The Bills spent the offseason reshaping a secondary that already had some recognizable pieces, but the schedule is about to put that group right to work. Buffalo brought in C.J.
Gardner-Johnson and Geno Stone at safety, welcomed back Damar Hamlin, added Jalon Kilgore in the fifth round, and also used draft picks on cornerbacks Davison Igbinosun and Toriano Pride Jr. Dee Alford joined from the Atlanta Falcons as well.
That new-look unit will still lean on familiar names like Christian Benford, Maxwell Hairston, and Cole Bishop, but the challenge ahead is a real one. Buffalo is set to see several of the league’s top receivers, including Amon-Ra St.
Brown, A.J. Brown, Puka Nacua, Justin Jefferson, and Jaylen Waddle.
The secondary also has two second-year wideouts on the slate who could be ready to take a leap. Moe Moton of Bleacher Report picked five sophomore receivers with breakout potential, and two of them will face the Bills this season: Jayden Higgins of the Houston Texans and Luther Burden III of the Chicago Bears.
Higgins enters the year with plenty of intrigue. Houston’s offense has gone as far as C.J.
Stroud has carried it, and lately that hasn’t been nearly far enough. Still, Higgins flashed last season and finished with 6 touchdowns in an offense that also included Jaylin Noel and Nico Collins.
If Stroud finds another gear, the Higgins-Stroud connection could become a problem for defenses that weren’t expecting it.
Burden’s path has been different, but just as interesting. When the Bears drafted Luther Burden III, it was the beginning of the end for DJ Moore’s time in Chicago.
Even with a crowded offense full of playmakers, Burden still put up 652 yards and averaged 13.9 yards per catch. With Moore traded to the Bills, Chicago will be looking for Burden III to take on a bigger role in his second season.
Buffalo will get its first look at Higgins in Week 1 in Houston, then won’t see Burden until mid-December when the Bears come to Buffalo. Both receivers have a chance to become featured targets, and the Bills will be hoping neither one delivers his best performance against them. Houston and Chicago are difficult matchups already, which only adds to the pressure on Buffalo’s revamped secondary.
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Elarms-Orr is still fighting for his place in a crowded linebacker room, with roster spots and snaps far from settled as Buffalo sorts out its new front. But the path is there if he keeps stacking good days, especially with the Bills needing answers behind the established options and a rookie who can absorb the scheme quickly suddenly looking a lot more relevant than a typical late-spring depth piece. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Best Offseason Move Was Keeping Connor McGovern Home
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What makes the deal stand out is that McGovern could have chased a richer market elsewhere, yet chose to stay put on a hometown-friendly number. For a team trying to maintain continuity up front while reshaping other parts of the roster, that kind of commitment matters, and it gives Buffalo a little more certainty at a spot where stability is never a bad thing. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Linked To Veteran Fix For Lingering Run Defense Problem
Buffalos run defense was a sore spot last season, and the offseason did not bring a major overhaul up front even with the switch to a 3-4 look. The Bills did make some limited additions along the defensive line, but the middle of the defense still looks like an area where more help could make sense as the team tries to firm up a problem that lingered for too long.
One idea floated in a recent trade proposal would send a veteran defensive lineman from Baltimore to Buffalo, giving the Bills another body with experience in the middle and some insurance as Deone Walker settles into the nose tackle role in his second season. The suggested move would not be a blockbuster, but it would give Buffalo a sturdier run-defense option and a little more flexibility if the current plan needs reinforcement. [Read more 🡒]