TAKING STOCK: 2022 BUFFALO BILLS

BY ADAM GREENE

It should rightly go down as one of the greatest NFL games ever played, but it’s one the Buffalo Bills won’t be excited to relive. After a season of triumphs and comical stumbles, the Bills came into the AFC playoffs surging, only to see their season end again at Arrowhead Stadium at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime.

But Buffalo made some serious strides, especially in December when it counted. Now they have to continue to build off that to take their place atop the AFC and remove the Chiefs as a roadblock once and for all.

BUFFALO BILLS

2021-22 Record: 11-6, first place AFC East

Playoffs: Won 47-17 over the New England Patriots in the Wild Card Round, Lost 42-36 in overtime to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round

NOW WHAT?

We’re going to talk about the Bills’ free agency spending spree in a moment and it deserves it, but this is a team that didn’t have a lot of holes to begin with. But they have not just sat on their hands. With back up Mitchell Trubisky hitting the highway, Buffalo traded with the Cleveland Browns for Case Keenum, a guy who can hold down the fort if Josh Allen needs a game or two off to recuperate from his physical style of play.

The biggest loss they faced was with the coaching staff as Ken Dorsey will take over as offensive coordinator for Brian Dabol, who became the new head coach of the New York Giants. Dorsey has been with the Bills since 2019 and is as big a part of the ascension of Josh Allen as anyone.

FREE AGENCY

You know how to mirror the Los Angeles Rams’ success in 2022-23 when you already have the elite franchise quarterback? Sign elite players from that Rams team and that’s what the Bills did, opening up their free agency by adding future first ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame edge rusher Von Miller to their defense. On the offensive line, they brought in former Ram and Tennessee Titan Rodger Saffold. They added tight end OJ Howard from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team that won the Super Bowl two years ago. They’ll pair Miller with their own former first rounder Shaq Lawson, who they let go two seasons ago. The interior defensive line now has Daquan Jones and Jordan Phillips, another guy that played for Buffalo a few seasons ago. They chucked team cancer and Covid-19 superspreader Cole Beasley and brought in Jamison Crowder while keeping Isaiah McKenzie.

Are they done? Serious contenders like the Bills never are. But the spending spree is done until after the draft. At that point, players (and especially vets) looking to compete for a title might look at Buffalo as a nice destination for a season.

DRAFT

In my first mock draft that has since been destroyed by trades, I had the Bills taking Derion Kendrick, cornerback out of Georgia at No. 25. I still think it’s probably the way to go as the team hasn’t added any big name corners in free agency… yet. In the second round, Buffalo can think about adding another wide receiver like David Bell out of Purdue. In the third, you can’t go wrong with an offensive lineman like Sean Ryan from UCLA.

AFC EAST

After getting embarrassed on their own home field by the New England Patriots last season, the Bills now know what it takes to retain the AFC East and how to keep the Pats in their place. While the division has definitely gotten better this offseason, I still don’t see New England or the Miami Dolphins catching Buffalo.

Which is good, because the AFC is a grindhouse now and the only way to guarantee you’ll make the playoffs is to win your division.

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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