Davis, which should help keep James Cook fresh for an entire season. Davis posted a 91.4 rushing grade in 2023 despite the Wildcats’ struggles to block in front of him. He also flashed ability in the passing game throughout his college career and should contribute immediately to a backfield that will continue to emphasize the run game,” wrote Wasserman.
An emphasis on the run game will certainly help take pressure off of Allen to create the entire offense. Too often during his tenure with the Buffalo Bills, they have not only relied on Allen’s arm to bail them out but his legs as well.
Upgrading the supporting cast around him will take some pressure off of him to carry the load on his own. If the team can remain committed to making the running game work, everything else will open up and become easier to operate.
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