Open Letter to Brandon Beane: Buffalo Bills Need This in 2024
Dear Brandon Beane,
The Buffalo Bills have had great success over the past seven seasons. Six of the past seven have featured playoff appearances, with four straight AFC East division titles, which is something that shouldn't be ignored. It's a great accomplishment that is even more satisfying after Bills fans endured 17 straight years of no playoff appearances.
However, the Bills playoff disappointments are now to a point where we have to start having serious conversations about "is what we are doing, working?"
Yes, the Bills have had great regular season success and yes, the injury bug has hit the Bills at the worst possible time in back-to-back seasons. However, losing three straight times in the AFC Divisional round, with Josh Allen as your quarterback, is simply not good enough. The playoff berths and even division titles are not good enough anymore. This team hasn't even made a Super Bowl yet, let alone winning one.
You have over $40 million in negative cap space projected and many pending free agents. There's zero doubt you will have to get younger and cheaper at certain positions, but there is one thing -- more than any other, you have to upgrade and do it through the 2024 NFL Draft.
Wide receiver.
Josh Allen and this offense desperately needs wide receiver help. Not just any wide receiver help -- early round draft capital spent on a wide receiver and preferably two.
The Bills were severely hampered by the linebacker injuries vs. the Chiefs, but your team could not push the ball down the field, which cost them. That was also the case for the last few regular season games, even in the winning streak.
Stefon Diggs will be turning 31 years old in 2024. Gabe Davis is likely gone and Deonte Harty and Trent Sherfield simply are not good enough. Khalil Shakir is the one bright spot, long-term; but even Shakir is a slot receiver who isn't explosive.
The Bills need explosive plays. They need to spend their first round pick on a wide receiver.
Yes, your team also needs youth and held on the defensive line and at safety...those positions can be addressed in rounds 2-5.
Josh Allen will be 28 years old in May. You cannot waste away the prime of this franchise quarterback on middling free agent signings. Allen needs a young wide receiver, who can develop into the new number one wide receiver for this franchise; and another wide receiver who can help production with Diggs, Shakir and tight end Dalton Kincaid.
You won't be getting Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze will be long gone.
However, there are many options at pick 28 or a small trade up to get a wide receiver.
- Brian Thomas Jr.
- Keon Coleman
- Adonai Mitchell
- Xavier Worthy
- Troy Franklin
- Xavier Legette
- Ladd McConkey
- Devontez Walker
- Ja'Lynn Polk
Josh Allen and this passing attack needs one of them, maybe even two. Some will fall into the second round.
The Bills likely won't be as good on defense in 2024. That's fine, it's understandable given the cap situation. However, you still have Josh Allen. Outside of Patrick Mahomes, he's the best QB in the league.
Load up on young wide receiver talent and put up points. Let's get young wide receivers on the roster for 2024.
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