By Justin DiLoro / Billswire.usatoday.com
The Buffalo Bills have had an extremely productive offseason to this point. They have improved their competitive identity through numerous free agent signings and draft choices. Multiple outlets gave the Bills high marks for their draft selections at the 2019 NFL draft last week.
Even with the perceived roster improvement, there are still some questions about the roster after the draft. Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane, while having fixed several holes on the roster early this offseason, still has some issues to address.
Here are six questions that Beane & the Bills still need to address following last weekend’s draft:
What are they doing about LeSean McCoy?
The Bills have a log jam at running back. Three of their running backs have been at the top of the depth chart at some point in their careers. LeSean McCoy, Frank Gore, and T.J. Yeldon have all had a season of at least 200 hundred touches. Veterans McCoy and Gore have multiple seasons of 300-plus touches from the backfield. While Gore and McCoy have combined for 24 NFL seasons, both players have the potential to command a large number of touches next season.
But then Buffalo drafted Devin Singletary from Florida Atlantic in the third round of the draft while also bringing in Senorise Perry in free agency to play as part of the special teams unit.
That’s five players who could play a major role on the roster next season, and it does not include fullback Patrick DiMarco. DiMarco, unfortunately, could be a player Buffalo could live without, as fullbacks are slowing going the way of the dinosaur.
There is simply not enough room on the roster for this many running backs. McCoy’s production slipped drastically last year, and he is entering the final year of his contract. If a combination of backs can fulfill the role of McCoy, then the team may look to move on from the running back.
While depth players Keith Ford and Marcus Murphy are on the outside looking in, in regards to making the roster, they may also be a part of a fallback plan if McCoy is not a necessity on the roster anymore. Murphy, in limited time on the field last season, filled in admirably, rushing 52 times for 250 rushing yards.
Now, if McCoy can return to form, all concerns would be fulfilled with the Bills running game. However, it’s difficult to envision him completely returning to his days of 1,000-plus yards on the ground, especially after last year’s frustrations.
Who will rack up the sacks on defense?
The Bills ranked 26th in the NFL in sacks, registering 36 on the season in 2018. Jerry Hughes led the team with seven sacks, while ageless wonder Lorenzo Alexander recorded 6.5. Kyle Williams, who ranked third on the team with five sacks from the interior of the line, retired this offseason.
After these three players, Buffalo lacked a consistent disruptive presence against opponents’ offensive lines, and in the era of Aarond Donald, even the Bills’ top-performers didn’t blow anyone away. Defensive ends Shaq Lawson and Trent Murphy earned four sacks each last year, but overall, neither really put a great deal of feat in quarterbacks dropping back in the pocket against the Bills last year.
The Bills did not do much to address this issue. First-round pick Ed Oliver is expected to be a disruptive force, as the Bills hope sheer athleticism will get him in the backfield often while also helping others get back there, too. Outside of this, there isn’t much confidence that the Bills will increase their sack total this year.
One may argue that pressures are as important as sacks, and Hughes was among the league leaders in pressures by a defensive end in the league.
Murphy, who missed multiple games last season with ailments, will be relied upon to get after the quarterback more this year. However, if he cannot return to his form from 2016, then his free agency signing will be trending toward mediocre rather than game-changer.
Is there enough depth on defense?
The Bills made some moves to bring in players via the draft and free agency on defense. But if one of the Bills starters ends up succumbing to a serious injury and misses time, there should be concern about who will replace these players.
This is especially true in the linebacker ranks. Beyond Tremaine Edmunds, Matt Milano, and Lorenzo Alexander, there are some serious issues of who could take snaps in case of injury.
Several of the backups, including Maurice Alexander, Deon Lacey, and Julian Stanford, will see most of their time on special teams.
Looking at the secondary, one could be worried about who could take the spot of Tre’Davious White, Micah Hyde, or Jordan Poyer if they were to miss time as well.
Buffalo selected Florida linebacker Vosean Joseph in the fifth round of the 2019 draft while Miami (Fla.) safety Jaquan Johnson joins the Bills via a sixth-round pick. If injury strikes, Bills fans might get to know them early in their careers.
Who will start opposite Tre’Davious White at cornerback?
Continuing on the topic of the secondary, there is a concern with who will complement White at the cornerback spot. The Bills signed Kevin Johnson from Houston to compete for snaps. In addition, the team brought back E.J. Gaines after a one-year absence from the franchise as well. Both players have been susceptible to injuries.
Additionally, Levi Wallace did a solid job last year, but can he hold up for an entire season? It’s a relevant question, as the undrafted free agent held strong during his time on the field last year, but the knock against him was the quality of opponent he had faced. He started seven games last year, now Wallace will need to prove that he can produce for 16.
The competition for the starting cornerback spot will be strong. Nevertheless, if there are worries that the players can stay on the field due to injury, then the team may have issues in a pass-first league.
Are there enough real receiving weapons for quarterback Josh Allen?
The Bills are crossing their fingers that the receivers the team brought in during free agency can collectively produce at a high level, after not adding a single one via the 2019 draft. John Brown and Cole Beasley are nice additions on paper, and the team hopes that Robert Foster and Zay Jones can continue to develop as young receivers.
Tyler Kroft could be an improvement over Charles Clay, which will also help in the intermediate game. In fact, Kroft and Beasley will hopefully help Allen as he further strengthens his accuracy in the short passing game.
Still, the Bills still lack a receiver who can put fear into opposing defenses. If offensive coordinator Brian Daboll can be creative with his play-calling, this point will be moot. Brown and Foster can hopefully stretch defenses. The big play potential is intriguing, but the team needs to establish a sense of consistency in their passing game.
The Bills are also lacking a big-bodied wide receiver in the passing game, such as Seahawks rookie DK Metcalf, who Buffalo passed over twice at the draft. Candidates to become that big target could be former CFL standout Duke Williams or undrafted rookie David Sills V.
How long will it take to put together a coherent offensive line?
There’s a lot of bodies vying for a few spots on the offensive line. As of now, free agent signing Mitch Morse seems to be the only lock with his position on the line.
After Morse, only incumbent Dion Dawkins looks to have a role with the starting unit. Whether it’s a tackle or guard remains to be seen.
Buffalo signed Spencer Long, LaAdrian Waddle, Jon Feliciano, Quinton Spain, Ty Nsehke in free agency. These players will compete with incumbents Wyatt Teller, Conor McDermott, Jeremiah Sirles, Ike Boettger, and Vlad Ducasse.
Oh, and throw second-round pick Cody Ford into the mix. It’s anticipated that he will hold down a spot somewhere on the line.
The offensive line often works in lockstep, with each player seeming operating with an unstated understanding of every player’s role on the line. This takes some time to gel.
Sean McDermott and company manipulated their line throughout the season, using various combinations last year. With a stronger cast of players available, the offensive line play should improve. But how long will it take for this unit to come together? The sooner the starting five is established, the better it will be for the entire offense.