Bills Would Tighten Grip on Division

Davenport observed Buffalo’s “stranglehold on the AFC East” is tightening due to the rise of the Miami Dolphins. The Bills clinched the division with five consecutive wins, including a season-ending triumph against the Dolphins. However, Davenport believes the Bills may be more vulnerable now that premier pass rusher Leonard Floyd has left.

“The team’s wide receiver dilemma has received a lot of attention since the departures of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. However, Davenport noted that the Bills may have a defensive weakness. “Only one Buffalo player surpassed 10 sacks last season: edge-rusher Leonard Floyd, who is now in San Francisco. Buffalo’s expected edge starters (Gregory Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa) combined for just 11.5 sacks last year.

If the Bills intend to finally break through a strong conference and make it to the Super Bowl, they will have to compete with top quarterbacks such as Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow, Davenport said. Trading for Bosa may offer the Bills a big advantage in that regard, he said.

Davenport added that Bosa, a four-time Pro Bowler who signed a $135 million contract in 2020, seemed to have overcome the foot issue that bothered him last season.

“But Joey Bosa is significantly younger than [Von] Miller was when the team acquired him, and he has participated in voluntary workouts—a good sign that the foot injury that wrecked his 2023 campaign is behind him,” he stated.

“Getting Bosa’s contract on the books would be difficult, but Brandon Beane is as astute an NFL general manager as there is. It’s a risky move—but one that could pay out handsomely if the Bills land Bosa, who won three consecutive Pro Bowls from 2019 to 2021.”

Bills Hope for Bounce-Back Season for Von Miller

While the Bills would have the draft resources required to land Bosa after acquiring a second-round pick in the Diggs trade and adding to their stockpile by trading back twice in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft, the team may also seek internally for pass rush help.

Though Miller had a career-worst season in 2023 as he recovered from a torn ACL, there are signs that the All-Pro pass rusher may be returning to form this year.According to Syracuse.com reporter Matt Parrino, Miller performed well in sessions this week, demonstrating his previous form.

“The speed, burst, and bend off the edge is something that just hasn’t looked the same for Miller since he tore his ACL back on Thanksgiving in 2022,” Parrino wrote. “He said he couldn’t practice last season without a knee brace, which he’s discarded this offseason and during OTAs. Miller still wants to play a few more seasons, and he showed some signs on Tuesday – albeit in a non-padded practice – that it could be possible.