The Buffalo Bills have become a consistently competitive team over the past seven seasons. Since the hiring of coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane in 2017, the Bills have won four division titles, made the playoffs six times, and have a winning percentage of 64%. The drafting of Josh Allen in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft was a turning point for the organization. However, the Bills have yet to reach the Super Bowl and have only made it to one AFC Championship Game, which they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020.
Despite the Bills’ stability, they still face challenges in trying to reach their ultimate goal of winning a title, especially in the competitive AFC. The team has a new offensive coordinator in Joe Brady and has promoted Bobby Babich to defensive coordinator. McDermott has not yet decided who will have playcalling responsibilities moving forward, but says they are taking things one step at a time. The Bills are determined to continue their success, but the decisions made this year will impact the team in seasons to come.
The Bills may have to deviate from their successful strategy of retaining draft picks due to spending restrictions. This approach has yielded key team members such as linebacker Matt Milano and left tackle Dion Dawkins. However, players like wide receiver Gabe Davis and defensive end AJ Epenesa may receive more lucrative offers from other teams. Overcoming these challenges will require adjustments from both coaching and front office perspectives. General Manager Beane expressed a preference for drafting, developing, and signing players, but acknowledged the need to manage the team’s salary cap responsibly.
