Logo of a college football team that plays in the Pioneer Football League, the Morehead State Eagles. They began play in 1927 and have won 2 conference and 4 division titles. Players from MSU who have played pro football include Phil Simms, Greg Bright, David Dinkins, Gary Shirk and Zach Moore.
1972 Topps football card of former pro linebacker Mike “Mad Dog” Curtis, who played 14 seasons in the NFL, mostly for the Baltimore Colts before finishing his career with stints in Seattle and Washington. Also known as “The Animal”, he was a four-time Pro Bowler and twice named an All Pro. Curtis was a key member of the defense for the Colts’ team that won Super Bowl V, and his late interception in the game set up the winning field goal . He gained notoriety when he absolutely crushed a fan who had run out on the field and tried to pick up the ball. Curtis died after suffering from CTE in 2020 at the age of 77.
It was Deja Vu all over again for the Buffalo Bills in the 2024 season. They won another AFC East Championship, advanced in the playoffs to the conference championship game, and unfortunately lost, for the fourth time on 5 years, to the Kansas City Chiefs. They’ll take another kick at the can in 2025, and here’s our preview of the upcoming season:
GM Brandon Beane loaded up on defense in the draft, a nod to the fact that it has been the unit that has consistently failed in the playoffs. Two of the 3 coordinators return – Joe Brady on offense and Bobby Babich on defense, but a couple of key additions were made to the staff. Veteran special teams coach Chris Tabor takes the reins of that unit, bringing years of experience to a position that has lacked just that in recent years. Also, another veteran coach – Ryan Nielsen, was brought in as a senior defensive assistant to help Babich with his unit.
QB Josh Allen, NFL MVP
Josh Allen is no longer just the starting quarterback of the Bills, he’s the NFL’s Most Valuable Player. His quest to bring a Lombardi Trophy to Western New York will continue in 2025. Mitch Trubisky returns as his backup, hopefully only to carry a clipboard and offer emotional support on the sidelines, while doing some mop up duty in the fourth quarter of blowout games.
Ray Davis, second year power back
Beane solved his biggest offseason problem when he signed star running back James Cook to an extension, locking up a key player on the offense who scored 16 touchdowns in 2024. Although Cook is the team’s bell cow back, Buffalo employed a bit of a running back by committee approach last season, with veteran Ty Johnson filling the role of the third down back and rookie Ray Davis taking on the job of the change-of-pace power back. Davis filled in admirably when Cook was hurt for a game last year also. The lone fullback on the roster, Reggie Gilliam, remains in place. He is a key blocker, can catch the ball out of the backfield occasionally and is key special teams contributor.
Keon Coleman needs to develop in 2025
The Bills’ receiving corps got another infusion of talent this offseason. The top pass catchers are incumbents Khalil Shakir, Josh Allen’s most reliable target, Curtis Samuel, who came on late in the season to provide some highlights after battling injuries, and Keon Coleman, last year’s top draft pick who also was hampered in his development by injuries, and is expected to make a major jump in production in year two. Also there are 3 new additions. Josh Palmer joins the squad as a veteran free agent, as does Elijah Moore, while Tyrell Shavers, a practice squad player last year, fought his way onto the main roster this season with an impressive showing in training camp and the preseason. The Bills will carry 3 tight ends again in 2025, with Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid being the main targets at the position. Knox has been reliable in his tenure here, while Kincaid, like Coleman, is expected to reach a higher level this year. Rookie Jackson Hawes, who has a reputation as an excellent blocker, is a new addition, replacing the departed Quinton Morris.
Dion Dawkins, Bills’ blind side protector
Once again in 2025 the Bills will have the same 5 starters on the offensive front. Connor McGovern begins his second year as the starting center, flanked by guards David Edwards and O’Cyrus Torrence. Left tackle Dion Dawkins is one of the best in the game, and right tackle Spencer Brown has shown improvement in every season since joining the team. Alec Anderson is a valuable reserve. He can play any O line position and serves as the team’s sixth offensive lineman when they go with a power run formation. The rest of the backups include veteran Ryan Van Demark, second year center/guard Sedrick Van Pran-Granger and rookie Chase Lundt, who worked at both guard and tackle in the preseason. Tylan Grable, who won the swing tackle job over Van Demark last season as a rookie, will spend the first 4 games on injured reserve but should return at some point.
Joey Bosa, Prize free agent pass rusher
This is an area that Bene clearly identified as needing improvement, and he set out to do that in the draft and free agency. He drafted 3 large individuals to add to the D line rotation in tackles T.J. Sanders and Deone Walker and edge rusher Landon Jackson. Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones remain the starting tackles, but with DeWayne Carter suffering a season ending Achilles injury, Sanders and Walker will be thrust into larger roles. The Bills also have recently signed vet Jordan Phillips available on the practice squad. Free agent Larry Ogunjobi must serve a 6 game suspension, but he’ll be an option at DT in the second half of the season. At defensive end/edge rusher, Buffalo is pretty well stocked. Joey Bosa was signed as a free agent and the expectations will be high for him. As long as he stays healthy he should provide a major spark to the pass rush. The other starter at end is Greg Rousseau, who has raised his level of play every year. Capable reserves are in place with A.J. Epenesa and Javon Solomon. Like Ogunjobi, edge rusher Michael Hoecht is suspended for 6 games, but he’ll be a welcome infusion to the pass rush after that.
Terrel Bernard, QB of the defense
The Bills have a pair of top linebackers in Matt Milano and defensive captain Terrel Bernard, although the contract gymnastics done in the offseason by Beane with Milano suggest they may be ready to move on from the oft-injured star after this season. If Milano’s injury problems persist, Dorian Williams is a more than adequate replacement. The Bills also have a new veteran available to add to the LB depth in Shaq Thompson. Last season’s revelation, “Buffalo Joe” Andreessen, is back and in the preseason appears to have secured himself a larger role in the defense in addition to his special teams contributions.
Christian Benford, solid starting CB
Defense has been the Achilles heel of Buffalo’s postseason failures, and the secondary getting torched and having rashes of injuries has contributed to that. Despite Beane’s efforts to shore up the secondary, the Bills enter the season with question marks here. Top draft pick Maxwell Hairston was expected to compete for the border CB opposite solid starter and borderline All Pro Christian Benford, but a training camp injury landed him on injured reserve, which means he’ll miss at least the first 4 games. Old friend Tre’Davious White was brought back to add some depth and push Hairston, but he also is having injury issues. That leaves rookies Dorian Strong and Jordan Hancock as possible starters, which would not be an ideal scenario. Hancock was impressive in the preseason but he seemed to get most of his work at either safety or nickel corner, where he would back up the team’s best secondary player, Taron Johnson. The 2 University at Buffalo products – Ja’Marcus Ingram and Cam Lewis – are also available. Ingram could be an option for the starting CB2 spot, while Lewis has mostly backed up all secondary spots and been a top special teamer. A desperation option is Brandon Codrington, listed as a corner on the depth chart but he is on the roster as the main kick returner. At safety, Taylor Rapp is locked in as one of the starters, and it appears that Cole Bishop will man the other spot, despite losing valuable reps in training camp due to injury. Damar Hamlin is back in a reserve role, and the only other possible backups are the versatile Lewis and Hancock.
New punter Brad Robbins
The most exciting change to the Bills’ bomb squads took place in the coaching ranks, not on the field, with the addition of new ST coordinator Chris Tabor. One significant roster change is the addition of new punter Brad Robbins, a reliable veteran booter. Placekicker Tyler Bass and long snapper Reid Ferguson man their respective roles again. Codrington is back as the punt return specialist, and will likely share kickoff return duties with running backs Davis and Ty Johnson.
Here’s your annual song to get psyched up for the upcoming season, the Bills’ Shout song:
An unofficial early logo of our favorite pro football team, the Buffalo Bills. The club was founded in 1959 as a charter member of the American Football League under owner Ralph C. Wilson. They began play in 1960, wearing blue and silver uniforms that resembled the NFL’s Detroit Lions, as Wilson was a Detroit native. Some early Bills’ players include Richie Lucas, Mack Yoho, Sid Youngelman, Billy Atkins, Elbert Dubenion, Johnny Green, Laverne Torczon, Archie Matsos, Tom Rychlec, Wray Carlton and Wayne Crow.
1961 Topps football card of former defensive lineman Laverne Torczon, who played 7 seasons in the American Football League with the Buffalo Bills, New York Titans/Jets and Miami Dolphins. He was an AFL All Star in ’60 and ’61 with Buffalo. Torczon had the distinction of being a member of 2 different teams in their inaugural seasons – the Bills in ’61 and the Dolphins in their expansion year of 1966. He passed away in 2015 at the age of 79.
Buffalo General Manager Brandon Beane went heavily on the defensive side in the 2025 draft, with good reason as the team had trouble getting stops all season in 2024. The Bills entered the draft with 10 picks and despite making a couple of trades, still wound up with 9 players. Here is the list of players chosen:
Round 1 – Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky – an infusion of youth and speed to the secondary is just what the doctor ordered for the Bills. Hairston ran a sub-4.3 40 at the combine, and is an immediate prospect to start at outside corner opposite Christian Benford.
Round 2 – T.J. Sanders, DT, South Carolina – Beane traded up to get this player, who adds much needed size and again, youth, to the interior defensive line. He should be a good addition to the D line rotation provided he develops as expected.
Round 3 – Landon Jackson, DE, Arkansas – a large, mature defender who is slated to step into the role vacated by the departure of Von Miller. He was a 2 year captain for the Razorbacks, highlighting his leadership.
Round 4 – Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky – this pick could be a steal. In drafting Hairston’s Wildcat teammate, the Bills get a mammoth player (6’7 331 lbs.) whose production tailed off in 2024 due to a nagging back injury, but based on his 2023 tape he could’ve been a top 10 pick.
Round 5A – Jordan Hancock, DB, Ohio State – his listing as a defensive back, rather than a safety or corner, is due to his versatility, a trait the Bills’ coaches love. His best spot appears to be at slot corner.
Round 5B – Jackson Hawes, TE, Georgia Tech – a need since the team jettisoned Quinton Morris. He has been called the best blocking tight end available in this draft.
Round 6A – Dorian Strong, CB, Virginia Tech – highlighting a glaring need, the Bills select a third defensive back. His coverage skills make him a “strong” candidate to make the squad and be a contributor as a rookie.
Round 6B – Chase Lundt, OT, Connecticut – Beane scours the smaller schools for a large (6’7 304) offensive lineman in the mold of Spencer Brown. With the team enjoying a huge amount of depth on the O line, he may be relegated to the practice squad, where he would be open to be poached by other teams.
Round 7 – Kaden Prather, WR, Maryland – late round picks like this are always long shots to make the team, but Prather has some traits that could help him. He was a secondary option for the Terps behind Tai Felton, so who knows what untapped potential might be there?
From sportslogos.net , a logo of a college football team that plays in the Southeast Conference, the University of Kentucky Wildcats. This logo was used from 1973 until 1986. The school’s football program began play way back in 1881, and they claimed a national championship in 1950, with Paul “Bear” Bryant as head coach, and 2 conference titles. The long list of former Wildcats who have gone on to play pro football includes Art Still, Babe Parilli, Lou Michaels, Randall Cobb, Bud Dupree, Danny Trevathan, Jeff Van Note, Larry Seiple, Corey Peters, Derrick Ramsey, Todd Perry, Dan Neal, Mark Logan, Dale Lindsey, Frank LeMaster, Stevie Johnson, Irv Goode, Will Grant, Carwell Gardner, Bob Gain, Joe Federspiel, Bob Fry, Maurice Douglass and Hall of Famers George Blanda and Dermontti Dawson.
2012 Panini Elite football card of former pro wide receiver Stevie Johnson, who played 9 years in the NFL, mostly with the Buffalo Bills. The flamboyant former seventh round draft pick became known for his signature touchdown celebrations. A constant tormentor of All Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis in his career, Johnson is the only wideout in Bills’ team history to record 3 consecutive seasons of 1,000+ receiving yards, despite playing with mostly mediocre quarterbacks in the team’s 17 year playoff drought era.
The NFL college player selection draft is this week, so our staff here at Rayonsports has submitted their predictions for the seven round draft for the local club, the Buffalo Bills. No scouting reports on this year’s predictions, just the predicted players, mainly because there are a lot of repeat picks among our experts. It’s a six round mock draft since the Bills currently have no seventh rounder. Here are the choices:
Connor Pohlman – Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
Bobby Salami III – Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
Scott Prelewicz – Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Ray Prelewicz – Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
Connor Pohlman – Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
Bobby Salami III – Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State
Scott Prelewicz – Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State
Ray Prelewicz – Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
Connor Pohlman – Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State
Bobby Salami III – J.T. Tuimoloau, Edge, Ohio State
Scott Prelewicz – Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State
Ray Prelewicz – Landon Jackson, Edge, Arkansas
Connor Pohlman – Oluwafemi Oladejo, Edge, UCLA
Bobby Salami III – Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State
Scott Prelewicz – Billy Bowman, Safety, Oklahoma
Ray Prelewicz – Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State
Connor Pohlman – Zy Alexander, CB, LSU
Bobby Salami III – Chris Paul Jr., LB, Mississippi
Scott Prelewicz – Jordan Phillips, DT, Maryland
Ray Prelewicz – Jaylen Reed, Safety, Penn State
Connor Pohlman – Ty Robinson, DT, Nebraska
Bobby Salami III – Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia
Scott Prelewicz – Simeon Barrow, DT, Miami (FL)
Ray Prelewicz – Jamaree Caldwell, DT, Oregon
Connor Pohlman – Jordan Hancock, Safety, Ohio State
Bobby Salami III – Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon
Scott Prelewicz – Sebastian Castro, Safety, Iowa
Ray Prelewicz – Jackson Slater, OL, Sacramento State
Connor Pohlman – Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Edge, Georgia
Bobby Salami III – Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre Dame
Scott Prelewicz – Nick Nash, WR, San Jose State
Ray Prelewicz – Zy Alexander, CB, LSU
Connor Pohlman – Jalin Conyers, TE, Texas Tech
Bobby Salami III – Logan Brown, OT, Kansas
Scott Prelewicz – Riley Leonard, QB, Notre Dame
Ray Prelewicz – Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre Dame
Connor Pohlman – Ricky White, WR, UNLV
Bobby Salami III – Shaun Dolac, LB, Buffalo
Scott Prelewicz – Upton Stout, CB, Western Kentucky
Ray Prelewicz – Elijah Roberts, DT, SMU
Logo of a college football team, used from 1981 until 2004, that plays in the Ivy League, the University of Pennsylvania Quakers. Started in 1876, Penn is one of the oldest gridiron programs in the country. Over the years they have amassed 7 national championships and 18 Ivy League titles. Former Quakers who have gone on to pro careers include Greg Van Roten, Chuck Bednarik, Justin Watson, Walt Stickel, Florian Kempf, Brandon Copeland and Jim Finn. Besides players, other notable Penn alumni include former NFL commissioner Bert Bell, John Heisman, who the college player award is named for, and current Cleveland Browns’ head coach Kevin Stefanski.