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4. Buffalo Bills
2009 draft class | Free agency
The Bills' decade-long absence from the playoffs has fueled discontent from the Western New York faithful, and put the pressure squarely on Dick Jauron to deliver a postseason bid in his fourth year with the team. After failing to ride the momentum of a 5-1 start into their first winning season since 2004, the Bills made sweeping changes during the offseason to build a roster that has the potential to compete for AFC East title.
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After watching their passing game generate only 14 touchdowns last season, the team signed temperamental superstar Terrell Owens. The mercurial pass catcher has scored 139 receiving touchdowns in his career, which ranks second all-time, and has tallied double-digit scores in each of the past three seasons. While history suggests that Owens will eventually divide the locker room, it is undeniable that he raises the big-play potential of the passing game with his presence on the opposite side of Lee Evans.
Evans, who has averaged 16.0 yards per catch throughout his career, had faced constant double coverage, and was limited to only three touchdowns last season. However, that number should skyrocket as defensive coordinators are forced to play the Bills' aerial attack straight up due to the presence of two talented receivers.
The Bills' offensive woes also permeated their running game as their offensive line underachieved in key moments. Derrick Dockery, who was signed to a seven-year, $49 million deal in 2007, never provided the push that team officials expected along the interior, and was released early in the offseason. Two-time Pro Bowl selectee Jason Peters was jettisoned via trade after the team tired of his incessant contract demands.
Though the duo had the potential to form one of the top guard-tackle tandems in the league, their inability to get it done consistently forced the team to reshuffle the lineup. Langston Walker will move to left tackle and the team is banking on a host of newcomers to shore up the remaining spots. Free-agent signee Geoff Hangartner will man the pivot, and two rookies (Eric Wood and Andy Levitre) will occupy the guard spots.
While the unit will need to develop chemistry instantly, the team believes the moves will result in bigger running lanes for Marshawn Lynch.
Defensively, the Bills entered the offseason with a desperate need for a pass rusher after watching the team record only 24 sacks, which ranked 28th in the league last season. The team addressed their weakness by using the 11th overall pick on Aaron Maybin. The Penn State standout tallied 12 sacks during his final season in Happy Valley, and gives the Bills an explosive rusher off the edge. If he can give them any semblance of a rush, it should open up the field for Aaron Schobel.
The Bills have pulled out all of the stops in hopes of ending their playoff drought, but they will need significant contributions from all of their new guys to make the gambles result in a rare postseason appearance.
2009 draft class | Free agency
The Bills' decade-long absence from the playoffs has fueled discontent from the Western New York faithful, and put the pressure squarely on Dick Jauron to deliver a postseason bid in his fourth year with the team. After failing to ride the momentum of a 5-1 start into their first winning season since 2004, the Bills made sweeping changes during the offseason to build a roster that has the potential to compete for AFC East title.
27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000>
After watching their passing game generate only 14 touchdowns last season, the team signed temperamental superstar Terrell Owens. The mercurial pass catcher has scored 139 receiving touchdowns in his career, which ranks second all-time, and has tallied double-digit scores in each of the past three seasons. While history suggests that Owens will eventually divide the locker room, it is undeniable that he raises the big-play potential of the passing game with his presence on the opposite side of Lee Evans.
Evans, who has averaged 16.0 yards per catch throughout his career, had faced constant double coverage, and was limited to only three touchdowns last season. However, that number should skyrocket as defensive coordinators are forced to play the Bills' aerial attack straight up due to the presence of two talented receivers.
The Bills' offensive woes also permeated their running game as their offensive line underachieved in key moments. Derrick Dockery, who was signed to a seven-year, $49 million deal in 2007, never provided the push that team officials expected along the interior, and was released early in the offseason. Two-time Pro Bowl selectee Jason Peters was jettisoned via trade after the team tired of his incessant contract demands.
Though the duo had the potential to form one of the top guard-tackle tandems in the league, their inability to get it done consistently forced the team to reshuffle the lineup. Langston Walker will move to left tackle and the team is banking on a host of newcomers to shore up the remaining spots. Free-agent signee Geoff Hangartner will man the pivot, and two rookies (Eric Wood and Andy Levitre) will occupy the guard spots.
While the unit will need to develop chemistry instantly, the team believes the moves will result in bigger running lanes for Marshawn Lynch.
Defensively, the Bills entered the offseason with a desperate need for a pass rusher after watching the team record only 24 sacks, which ranked 28th in the league last season. The team addressed their weakness by using the 11th overall pick on Aaron Maybin. The Penn State standout tallied 12 sacks during his final season in Happy Valley, and gives the Bills an explosive rusher off the edge. If he can give them any semblance of a rush, it should open up the field for Aaron Schobel.
The Bills have pulled out all of the stops in hopes of ending their playoff drought, but they will need significant contributions from all of their new guys to make the gambles result in a rare postseason appearance.
