Josh Allen making yet another stride forward in 2022 will take a lot, but regardless, he is elite. The loss of Brian Daboll is impactful, but he helped to firmly plant the Bills quarterback into consideration as one of the league’s best before leaving town. At 6-foot-5, 237 pounds Allen was third among all NFL quarterbacks in rushing attempts (122), and recorded over 750 yards and six touchdowns to that tune. His dual-threat nature, in his unlikely frame, with his howitzer arm, leaves him poised for growth. It’s just a matter of consistency and sustainability at this point.
Khalil Shakir will be given a huge opportunity, but look for Gabriel Davis to have a great year. Davis and Stephon Diggs could be like—a peak—Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson type of combination. Jamison Crowder will provide exactly what the Bills had targeted in signing Cole Beasley, and has a chance to jump right over Isaiah McKenzie in the depth chart. Wide receiver roles are more clearly defined this season in Buffalo, which ought to take a great deal of pressure off of Josh Allen’s shoulders. The low-key addition of OJ Howard brings a big bodied tight end to town to compliment the shifty Dawson Knox in red zone sets; a scary addition to 2021s top ranked red zone offense in terms of scoring percentage. Rookie running back James Cook is a fun addition to a running back room that has often played inactive roulette, with Devin Singletary serving as the most reliable option for a few years. This offense took a variety of steps forward after being unable to overcome the high-scoring Chiefs at Arrowhead in their final game of the season for the second year in a row.
Overall, we loved their offseason, especially all the work done on the defensive line. Von Miller, Tim Settle, and Daquan Jones add to an already stout defensive front. The Bills will need another year of quality performance out of their defensive backs, and one that sees the year through. They will be dependent on the health of an aging duo in Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde, the recovery of Tre’Davious White, and the rookie production of Kaiir Elam. They lost Levi Wallace to the Steelers in free agency, so above-practice squad talent on the depth chart is a bit thinner than expected. However, if the young buck—Elam—can step up, and the old bull’s can stay healthy, they should provide plenty of time for the front seven to pursue opposing quarterbacks. These Bills might just be the Bills to get the job done in 2022.
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