Give the Bills credit: They are doing everything in their power to support Josh Allen. After watching the rookie struggle behind one of the least talented offensive lines in football, Buffalo went out and got him some reinforcements on the line.
A LOT of reinforcements. During free agency, the Bills signed five offensive linemen, all of whom will be in the mix for starting jobs in camp. They then used a Day 2 pick on another lineman. Those moves should provide Allen with better protection; the signings of John Brown and Cole Beasley will provide him with more weapons in the passing game.
The Bills’ top offseason priority was to improve Allen’s support system, and it’s safe to say they have done so.
Notable draft picks: DT Ed Oliver, G Cody Ford, RB Devin Singletary
Key acquisitions/re-signings: C Mitch Morse, WR Cole Beasley, WR John Brown, OT Ty Nsekhe, C/G Spencer Long, G Quinton Spain, G John Feliciano, CB Kevin Johnson, RB Frank Gore, CB E.J. Gaines, OLB Lorenzo Alexander*
Losses: G John Miller, DT Kyle Williams, TE Charles Clay
*Re-signed with team
Except for a few low-risk/high-reward deals, the Bills defense went largely untouched during the free agency period. Former first-round pick Kevin Johnson and E.J. Gaines were brought in to compete for starting cornerback jobs, and … that pretty much sums up all of the work the front office did on that side of the ball until the draft, when stud DT Ed Oliver fell into their laps at pick No. 9. He’ll replace Kyle Williams, who retired this offseason after a long, productive career in Buffalo.
After the Oliver pick, the Bills went back into “improve the offense” mode, taking Cody Ford in the second round. Ford can play tackle or guard, but after Buffalo signed three interior lineman in March, he’ll likely start out at tackle, with free agent pickups John Feliciano, Quinton Spain and Spencer Long competing at guard. Feliciano has never been a full-time starter but has played well when given the opportunity; Spain isn’t a road-grader in the run game but he is a very good pass blocker; and Long could be one of the steals of the offseason if he’s over the injury issues that derailed his first and only season with the Jets, who cut him just one year into a four-year, $27 million contract.
Outside of the Williams retirement, the Bills didn’t lose much this offseason. Buffalo surprised a lot of people by winning six games last season. Well, this is a far better team on paper, and if some these low-risk moves pay off, the Bills could be in the thick of the AFC playoff race in December.
Grade: B+
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