ESPN Staff: How the 2023 offseason will look for the Bills
The bills have 7 picks in the 2023 draft and a handful of contract situations that need to be resolved before free agency. With next year’s roster uncertain, the ESPN staff broke down offseason priorities, touched on some roster question marks, and provided perspective on the 2023 NFL draft.
Higher off-season priority: How will the next defensive holes be filled? Both safety Jordan Poyer and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds are expected to enter free agency this offseason, and each has played a significant role on defense during the team’s rise. Poyer — who had four interceptions and eight pass breakups in 12 games this season — and the Bills couldn’t reach an agreement on a contract extension over the summer, and he just made his first Pro Bowl. Edmunds continues to play high in his fifth season, recording 102 tackles in 2022. Can the Bills bring them back? And if not, how will they replace them?
Off-season priorities under the radar: “Buffalo should look to the inside of the offensive line for help. Going into 2023, a number of players, especially on the inside, are set to hit free agency, including Rodger Saffold III, David Quessenberry, Greg Van Roten and Ike Boettger Adding young offensive talent should be a priority, helping protect Josh Allen and giving the Bills a better opportunity to start the rushing game early in the season.Buffalo’s pass blocking win rates for both the guard and center positions ranked in the bottom half of the league in 2022.” – Alaina Getzenberg
Will they re-sign S Jordan Poyer? “Yes. Poyer continues to play at an extremely high level and both sides have been interested in an extension for some time. He will enter the 2023 season aged 32, which makes this his best shot at another lucrative deal . .” – Camp Yates
Draft perspective: “As Alaina said, the inside offensive line could be an emphasis point in the offseason. Florida guard O’Cyrus Torrence is potentially a Day 1 target, but Alabama’s Emil Ekiyor Jr. and USC’s Andrew Vorhees are mid-range players who could play a Safety could also be another position to watch, as both starting safeties – Poyer and Micah Hyde – have free agency looming over the next two offseasons.” – Jordan Reid
Big prediction for the off season: “The Bills will find an important additional target for Allen in the passing game by updating their slot receiver job with free agent JuJu Smith-Schuster. Currently, with a one-year contract with Kansas City, Smith-Schuster is among the top 20 for Football Outsiders received DYAR metrics and caught 78 passes for 933 yards this season.” – Aaron Schatz
Sam Monsoon | PFF: Khalil Shakir as emerging candidate for Bills 2023
When looking at who will return for the Bills next season, WR Khalil Shakir stands out from PFF chief NFL analyst Sam Monson as a potential candidate for the 2023 season.
“Buffalo needed a playmaking injection in their receiving corps this season, and the answer may have been in front of them all season in the form of rookie Khalil Shakir.
Including the playoffs, Shakir saw just 23 goals all season despite hitting 171 runs. The Bills will look for ways to diversify that passing attack without breaking the bank, and increasing Shakir’s workload is an obvious path.” – Monson
