By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
The Buffalo Bills finished the 2018 NFL season at 6-10. In 2019, Las Vegas is thinking the same, according to ESPN.
The world-wide leader released their latest projections for the 2019 NFL season as far as sportsbooks are concerned. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell has projected that the Bills will have an over/ under of six wins next year, the same number of W’s the team picked up in 2018.
Here’s what ESPN wrote about the projection:
Buffalo Bills (6-10)
Projected over/under: 6 wins (over +105, under -125)
The Bills would benefit from a weakened Dolphins team, and after spending the past two years clearing out cap space, general manager Brandon Beane projects to have more than $80 million in room to build infrastructure around Josh Allen. With a weak crop of offensive talent waiting in free agency, though, the Bills might not be able to add enough in support for their young quarterback.
There are also still plenty of questions about Allen, who needed a late surge to finish with a 67.9 passer rating, the 14th-worst mark for a quarterback in a 300-attempt season in league history. Sean McDermott’s defense has ranked among the best in football over the past two seasons and should continue to carry the load in 2019.
Along with Buffalo, ESPN also tabs the Redskins and Jets at six wins. Around the AFC East, the Dolphins are listed at 5.5 wins while the Patriots, in the least shocking part of the report, have the highest total among Buffalo’s divisional foes at 12 wins.
In the detailed report, the Barnwell refers to the Bills and their near $80 million in projected salary cap space. Buffalo will carry that into the 2018 offseason. It’s the third-highest total in the NFL. But it’s tough to gauge exactly how things will turn out for the Bills. They could attract desirable free agents in this upcoming offseason.
Or they could wait until next offseason to really make noise.
Yes, the Bills have plenty of cap space to work with and currently hold 10 draft picks at the 2019 NFL Draft, however, in 2020, things open up even further. According to Spotrac, the Bills have the NFL’s most projected salary cap space in 2020, currently near $128 million. The next closest team is the Dallas Cowboys at $115 million.
Depending on how the chips fall over the next few months, the over/ under for Buffalo could change or the Bills could wait until next offseason to really make a splash.
Waiting is always the toughest part.