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The 2022 NFL season for the Buffalo Bills, filled with preseason hype that the team was primed to win a Super Bowl, instead evolved into a crucible of obstacles put in front of them that included:

Death of Dawson Knox’s brother

Kim Pegula’s illness

Injuries to key players (Von Miller, Micah Hyde, etc.)

Dealing with multiple blizzards/home game relocated

Damar Hamlin’s near death

Josh Allen’s elbow injury

Despite the setbacks, the Bills managed 13 wins, another AFC East title and a wild card playoff win. They enter 2023 battle-tested and much more under the radar, to the point where some analysts are writing them off. Here is our preseason preview of where the three-time AFC East champs sit entering the upcoming season:

Front Office/Coaching

Buffalo still has a solid roster top to bottom thanks to the work of GM Brandon Beane and his staff, and if early indications on this year’s draft class prove to be true, they could be better than last year’s group. It’s a sign of how strong of a roster they have that both seventh round draft picks – Nick Broeker and Alex Austin, failed to make the final 53 man roster, yet both were claimed off waivers when they were released. Beane has also done his annual job of adding some low-key free agents who should strengthen certain areas. As for coaching, the major change has Sean McDermott taking over the defensive play calling from the departed Leslie Frazier. Most expect this change to result in a more aggressive approach on that side of the ball, a change that will surely be popular with the players.

Quarterbacks

QB Kyle Allen, Bills’ annual new backup QB

Following in the footsteps of Matt Barkley, Mitch Trubisky and Case Keenum, Kyle Allen is the newest backup option behind Josh Allen in the Bills’ quarterback room. Josh is the unquestioned starter, and with Kyle Allen, offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, QB coach Joe Brady and Barkley (on injured reserve for the year) there is plenty of support for the team’s top player. As long as Josh Allen is calling signals and not his golfing buddy Kyle, the Bills will be in the hunt for a Super Bowl title.

Running Backs

James Cook, the Bills’ new bell cow RB

Buffalo has been trying, mostly unsuccessfully, to develop a rushing attack in the last few years. They are a passing offense so they only need a slightly above average run game to keep defenses honest. This season, they have an almost completely new stable of running backs to try to finally accomplish that goal. James Cook isn’t new, but he is entering his first year of being counted on to be the main back in the offense. He has skills as both a runner and pass receiver, and has flashed brilliance at times. Now he has to prove he can be a positive contributor consistently. His backups are a pair of veterans who offer different skill sets than Cook. Latavius Murray is a solid short yardage back who should be valuable on the goal line while Damien Harris is an under the radar free agent signing who could play a major role in spelling Cook with no dropoff in production. He was a major thorn in the side of the Bills in his time in New England, rushing for over 100 yards in 3 of the 4 games he played against them. The Bills keep only one fullback on the roster, and that’s Reggie Gilliam. He’s mostly a blocker and special teamer, but occasionally is involved as a receiver out of the backfield.

Receivers

Trent Sherfield, Bills’ new slot receiver

Pundits are always downgrading Buffalo’s receiving corps, claiming that after the alpha dog Stefon Diggs there is no threat. “Big Play” Gabe Davis, a newly minted captain on the team, begs to differ. He is primed for a big season after battling drops and an injury last year. A new slot receiver was brought in from Miami in free agency – Trent Sherfield. He was a key piece for the Dolphins despite being overshadowed by Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and his value for Buffalo is enhanced by a trait the Bills’ coaches like – versatility. Although likely playing mostly in the slot, he is capable of manning any of the WR spots, helping Dorsey be creative with formations, etc. GM Beane was determined to add speed to the receiving corps also, thus the signing of Deonte Harty from the Saints. He’ll be another slot option as well as returning kicks. Khalil Shakir starts the year a little banged up, but he for sure will have an impact down the line as the fifth receiver. Draft pick Justin Shorter, a big, physical wideout, starts the season on short-term injured reserve where he’ll get a chance to develop his game. Buffalo has a trio of capable tight ends entering the 2023 season thanks to the addition of rookie top draft pick Dalton Kincaid, who has high expectations. Along with established starter Dawson Knox, the Bills can employ double tight end formations to get favorable matchups and also help the run game. Quinton Morris is the third TE, and he has solidified his place on the team as a dependable backup and top special team guy.

Offensive Line

Connor McGovern adds beef to the Bills’ interior line

The divisional playoff loss to Cincinnati last year was a wake-up call that Beane needed to beef up the offensive line as Josh Allen was under duress the whole game. Both starting guards will be new this season, with free agent Connor McGovern replacing Rodger Saffold at left guard and impressive rookie O’Cyrus Torrence taking over on the right side. Center Mitch Morse returns to anchor the line, and starting tackles Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown are also back. Brown is still a work in progress and he’ll be pushed for playing time by newcomer Germain Ifedi, a late waiver acquisition, and Ryan Van Demark, who earned his way onto the roster after serving time on the practice squad last year. Reliable Ryan Bates is the main backup, and he can play any position on the line. Alec Anderson, who like Van Demark elevated himself from the PS to the roster, is being groomed to mirror Bates in that he can man any spot. Another interior reserve is veteran free agent signee David Edwards.

Defensive Line

DT Daquan Jones, an underrated defender

The Bills’ defensive line will automatically be improved once future Hall of Famer Von Miller returns from his injury, but the team also added some extra help on both the inside and at defensive end in tackle Poona Ford and pass rusher Leonard Floyd, who will be counted on to replace at least some of Miller’s production in getting after opposing quarterbacks. Newly extended Ed Oliver mans one starting tackle spot, alongside an underrated star of the D-line in DaQuan Jones. His absence in the divisional playoff loss was a big factor. Greg Rousseau starts on the outside and is expected to improve on his 8 sack season of a year ago, with Floyd starting the year opposite him. Ford, Jordan Phillips, the one man hype machine, and Tim Settle will spell the starting tackles in the team’s D line rotation, while on the outside Shaq Lawson, Kingsley Johnathan and A.J. Epenesa (who bagged 6 sacks in a rotational role) will tag in for the starters.

Linebackers

LB Terrel Bernard has been hampered by injuries

The glaring missing piece from the linebacking corps, of course, is departed Tremaine Edmunds, who left for the Bears in free agency. Buffalo only employs 2 ‘backers most of the time, and All Pro Matt Milano is one of them, so they still should be OK there. Edmunds’ spot is still up in the air. Veteran Tyrel Dodson is the presumed starter at this point, but he hasn’t exactly put a stranglehold on the job. Second year LB Terrel Bernard was expected to compete to start, but he was hampered by a hamstring injury all through the preseason. An interesting option was signed to the practice squad on cutdown day in veteran Christian Kirksey. He was a starter and captain with the Texans and his statistics are actually better than what Edmunds provided here. Rookie Dorian Williams is starting out as a backup to Milano, but could be moved to MLB if none of the others provide the answer. Also on the LB depth chart is special teamer Tyler Matakevich.

Defensive Backs

S Micah Hyde was sorely missed last season

The Bills will open the season with a secondary manned by a veteran group that didn’t play a single down together in 2022. The reliable veteran safety tandem of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer is back together, joined by cornerback Tre’Davious White and nickel corner Taron Johnson. The other outside cornerback spot is still undecided, with Dane Jackson, Kaiir Elam and Christian Benford all competing. In any event, the cornerback position is steeped in depth. Cam Lewis and Siran Neal are listed as CBs on the roster also, and both can fill in at safety if needed. They are also valuable special teamers. Veteran Taylor Rapp, signed away from the Rams, and Damar Hamlin are the main reserves behind Hyde and Poyer.

Special Teams

Special teams ace Siran Neal

The Bills value special teams highly, and are blessed with a veteran kicking game trio of dependable players in punter/holder Sam Martin, kicker Tyler Bass and long snapper Reid Ferguson. They have one of the NFL’s top gunners in Siran Neal, and other bomb squad vets like Tyler Matakevich, Cam Lewis, Tyrel Dodson, Damar Hamlin and Reggie Gilliam. One area that might still be unsettled is in the kick return department. They’ll have to choose between options such as Deonte Harty and Khalil Shakir for those roles.

Here’s your annual song to get psyched up for the upcoming season, the Bills’ Shout song:

Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane had the tough task of trying to add to his Super Bowl-contending team with a low spot in each round of the draft this year, and due to trades, a meager total of only 5 picks. Through another series of trades on draft weekend, Beane added an extra late round pick and acquired extra draft capital for 2024. Here’s how he fared adding players for this year’s roster competition:

Round 1 – Dalton Kincaid (TE, Utah) – after a wide receiver run just ahead of them depleted that position, Beane traded up and grabbed the best of the tight end class in Kincaid. He’s an excellent route runner who can line up in multiple positions and be a safety valve for QB Josh Allen once he earns playing time. His blocking skills are also good.

Round 2 – O’Cyrus Torrence (G, Florida) – considered a first round talent, the Bills were lucky to get this mountain of a man in the second round. Equally tough in pass protection and run blocking, he gave up 0 sacks and was charged with 0 penalties in his 2023 college season. He could be a plug and play starter on the offensive line, where the Bills need to improve.

Round 3 – Dorian Williams (LB, Tulane) – the Bills drafted Terrel Bernard in the third round last year so picking another linebacker was a bit of a head scratcher, but with a big hole to fill after Tremaine Edmunds departed in free agency, the more competition for his spot the better. He’s known as a physical player.

Round 5 – Justin Shorter (WR, Florida) – this pick must have been made using traits rather than production. Shorter is a big target at 6’4 and 230 lbs. but his production in college was limited. He was, however, a blue chip prospect coming out of high school so there’s a massive amount of untapped potential with him.

Round 7A – Nick Broeker (G/C, Mississippi) – more competition for the offensive line. According to Beane, he isn’t athletic and doesn’t look impressive but on film he rarely gets beat. A solid prospect for a seventh rounder.

Round 7B – Alex Austin (CB, Oregon State) – the obligatory late round cornerback prospect choice by Beane. He has good size at 6’1 and 191 lbs. and was a 4 year starter so he has plenty of experience and is a solid locker room guy.

The team is always late in announcing added undrafted free agent signings, but with leaks from agents and the players themselves a few interesting additions are Alabama defensive tackle D.J. Dale, wide receiver Jalen Wayne from South Alabama and 3 offensive linemen – tackles Noah Henderson (East Carolina) and Joshua Donovan (Arizona) and guard Richard Gouraige (Florida). With the Bills thin on the interior defensive line, Dale could have a shot at making the roster. Wayne is the nephew of former Colts receiver Reggie Wayne. Gouraige was an O-line teammate of draftee Torrence. Wide receiver Tyrell Shavers from San Diego State is a big 6’4 target with special teams experience which should help him. Also, Buffalo is bringing in a running back candidate in Fresno State’s Jordan Mims.

The Buffalo Bills, once again in 2022, suffered a disappointing end to their season with a bitter playoff loss. They still have a roster capable of competing for a Super Bowl crown, but this year’s draft will be critical in adding pieces to get them over the hump. With no trading of picks allowed, and the Bills only owning picks through the sixth round, here are the predicted Buffalo selections by each of our pro football analysts – Connor Pohlman, Josh Pohlman, Scott Prelewicz and Ray Prelewicz:

Round 1, Pick #27

Connor Pohlman – Quentin Johnson, WR, TCU – his combination of size and speed make him an attractive option for Brandon Beane and company to add to Josh Allen’s arsenal of weapons.

Josh Pohlman – Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College – a quick, versatile receiver who can play outside or in the slot. He would be a younger, faster, better slot option for Buffalo than either Cole Beasley or Isaiah McKenzie.

Scott Prelewicz – Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame – he may or may not be the best tight end in this year’s class, but his contested catch ability paired with above average blocking ability would make him an outstanding addition to the Bills’ already potent offense.

Ray Prelewicz – Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas – the Bills fill the hole left by the departure of Tremaine Edmunds with a high-motor, high production player.

Round 2, Pick #59

Connor Pohlman – Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa – a steady and dependable player who tackles well and was a captain for the Hawkeyes. That’s a trait the Bills look for, and they get their replacement for the departed Tremaine Edmunds.

Josh Pohlman – Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin – a big, quick run stuffer fills the need on the interior defensive line for the Bills, where they have no players signed beyond the 2023 season.

Scott Prelewicz – Cody Mauch, T, North Dakota State – the darling of this year’s Senior Bowl leaped up draft boards since the college season ended. His ability to play any position on the offensive line make him an absolute target for Buffalo.

Ray Prelewicz – Steve Avila, G, TCU – with an eye toward improving protection for Josh Allen and giving a boost to the run game, the Bills add a mean-tempered solid technician who projects to be a day 1 starter.

Round 3, Pick #91

Connor Pohlman -Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Michigan – as a five year college player he brings plenty of experience to the team as they look for backup options behind Dawson Knox. He’s a big 6’5 target and an adequate pass blocker.

Josh Pohlman – Henry To’o To’o, LB, Alabama – a running back in high school, he made the switch to defense and is a high level NFL prospect now. He combines speed with good tackling ability and is a smart, instinctive player.

Scott Prelewicz – Matthew Bergeron, T, Syracuse – another offensive line gem who played college ball just up the thruway at Syracuse so the Bills should have a complete scouting report on him. He could easily slide inside to guard, where the Bills have a bigger need.

Ray Prelewicz – Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State – Buffalo goes with a sleeper in the underrated Reed, a productive wideout, with this pick mirroring the Gabe Davis selection a few years back, as far as untapped potential.

Round 4, Pick #130

Connor Pohlman – Christopher Smith, S, Georgia – the Bills look to add depth to their back end with this pick. They’ll get a player who tackles well and excels in coverage.

Josh Pohlman – Jon Gaines II, C/G, UCLA – a 5 year player with the trait the Bills covet, position versatility. He could eventually become the heir apparent to Mitch Morse at center.

Scott Prelewicz – Emil Ekiyor, G, Alabama – he may not have the size to play in the NFL so he’ll have to bulk up to be successful, but he is sound and was a gritty three year starter so he doesn’t lack for experience.

Ray Prelewicz – Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State – this is mostly a future pick but with both Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer surpassing 30 it’s a wise one. He should be an immediate special teams contributor as he develops into an NFL caliber safety.

Round 5, Pick #137

Connor Pohlman – Colby Wooden, DT, Auburn – quick and powerful, he will have to bulk up to play inside in the NFL, but his versatility will endear him to Buffalo’s coaching staff.

Josh Pohlman – SirVocea Dennis, LB, Pitt – Brandon Beane does love his later round Pitt prospects, and with this pick gets a player who excelled as a pass rusher, totaling 32 pressures and 11 sacks as a senior.

Scott Prelewicz – Olusegun Oluwatimi, C, Michigan – a technically sound player with good awareness and plenty of experience, playing at Virginia before transferring to Michigan.

Ray Prelewicz – Karl Brooks, DT/DE, Bowling Green – his position versatility will be what attracts him to the Bills, but lacking speed, he most likely will be an inside tackle in the pros. His 17.5 sacks in his last 2 seasons in the MAC are eye-popping.

Round 6, Pick #205

Connor Pohlman – Juice Scruggs, C/G, Penn State – a solid, consistent if not spectacular college player. He consistently wins at the point of attack against the run and pass, and moves well for a big man.

Josh Pohlman – Max Duggan, QB, TCU – a gritty athlete and team leader who would be an interesting option as Josh Allen’s backup. He could carve out a Taysom Hill-like role with the team.

Scott Prelewicz – Jalen Green, S, Mississippi State – he has good size at 6’1 and 203 lbs. and has good closing speed and ball skills that could translate well into the next level as a late round pick.

Ray Prelewicz -Payne Durham, TE, Purdue – a late round pick in a strong tight end class, he figures to fight for a backup spot opened up with the departure of Tommy Sweeney.

One thought to consider if you’re gauging the expertise of our analysts: Connor got 3 of the Bills’ actual picks correct in his 2022 mock draft – first rounder Kaiir Elam, second rounder James Cook (although he had him pegged for the third round) and the ill-fated selection of punter Matt Araiza.

GO BILLS!

With less than a week until the real thing commences, the 2023 Rayonsports NFL round one mock draft is here. There will only be 31 players chosen in the opening round this year, as the Miami Dolphins forfeited their pick due to some suspicious dealings. Compiled by expert analysts Connor Pohlman, Josh Pohlman, Scott Prelewicz and Ray Prelewicz, here are the choices, with trades not allowed:

1. Carolina Panthers-from Chicago (Connor Pohlman) – Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
2. Houston Texans (Josh Pohlman) – Will Anderson, Edge, Alabama
3. Arizona Cardinals (Scott Prelewicz) – Tyree Wilson, Edge, Texas Tech
4. Indianapolis Colts (Ray Prelewicz) – Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
5. Seattle Seahawks-from Denver (CP) – Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
6. Detroit Lions-from LA Rams (JP) – Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
7. Las Vegas Raiders (SP) – Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
8. Atlanta Falcons (RP) – Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
9. Chicago Bears-from Carolina (CP) – Paris Johnson Jr., T, Ohio State
10. Philadelphia Eagles-from New Orleans (JP) – Brian Branch, S, Alabama
11. Tennessee Titans (SP) – C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
12. Houston Texans-from Cleveland (RP) – Peter Skoronski, T, Northwestern
13. New York Jets (CP) – Broderick Jones, T, Georgia
14. New England Patriots (JP) – Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
15. Green Bay Packers (SP) – Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
16. Washington Commanders (RP) – Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
17. Pittsburgh Steelers (CP) – Darnell Wright, T, Tennessee
18. Detroit Lions (JP) – Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (SP) – Lukas Van Ness, Edge, Iowa
20. Seattle Seahawks (RP) – Nolan Smith, LB, Georgia
21. Los Angeles Chargers (CP) – Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
22. Baltimore Ravens (JP) – Jordan Addison, WR, USC
23. Minnesota Vikings (SP) – Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
24. Jacksonville Jaguars (RP) – Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
25. New York Giants (CP) – Joey Porter, Jr., CB, Penn State
26. Dallas Cowboys (JP) – Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
27. Buffalo Bills (SP) – Kalijah Kansey, DT, Pitt
28. Cincinnati Bengals (RP) – Will McDonald IV, Edge, Iowa State
29. New Orleans Saints-from San Francisco/Miami/Denver (CP) – Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
30. Philadelphia Eagles (JP) – Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
31. Kansas City Chiefs (SP) – Keion White, DT, Georgia

The national champion Georgia Bulldogs take the prize for the most first round players in our mock draft with 5, and they have a number of other prospects who could be considered first round material and will likely go high on day 2 of the draft. The power 5 conferences dominated  the mock draft, with Alabama, Tennessee and Ohio State having 3 each. Alabama’s trio were all picked in the top 10.

COMING SOON: Our draft experts submit their seven round mock drafts for the local NFL franchise, the three-time reigning AFC East champion Buffalo Bills.