3 questions the Bills must still answer on offense
General manager Brandon Beane and the Buffalo Bills front office went right to work on improving the team’s offensive line and receiver group this offseason.
Low-risk, high-ceiling free agent signings on short-term deals include receivers Trent Sherfield and Deonte Harty, running back Damien Harris as well as offensive lineman David Harris and Connor McGovern. Not to mention draft additions like TE Dalton Kincaid, G O’Cyrus Torrence, WR Justin Shorter, and G Nick Broeker.
Reloading on offense has the Bills deeper with roster talent, which makes for some interesting analysis as to where things are still unclear on QB Josh Allen’s side of the ball.
Here are three questions the Bills must answer on offense:
Who is the Bills second option behind Stefon Diggs?
Who will take over the Cole Beasley role in the slot and on third down plays?
The Bills made headlines by drafting the top tight end in the 2023 NFL Draft, Dalton Kincaid, whose ability to catch passes in slot situations and across the middle drew comparisons to former Bills slot receiver Cole Beasley.
His hands and athleticism suggest he could take on a Cole Beasley-like role in the Bills offense.
The team also parted ways with receiver Isaiah McKenzie, who was meant to take over post-Beasley in the slot role.
That being said, receiver Khalil Shakir is predicted to have a strong showing this season, offering both a threat in the slot as well as positional versatility. hybrid receiving-back and 2022 trade deadline acquisition Nyheim Hines offers a positionally versatile receiving option in the slot as well.
The team’s addition of receiver Deonte Harty could also potentially factor in should he find a role quickly and remain healthy.
While there will be development and a learning curve with Kincaid, he’ll still have the opportunity to help the offense in his first year. How soon he’ll take that role on full-time remains to be seen.
With several receiver options, what also remains to be seen is who will step up as a trusted target in the slot role.
How soon will a newly added linesman be a starter?
The Bills signed offensive linemen Connor McGovern and David Edwards in free agency and drafted guards O’Cyrus Torrence and Nick Broeker this offseason.
GM Brandon Beane effectively put the offensive line on notice following the conclusion of the 2022 season due to their allowed sacks of QB Josh Allen.
How soon one of these players might find their way from position rotation to a starting role can depend on performance or if a spot of need opens up due to injury.
Torrence, McGovern, and Edwards might have the best shot at cracking a starting role the soonest, though it’s too early yet to tell when that might be.
How soon one plays his way into that role has yet to be determined.
