By Clint Brooks / Billswiree.usatoday.com
With over half of the 2018 season in the books, the Buffalo Bills’ second season under coach Sean McDermott has been underwhelming to say the least.
Through nine games, the Bills hold a sorrowful 2-7 record and stand at the bottom of, not only their division, but at the bottom of the league as well. With Buffalo primed to own nearly $100 million in cap space and destined to land a top-5 pick in the upcoming 2019 NFL Draft, it’s never too early to look ahead and examine how they can utilize their assets and fill ever important needs along their starting lineup for next season.
Here is an early preview of the five area’s the Bills need to address in the 2019 offseason:
Wide Receiver
One of the more pressing needs on the roster is at wide receiver. Kelvin Benjamin’s inability to step up as a consistent and reliable pass-catcher will cause Buffalo to reevaluate and look for a new No. 1 target in 2019. Second-year wide receiver Zay Jones is slowly improving, but the jury is still out on whether or not the former East Carolina product can be a dependable, top-two wide receiver for the Bills in the future. Beyond Benjamin and Jones, there is currently little-to-no talent or depth at the wide receiver position. The Bills recently added Terrelle Pryor via free agency, but the jury is still out.
When your leading receiver only has 302 yards through nine games in a pass-happy NFL, then it’s at that point where changes will have to be made for the better. It’ll be the utmost importance for Buffalo to not only find a new top wide receiver, but to completely revamp and find pass-catchers who’ll mesh nicely with their young quarterback in Josh Allen.
Tight End
On paper, Buffalo possesses an athletic and playmaking tight end group. Logan Thomas and Jason Croom are reliable depth options that have provided flashes in making plays in the passing game. Their starting, high-priced tight end, Charles Clay, on the other hand, hasn’t lived up to expectations as supposedly one of the team’s top options in the passing game.
Clay’s stat line reinforces how poorly he has played in 2018. In nine games, Clay has mustered only 19 catches for 169 yards and zero touchdowns. Part of his poor performance represents how badly Buffalo’s quarterbacks have been this season, but his drops and lack of production as one of the higher paid players at his position will make him expendable come next offseason, as the front office will continue to reshape and build this porous offense. And with that in mind, Clay’s dead cap hit drops from $13.5 million at the start of 2018 to only $4.5 million next season. The Bills could show a willingness to move on from him and eat that small dead cap figure this offseason.
Offensive Guard
The loss of veteran pro bowl guard Richie Incognito left a gaping hole along the interior offensive line. His departure has been one of the reasons why the Bills’ offensive line has experienced a major set back in 2018.
The current starters at the two guard positions, John Miller and Vladimir Ducasse have been mediocre. Miller has been the better of the two guards, as he is ranked 33rd by Pro Football Focus while Ducasse is 64th, but both have been inconsistent all around and have failed to cement themselves as true long-term starters.
Their production can easily be replaced and improved upon. It should be a priority for general manager Brandon Beane and company to find a bonafide starter in 2019 for Allen. Another position that has severely derailed Buffalo’s offensive line is right tackle. Jordan Mills has primarily been the starter at right tackle the past few seasons, and while he has enjoyed moments of average to above-average level of play, he has predominantly been a liability. The Bills have tried to replace him several times already with Dion Dawkins and Marshall Newhouse, but things have consistently not gone according to plan.
According to Pro Football Focus, Mills sports a 56.8 overall grade (63rd), which ranks him near the bottom among qualifying tackles in 2018.
The Bills need to cut the cord with the Mills experiment and explore new avenues in addressing the right tackle position next offseason.
Cornerback
One weakness on a relatively strong Bills defense is at cornerback. Tre’Davious White is undoubtedly their No. 1 cornerback – and one of the best in the NFL if that – moving forward, but across from him at the No. 2 cornerback position presents a glaring hole.
No matter who has lined up next to White, Vontae Davis, Phillip Gaines or Ryan Lewis, neither of those cornerbacks have been satisfactory. Davis was struggling before he unexpectedly retired in Week 2, Lewis was benched after the win against the Titans and Gaines has been victimized on a weekly basis since taking over the No. 2 cornerback spot. He was cut on Tuesday because of that.
Buffalo currently owns the third-best passing defense in the league as of Week 10 (212 yards-per-game). Rookie nickel cornerback Taron Johnson has excelled in the slot and has shored up part of the secondary. However, their pass defense will continue to be exposed if they do not have a solution in filling the void at the No. 2 cornerback position in the offseason.