Josh Allen has the talent required to lead the Bills to a Super Bowl title, but these three roster issues could cost Buffalo a championship.
Officials in Buffalo believe they've constructed a roster capable of winning a Super Bowl. Josh Allen has the requisite talent at the game's most important position, but General Manager Brandon Beane hasn't constructed a perfect roster around his star quarterback.
That doesn't mean things won't break right to lead the Bills to a title. They have a puncher's chance of winning a Super Bowl. Those chances are dependent on the following three roster spots. A bad break at any of these spots could end Buffalo's chances of making a special playoff run.
No. 3 worrying Bills roster hole: Uncertainty at linebacker
Tremaine Edmunds never lived up to the hype of being a first-round pick for the Bills, but his decision to leave the team in free agency leaves a big hole in the team's depth chart. In his absence, the team expects unproven linebacker Terrel Bernard to step into the starting lineup.
The former Baylor standout has the talent to grow into an adequate starter, but betting on a player who only tallied 11 solo tackles last year is a significant gamble for a team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations.
The presence of Matt Milano next to him on most snaps will prevent Bernard from being mentally overwhelmed. The Bills need him to play fast if he's going to replace Edmunds' production. Linebacker may not be the most important position in Buffalo's defensive scheme but they can't afford for Bernard to be the group's weakest link.
No. 2 worrying Bills roster hole: Lack of experience at right guard
The Bills' offense depends on their ability to run the ball on the strong side of the field to set up their aerial attack. That requires solid production from the right guard position.
That's a big reason why the front office elected to spend a second-round pick on O'Cyrus Torrence in April's NFL Draft. He is slated to compete with Ryan Bates to win the starting spot ahead of Week 1. The Bills need Torrence to win that battle in the preseason.
Betting on a rookie to be a starter for a potential Super Bowl contender is always risky. Torrence might be an even more dangerous bet. His lack of consistency at Florida caused him to drop out of Round 1. Helping him adjust to the rigors of NFL football and correcting his motor issues in one year might be too much to ask from the enigmatic guard.
The good news for the Bills is that they have a chance to upgrade their options at guard during the preseason. It's even possible that David Edwards moves from the left side to strengthen head coach Sean McDermott's options on the right side. Finding the best right guard to solidify the offensive line should be one of Buffalo's top preseason priorities.
No. 1 worrying Bills roster hole: Dependence on Stefon Diggs
Stefon DIggs' potential level of commitment to the Bills was a major storyline during Buffalo's preseason. Even if Diggs is happy and playing at a high level, it's concerning just how dependent the offense is on his production from the wide receiver position.
Surrounding Diggs with Gabe Davis and Trent Sherfield in the starting lineup doesn't scream Super Bowl contender. The Bills did upgrade their receiving options by adding talented tight end Dalton Kincaid, but that won't loosen things up for Allen on the outside.
Diggs is a major threat for every opposing secondary because of his ability to torch opposing defensive backs on deep routes. That naturally attracts double coverage his way on a lot of snaps. The Bills could have taken advantage of that by adding another deep threat to balance their formation on the other side of the field.
Things get even more dire for the BIlls if Diggs' effort level wanes due to issues with the team. The team cannot reach the promised land of a Super Bowl title without him playing at an All-Pro level. Betting so heavily on Diggs to perform at a high level is a necessary risk by the Bills but it could come back to haunt them.
