This has been a busy offseason for the Buffalo Bills with plenty of headlines from the moves they made. Early in the offseason, they would release long-time veterans like Mitch Morse, Tre’Davious White, and Jordan Poyer while other starters like Gabe Davis, Micah Hyde, and Leonard Floyd left in free agency.
It didn’t really stop there as the Bills would trade their top receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans in a move that created historic dead cap but appeared to be necessary for everyone involved. There certainly has not been a shortage of what to talk about with this team as they chase their fifth straight AFC East title.
With all the headlines, there have been a number of players that have seemingly been forgotten about, or not talked about nearly enough this offseason. These players are set to play big roles this upcoming season and should be discussed.
4 Bills who are under-the-radar this offseason that will play big roles
O’Cyrus Torrence
The focus on the offensive line has been at center and left guard with the departure of Mitch Morse. At this point of the offseason, the plan is for Connor McGovern to move from left guard to center with David Edwards stepping in as the starter at left guard.
On top of that, Dion Dawkins signed a contract extension and Spencer Brown had shoulder surgery this offseason after suffering an injury against the Chiefs in the playoffs. This leaves O’Cyrus Torrence who hasn’t really had a notable offseason headline, which could be great news for him entering his second season.
Torrence was a second-round pick last year and would go on to win the starting right guard spot and start every game. He did a great job on the interior of the offensive line and the Bills coaching staff is going to expect more of the same in 2024.
Terrel Bernard
This time last year, the spotlight was on Terrel Bernard and several other linebackers as the Bills sought a replacement for Tremaine Edmunds, who had departed for the Chicago Bears in free agency without a direct replacement being brought in. Players like Bernard, Tyrel Dodson, and A.J. Klein were in contention for the role, though Bernard’s preseason injury kept his status uncertain until Week 1.
However, any initial concerns faded quickly as Bernard performed impressively early in the season and maintained that high level of play throughout his first season as the starting linebacker. He wrapped up the year with three interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and 6.5 sacks.
Now, following the exits of veterans like Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, there’s added pressure on Terrel Bernard to step up as a leader within the defense.
A.J. Epenesa
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A.J. Epenesa was a big topic early in the offseason as he was set to be a free agent with him playing in the final year of his rookie contract last season. The Bills had limited cap space and seemingly had to make a decision between Epenesa and Leonard Floyd, who led the team in sacks last year.
They decided to stick with their former second-round pick and agreed to a two-year deal worth $12 million. The reason Epenesa is on this list is because he is in line to be the starter this season and has a much bigger role than at any point in his career.
There is no surprise that Von Miller has been generating most of the interest at the position. The former All-Pro had a disastrous season but was able to work out a new contract as he hopes to bounce back from the torn ACL in 2022.
However, Miller probably will only be a situational pass rusher as he is older and the coaching staff probably wants to limit his workload to keep him fresh. This means that Epenesa will need a bigger role as he probably starts opposite Greg Rousseau and this hasn’t been discussed enough this offseason.
Christian Benford
Christian Benford, much like A.J. Epenesa, finds himself amidst numerous storylines within his position group this offseason. By the season’s end, he could potentially emerge as the Bills’ top cornerback.
During this offseason, the Bills parted ways with Tre’Davious White, their former first-round pick, and saw Dane Jackson depart in free agency. Additionally, Rasul Douglas was notably absent during the OTA period, raising questions about whether Kaiir Elam can fulfill his potential as a first-round draft pick.
Central to this cornerback situation is Christian Benford, a former sixth-round selection entering his third season with the Bills and second as a starting cornerback. Benford earned the starting role out of training camp last year, starting 14 games while tallying two interceptions and defending 10 passes.
With another year in the Bills’ defensive system and the experience gained as a full-time starter, Benford is poised to further develop and establish himself as a cornerstone at his position.
