The Buffalo Bills were prepping for a playoff run just two weeks ago. Now, they’re in the middle of a full-blown organizational reset.
Sean McDermott is out as head coach. The press conference that followed-featuring owner Terry Pegula and GM Brandon Beane-raised more questions than answers.
And as the Bills dive into their head coaching search, the focus has understandably shifted to the future. But before the page fully turns, it's worth taking a hard look at what went wrong during a season that started with championship hopes and ended in disappointment.
Among the many storylines, a handful of players stood out for the wrong reasons-guys who, for one reason or another, didn’t live up to expectations. Whether it was lack of production, injuries, or off-field concerns, these five players had seasons that fell well short of what the Bills needed from them.
Keon Coleman - WR
Keon Coleman’s rookie season began with a bang-112 receiving yards in Week 1 against the Ravens. But after that, the wheels came off.
He never topped 49 yards in a game the rest of the way and was even a healthy scratch multiple times due to disciplinary issues. That’s not the kind of trajectory you want to see from a second-round pick, especially one drafted to be a difference-maker.
What made matters worse were the comments from Pegula during the post-McDermott press conference. He essentially said the coaching staff-not GM Brandon Beane-pushed for Coleman in the draft. That kind of finger-pointing doesn’t just raise questions about Coleman’s role moving forward; it casts doubt on whether the organization is aligned on how to develop him.
The talent is there-his Week 1 performance proved that. But maturity and consistency are now the big concerns. With a new coaching staff coming in, Coleman’s future in Buffalo feels anything but secure.
Joey Bosa - DE
Joey Bosa was the Bills’ marquee free-agent addition last offseason, brought in to be the pass-rushing force opposite Greg Rousseau and, ideally, the closer Von Miller was supposed to be. Early on, it looked promising. Bosa was disruptive, racking up pressures and forcing five fumbles-a number that jumps off the stat sheet.
But as the season wore on, Bosa faded. The impact plays dried up, and he started getting pushed around more often than you’d expect from a player of his caliber. He stayed relatively healthy-missing just one game-but the consistent dominance the Bills were banking on never materialized.
Buffalo needed Bosa to be a game-wrecker in high-leverage situations, especially in the postseason. Instead, they got flashes without the finish. For a team trying to get over the playoff hump, that’s a tough miss.
Joshua Palmer - WR
When the Bills handed Joshua Palmer a three-year, $36 million deal, there were eyebrows raised across the league. Palmer had never topped 769 receiving yards in a season with the Chargers, but Buffalo believed in his route-running and ability to separate.
Unfortunately, that belief didn’t translate to production. Palmer finished the season with just over 300 receiving yards, didn’t score a single touchdown, and spent a significant chunk of the year sidelined with injuries. He didn’t play a snap in the postseason after landing on injured reserve.
This was a swing-and-miss in Year 1 of a multi-year commitment. The Bills will hope for a bounce-back, but this season was forgettable in just about every way for Palmer.
T.J. Sanders - DT
The Bills didn’t just draft T.J. Sanders-they traded up 15 spots to get him, moving from No. 56 to No. 41 in the second round.
That kind of move signals belief in a player’s ability to contribute right away. But Sanders never found his footing.
Despite Ed Oliver missing significant time, Sanders couldn’t capitalize. He recorded just seven solo tackles and one sack-coming in the final week of the season against the Jets. Meanwhile, fellow rookie Deone Walker outperformed him and carved out a more defined role.
Sanders has time to grow, but for a team trying to maximize its Super Bowl window, the lack of impact from a high draft pick stings.
Taylor Rapp - S
Taylor Rapp’s season was derailed by a knee injury that landed him on injured reserve in October. But even before that, his performance was shaky.
In the six games he did play, Rapp struggled in coverage and wasn’t a reliable run-stopper. He finished with 26 total tackles, but the tape told a different story-missed assignments, poor angles, and a lack of physicality.
The emergence of rookie Cole Bishop only complicates Rapp’s future in Buffalo. Bishop looked like a natural leader on the back end, and if the Bills want to move on from Rapp this offseason, they’ve got a ready-made replacement.
The Bills are at a crossroads. A new coach is coming, and with that, a new direction.
But for Buffalo to take the next step, they’ll need more from players like Coleman, Bosa, Palmer, Sanders, and Rapp. Whether those improvements come from within or through new additions, one thing is clear: the margin for error in this league is razor-thin, and the Bills can’t afford another season of underachievement from key contributors.