Headed into the 2025 season, the Buffalo Bills will be one of the Super Bowl favorites entering the season and rightfully so. Josh Allen led an explosive Bills offense this past season that finished second in the NFL in points per game. Only behind the Detroit Lions who scored the fourth most points in NFL history. The offense was not the reason for the playoff exit with the defense letting them down in a Conference Championship loss to the Chiefs. Headed into next season, the Bills’ offense is in line to perhaps be the premier offensive attack in the NFL. As Bills’ offensive coordinator Joe Brady is going into his second full season as the Bills’ offensive coordinator while Buffalo has a few key starters in line to really improve headed into next season as well. Buffalo’s defense should also be much better next season, putting the offense in better spots to succeed. While the only team who scored more points than the Bills this past season in the Detroit Lions has lost their star offensive coordinator and a few key pieces on the offensive side of the ball as well. Given all that, the Bills have a very strong chance to lead the league in points scored next season and be the premier offensive attack in the NFL in 2025. Beginning my assessment of Buffalo on the offensive side of the ball during the 2024 season and also headed into the 2025 campaign, I will first list the major offensive metrics/statistics of the team which can be found below.
2024 Bills Major Offensive Metrics
2nd in points per game
10th in yards per game
8th in overall offense grade according to Pro Football Focus
As you can see from the above the Bills were explosive offensively this past season scoring the second most points in the NFL. But they still have room to go up when you look at the remaining two major metrics outside of points scored. When compared to the Ravens and Lions last season who were perhaps the two best offenses in the NFL in the 2024 campaign. The Bills were not quite as effective as those two teams offensively. As stated previously, the Lions scored the most points in the NFL which was also the fourth most points ever scored in a season in the NFL. Detroit scored the most points in the NFL in 2024, more than 2 points per game more than the Bills did last season. While Detroit also ranked 2nd in yards per game and 2nd in overall offense grade according to Pro Football Focus. Ranking in the top two in all three of the major metrics while the Bills failed to even rank in the top seven of the latter two metrics. When compared to Baltimore, the Ravens were the third highest scoring offense in the NFL finishing slightly behind Buffalo in that regard. But the Ravens finished first in both yards accumulated and overall offense grade according to Pro Football Focus, while again the Bills failed to even rank in the top seven of either one of those metrics. So, the Bills were explosive offensively in the 2024 season but not quite as explosive and effective as the likes of the Ravens and Lions.
Headed into next season the question will remain whether or not the Bills can take the next step offensively and reach the level of those two teams on the offensive side of the ball. As stated previously, offensive coordinator Joe Brady, going into his second full season on the job will go a long way towards the offense improving. But outside of the coaching on the offensive side of things, the personnel that the Bills field offensively will loom large as well. I have conducted an analysis of the Bills on the offensive side of things during the 2024 season and also headed into the 2025 campaign below. I have listed each player along with the offense grade that they were assigned by Pro Football Focus over the course of the 2024 season. In addition to that I have included my own subjective grade of the player that indicates how strong I feel they are in totality outside of just the 2024 season. Beginning below with the offensive line of the team during the 2024 season and also headed into the 2025 campaign.
Buffalo Bills 2024 Offensive Line Starters
LT – Dion Dawkins – (33/87) offense grade in 2024 over 959 snaps, B+
LG – David Edwards – (44/83) offense grade in 2024 over 975 snaps, C+ to B-
C – Connor McGovern – (11/43) offense grade in 2024 over 959 snaps, C+ to B-
RG – O’Cyrus Torrence – (69/83) offense grade in 2024 over 1011 snaps, C
RT – Spencer Brown – (32/87) offense grade in 2024 over 930 snaps, C+ to B-
Bills 2024 Offensive Line Reserves
C – Alec Anderson – (10/43) offense grade in 2024 over 290 snaps, B+ to A-
C – Sedrick Van Pran-Granger – (42/43) offense grade in 2024 over 120 snaps, D, 5th rd ‘24
G – Will Clapp – (76/83) offense grade in 2024 over 67 snaps, C to C-
T – Ryan Van Demark – (73/87) offense grade in 2024 over 199 snaps, C
T – Richard Gouraige – only 3 snaps in 2024, only snaps of career
T – Tylan Grable – (73/87) offense grade in 2024 over 74 snaps, C so far as 2024 6th rounder
Bills 2024 Key Offensive Line Metrics
4th in pass blocking efficiency
5th in pass blocking grade according to Pro Football Focus
17th in run blocking grade according to Pro Football Focus
1st in sacks allowed
As you can see from this final set of data that encompasses the overall strength of the Bills’ offensive front during the 2024 campaign, Buffalo had one of the strongest if not the strongest pass blocking line in the NFL but was closer to average in terms of run blocking effectiveness. The Bills allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL during the 2024 season and ranked in the top five of all the major pass protecting metrics. However, perhaps those three metrics are a bit misleading as Bills’ QB Josh Allen is perhaps the hardest QB in the NFL to sack and pressure. So many pressures and sacks that otherwise would have been accounted for in those metrics with most other QBs were not accounted for. The Bills produced at an elite pass protecting rate during the 2024 season and an average to a mediocre run blocking rate. But given the context of Allen contributing to their high ranking in the pass protecting metrics and also if you look at their personnel in totality on the offensive front. The Bills had an offensive line that was closer to average over the course of the 2024 season although the final metrics of their offensive line would indicate it was a borderline elite unit. However, the Bills during the 2024 season were still an above average solid offensive line in totality in my estimation. As regardless of context, allowing the fewest sacks in the NFL and ranking in the top five of all the major pass protecting metrics is still not easy to come by. Headed into next season the improvements that the Bills hope to see from their offensive line will come from the improvement of young players, in particular starting right guard O’Cyrus Torrence. As the Bills current starting five offensive linemen headed into the 2025 season is the same as it was during the 2024 campaign. The Bills’ projected 2025 offensive line can be found below.
Buffalo Bills Projected 2025 Offensive Line Starters
LT – Dion Dawkins – B+
LG – David Edwards – C+ to B-
C – Connor McGovern – C+ to B-
RG – O’Cyrus Torrence – C
RT – Spencer Brown – C+ to B-
As you can see from the above the five starters for the Bills on the offensive line during the 2024 season are the same five starters for Buffalo headed into the 2025 season. Left guard David Edwards has been known to struggle with consistency including a down year in the 2024 season where he ranked below average in terms of offense grade. Edwards has shown a very high ceiling in the NFL although having his ups and downs. Buffalo is optimistic that he can have a strong year next season to improve the offensive front. At center Connor McGovern spent his first four seasons in the NFL at guard but started at center for the first time during the 2024 season. McGovern had a strong season last year but headed into his second season starting at center, the Bills are optimistic he can grow even further thus improving the offensive line in totality. Right guard O’Cyrus Torrence was a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft but has really underwhelmed thus far in the NFL. Torrence has graded in the below average range among qualified players at his position in terms of an overall offense grade according to Pro Football Focus in each of his first two seasons in the NFL. But his play at times has still been solid and given his decent play for stretches and his very high draft standing along with his youth. Buffalo is optimistic that as he heads into year 3 in the NFL, he can now start to live up to his very high draft selection. The improvement that the Bills hope to see on the offensive front next season will be mostly tied to the improvement of O’Torrence at the starting right guard spot. From a reserve standpoint on the offensive front the Bills have a few notable names and the projected 2025 reserve offensive line unit for the Bills can be found below.
Projected 2025 Bills Reserve Offensive Linemen
T – Tylan Grable – C in very limited snaps as 2024 6th rounder
G/C – Alec Anderson – B+ in very limited snaps
C – Sedrick Van Pran Granger – D so far as 2024 5th rounder
G – Kendrick Green – C+
T – Ryan Van Demark – C
T – Richard Gouraige – UDFA 2023, 3 career snaps
G – Rush Reimer – UDFA 2025
C – Jacob Bayer – UDFA 2025
G – Mike Edwards – UDFA 2024, 0 career snaps
G – Travis Clayton – 0 career snaps, 7th round 2024
The few notable names that I am referring to in the Bills’ reserve offensive line unit are Alec Anderson and Kendrick Green. Anderson, who was an undrafted free agent before the 2022 season, logged his first career NFL snaps during the 2024 campaign. In his first NFL action during this past season, Anderson performed at a borderline elite level albeit in limited action. Kendrick Green was acquired from the Texans this offseason after serving in a reserve role for Houston for the past two seasons. Green was drafted pretty highly in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft and had a strong rookie season ranking (14/41) in terms of pass blocking efficiency among qualified players at his position. He has not done much the past three seasons since, but given his high draft selection and his very strong rookie season, he as of now remains a strong depth option for Buffalo off the bench. Anderson and Green as of now are two of the best reserve interior offensive lineman in the NFL and both could eventually threaten for a starting position as well. Tackle Tylan Grable had a decent year as a rookie during the 2024 campaign and could turn into a solid reserve option for the Bills off the bench at the tackle spot as well.
In totality the Bills had a very good offensive line during the 2024 season which in terms of the final metrics of the season was perhaps the premier pass protecting unit in the NFL. Although that may be a bit misleading for aforementioned reasons regarding the mobility and strength of QB Josh Allen, evading sacks and pressures. However, ranking as highly as they did, arguably the best in the NFL in terms of pass protection metrics, is not easy to come by and is a sign of a very strong offensive line. The likes of the Eagles, Ravens, Commanders, and Cardinals who had QBs who were equally as hard to bring down for sacks and to pressure, did not rank as highly as Buffalo did in terms of pass protection metrics during the 2024 season. But given Buffalo ranking slightly below average in terms of run blocking along with their offensive line personnel across the board being solid but not spectacular. It is safe to say that the Bills had a very good but not a great offensive line during the 2024 campaign. Headed into next season if the Bills want to take the leap into the great department in terms of offensive line play, they will need to see improvement from their starters, in particular starting guard O’Cyrus Torrence. Who was a second-round pick a few years ago but has not lived up to expectations as of yet but who has still looked decent thus far in the league. In the case in which Torrence does not step up his game, the two high level backups that the Bills have in terms of interior offensive lineman in Alec Anderson and Kendrick Green could threaten to take his starting spot. I have conducted a similar analysis of the Bills’ skill position players from the 2024 season and also headed into next season as well which can be found below.
Buffalo Bills 2024 Skill Position Players
Bills 2024 Wide Receivers
WR – Mack Hollins – (92/110) offense grade in 2024 over 720 snaps, C
WR – Keon Coleman – (61/110) offense grade in 2024 over 597 snaps, C+ so far as ’24 2nd rd
WR – Khalil Shakir – (28/110) offense grade in 2024 over 585 snaps, B to B+
WR – Curtis Samuel – (86/110) offense grade in 2024 over 378 snaps, C+ to B-
WR – Amari Cooper – (42/110) offense grade in 2024 over 239 snaps, C+ to B-
WR – Marquez Valdes-Scantling – (107/110) offense grade in 2024 over 140 snaps, C
WR – Jalen Virgil – (94/110) offense grade in 2024 over 37 snaps, D+ to C-
WR – Tyrell Shavers – (24/110) offense grade in 2024 over 32 snaps, B+, only career snaps
As you can see from the above, the Bills’ wide receiver core left much to be desired this past season although the unit had some talent. Khalil Shakir was the most productive player for the Bills in their wide out unit this past season but has not yet proven to be a star. Keon Coleman as a rookie in 2024, drafted in the second round before the season, had a solid but not spectacular rookie season. Coleman ranked below average among qualified wide receivers in terms of an overall offense grade, but ranked near the top in terms of yards per reception and was one the premier NFL deep threats last season. Outside of that Amari Cooper gave the Bills some strong production after being acquired at the trading deadline.
In totality the Bills’ wide receiver unit during the 2024 season was amongst the weaker ones in the NFL. Headed into next season, the improvements Buffalo hopes to see from their wide receiver unit will primarily stem from the improvement of 2024 rookie 2nd rounder Keon Coleman. Coleman had a decent rookie season and given his very high draft standing, he will be in line to break out as a star starting next year. If Coleman indeed breaks out next season, the wide out tandem of Shakir and Coleman will be very good but likely not great or elite, but above average in terms of a wide out tandem. Buffalo’s wide receiver unit heading into the 2025 season can be found below.
Buffalo Bills projected 2025 Wide Receiver Unit
WR – Khalil Shakir – B to B+
WR – Keon Coleman – C+ so far as 2024 second rounder
WR – Joshua Palmer – C
WR – Elijah Moore – C to C+
WR – Curtis Samuel – C+ to B-
WR – Laviska Shenault – C+
WR – K.J Hamler – C
WR – Tyrell Shavers – B+ in very limited snaps
WR – Jalen Virgil – 2 career receptions, UDFA 2022
WR – Kaden Prather – 2025 seventh rounder
WR – Kelly Akharaiyi – UDFA 2025
WR – Kristian Wilkerson – 6 career receptions in 4 seasons, former UDFA
Outside of the duo of Shakir + Coleman with regards to the team’s wide receiver unit, Buffalo has moved off Mack Hollins and Marquez Valdes Scantling, while Amari Cooper remains an unsigned free agent. The team headed into next season projects to have one of the deepest wide receiver units in the NFL. Buffalo has retained veteran wide out Curtis Samuel who was a second-round pick before the 2017 season and is still under 30 years old. Samuel has been hit and miss thus far in his career but has had four separate seasons grading as above average among qualified wide outs in terms of an overall offense grade. Given his high draft standing and his strong play at times while still being relatively young, Samuel will be a strong reserve wide receiver option to complement the tandem of Shakir and Coleman. The Bills have some other wide receivers on their roster currently where a similar narrative can be said about them. Elijah Moore, Laviska Shenault, and KJ Hamler were all drafted in the first two rounds, but all have not lived up to expectations. Despite not living up to expectations thus far in the NFL, all of those players, who are all new additions this offseason, have all shown a high ceiling from time to time in the NFL and from time to time have shown that they were indeed worthy of being selected so high. The combination of Shakir and Coleman as the team’s top two wide outs does not project to be elite next season, but certainly very good. While the depth the Bills project to have at wide out next season is currently in line to rank up there with any NFL team. I have conducted a similar evaluation of the team’s running back unit which can be found below.
Bills 2024 Running Backs
HB – James Cook – (12/57) offense grade in 2024 over 484 snaps, B to B+
HB – Ty Johnson – (22/57) offense grade in 2024 over 315 snaps, C+ to B-
HB – Ray Davis – (25/57) offense grade in 2024 over 264 snaps, C+ to B- so far as ’24 4th rd
The Bills had three running backs take snaps for them last season and in totality it was one of the best and deepest running back units in the NFL. All three of the running backs graded in the above average range in terms of an overall offense grade according to Pro Football Focus among qualified running backs in 2024. Headed into next season, the Bills have retained all three players and the three players remain #1-#3 on the Bills running back depth chart for 2025 as of now. Buffalo has also added 2020 third round pick Darrynton Evans to the mix, who although has disappointed in the league thus far, still was drafted so high for a reason. The projected Bills’ 2025 running back unit can be found below.
Bills Projected 2025 Running Back Unit
HB – James Cook – (12/57) offense grade in 2024 over 484 snaps, B to B+
HB – Ray Davis – (25/57) offense grade in 2024 over 264 snaps, C+ to B- so far as ’24 4th rd
HB – Ty Johnson – (22/57) offense grade in 2024 over 315 snaps, C+ to B-
HB – Darrynton Evans – C- so far as 2020 third rounder
The Bills had one of the premier running back units in the NFL this past season in order to complement dual threat QB Josh Allen accordingly. The unit can only expect to improve headed into next season as well. James Cook is still relatively young in the NFL and has not yet truly entered his prime. Cook has never had the chance to run behind anything more than just an average caliber run blocking unit as well. As Cook now enters his prime, with Buffalo potentially providing him with the best run blocking line of his career, he will have the chance to go from a B to a B+ caliber player to perhaps making the jump into the A range. A similar story can be said for Ray Davis who was a rookie in 2024, being drafted in the fourth round before the season. Davis had a strong rookie season and will likely only get better from this point forward. Darrynton Evans, being drafted pretty highly has really underwhelmed thus far in his career. But perhaps as he is now placed in a run conducive offense like the one the Bills have, he can come into his own. The Bills project to have one of the premier running back units in the NFL headed into next season as they have the high-end talent and the depth in the unit to go along with it as well. I have conducted a similar evaluation of the team’s tight end unit in 2024 and also headed into the 2025 season as well.
Bills 2024 Tight Ends
TE – Dawson Knox – (40/45) offense grade in 2024 over 616 snaps, C to C+
TE – Dalton Kincaid – (6/45) offense grade in 2024 over 469 snaps, B+ to A-
TE – Quintin Morris – (45/45) offense grade in 2024 over 214 snaps, D+
TE – Zach Davidson – (25/45) offense grade in 2024 over 42 snaps, C
As you can see from the above outside of standout Dalton Kincaid the Bills left much to be desired in their tight end unit. Kincaid as a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft has lived up to expectations thus far in the NFL and ranked in the elite category among tight ends this past season. Dawson Knox, a former third round pick, complements him but unlike Kincaid, he has failed to live up to his draft standing thus far in the league. But Knox has shown he can play the position at a strong level from time to time, however. Headed into next season, the tight end unit for the Bills remains mostly the same being led by Kincaid and Knox. The Bills’ projected 2025 lineup at the tight end spot can be found below.
Bills Projected 2025 Tight Ends
TE – Dawson Knox – C to C+
TE – Dalton Kincaid – B+ to A-
TE – Jackson Hawes – 2025 fifth rounder
TE – Zach Davidson – C
Kincaid, if he continues to improve next season, is in line to join that elite tight end group with the George Kittle’s and Brock Bowers’ of the world being discussed as the premier tight end in the sport. Dawson Knox, being drafted relatively high while still showing some capabilities thus far in the NFL, could provide Buffalo with a strong complementary option to Kincaid at the tight end spot.
Overall, the Bills on the offensive side of the ball with the exception of the Lions and Ravens, where just as good if not better offensively than any team in the 2024 season. The Lions and Ravens were A+ caliber offensive teams in 2024 while the likes of Buffalo and Philadelphia primarily, along with some others, were A caliber offensive teams this past season. Buffalo, making the leap into that same group with the Ravens and Lions on the offensive side of things would go a long way towards bolstering their Super Bowl hopes next season. Buffalo making a leap offensively and becoming the caliber of offensive team that the Ravens and Lions were last season will revolve around a few things. The team seeing a noticeable improvement with offensive coordinator Joe Brady heading into his second full season on the job. Along with the Bills seeing some young players continue to improve and come closer to reaching their full potential. The primary players I am referring to in this regard on the offensive side of things are starting right guard O’Cyrus Torrence and wide receiver Keon Coleman. Both of whom were drafted in the first two rounds in the past two seasons, but both of whom I graded to be in the C to C+ range as overall players thus far. That combined with the Bills’ defense putting the offense in better situations to succeed than it did last year. If all or most of the above occur, then the Bills could take a leap from being an A caliber offense in 2024 to an A+ caliber offense in 2025. An A+ caliber offense that is discussed as the premier offensive attack in the NFL and ranks up there historically in terms of offensive prowess as well.
