Buffalo Bills 2024 Training Camp Preview

Buffalo Bills 2024 Training Camp Preview

NFL training camps are set to get under away in the next two weeks, with rookies reporting first for most teams. The Buffalo Bills have their rookies reporting on 7/16 and the veterans on 7/23. This has been a franchise that has always been the bridesmaid but never the bride, as they can never get over the playoff hump. With question marks surrounding this team, they have a lot to figure out before the season begins. We discuss all that and more in the Bills training camp preview!

Three Position Battles To Watch

Wide Receiver: Curtis Samuel, Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, Mack Hollins, Chase Claypool, Marquez Valdes-Scantling

With the trade of Stefon Diggs to Houston, that leaves a MASSIVE hole at the WR1 position, and the Bills did the best with what they could to add some depth. I believe the clear future WR1 for this team is Keon Coleman, but I don’t believe success comes very early. He had an early-round grade coming out, but is still a raw product. Curtis Samuel is someone who people are still waiting to really show up but has some talent. Khalil Skahir has his moments but needs to display consistency. The rest of the group are just guys, nothing more really. Your top receiver will come out of the three I mentioned.

Safety: Mike Edwards, Taylor Rapp, Cole Bishop

Three players in, but only two can earn the starting spots for the Bills in training camp. With Jordan Poyer gone to Miami and Micah Hyde still unsure if he will return or retire, this leaves both positions open for grabs. Mike Edwards and Taylor Rapp are the vets in that room but don’t count out Cole Bishop. I liked Bishop a lot coming out and thought he could steal a job in camp given the right situation he fell into. Edwards suffered a shoulder injury recently, which gave Rapp some of the reps in OTAs. I wouldn’t be shocked if they rolled out the vets early, but don’t be surprised if Bishop sees the field late in the season.

Backup Running Back: Ty Johnson, Ray Davis, Frank Gore Jr.

James Cook is the clear RB1 on this team and should have the lion’s share of snaps during the season. However, the Bills should want to keep him fresh so he doesn’t deteriorate down the stretch and this may be proven by their drafting of Ray Davis and signing of Frank Gore Jr. as an UDFA. But we can’t sleep on Ty Johnson, either. Johnson has earned the respect of every coaching staff he’s been a part of and probably has an early lead on the role. The Bills took Davis in round four of this year’s draft, which could signal their desire to have him see the field. Davis and Gore have a higher ceiling, so by season’s end I expect the job to belong to Davis.

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Ready To Breakout: Khalil Shakir

Khalil Shakir is a big play just waiting to happen. He wasn’t used a whole lot in 2023, but any time he touched the ball you had a feeling he could take it to the house. Skahir has blazing speed and is a weapon in the open field, and in a wide-open wide-receiver room, he has a chance to make a name for himself and earn a much larger role in this offense as the primary slot receiver.

He is also going to be my Fantasy Sleeper as well, especially in best-ball leagues (which is much better than lineup leagues). Shakir had 39 receptions for 611 yards and two touchdowns a season ago, playing behind Diggs and Gabe Davis. He has a real chance to carve out a huge role in the Bills offense in their training camp as the deep ball threat and is good for a handful of touchdowns of 40+ yards next season. He’s someone to target in the later rounds of your draft in best-ball leagues.

Rookie To Watch: Sedrick Van Pran-Granger

The obvious answer here is Keon Coleman, I know. However, that is the cop-out choice.

I believe there is a real chance we see Sedrick Van Pran-Granger earn the starting Center position in the Bills’ training camp or very early into the season. Trey had him as a second-round player and a plus starter, and I believe he has a similar upside. I don’t have a ton of faith in Connor McGovern, and the ceiling for SVP is too high to let him sit all season.

The Buffalo Bills are going to be a fascinating watch in 2024. In a loaded AFC, they are going to have an uphill battle to earn a playoff spot. Josh Allen is still Josh Allen, but this franchise has a ton of holes they did not fill, and we may see that this season. There’s going to be some growing pains with these rookies, but if they can play up to their potential we just might see the Bills back in the playoffs in 2024.

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