PITTSFORD, N.Y. — For a franchise that has enjoyed a lot of success with mostly the same group of players, 2024 is a bit different for the Bills given how much roster turnover and refreshing has been done throughout the offseason. However, one thing that has remained consistent since franchise quarterback Josh Allen entered the league has been detractors.
The most recent one came from an ESPN report citing an anonymous NFL executive who called Allen “one of the more overrated players in the NFL.” Bills general manager Brandon Beane has blocked out things like that in the past but strongly came to his quarterback’s defense on Wednesday despite rarely doing so in a public setting.
“There’s idiots everywhere,” Beane said when asked why he thought someone would say that about Allen. “These things that come out there, I know that people love the rankings of whoever, but when you don’t put your name to it and you make comments like that, like, who is this executive? Executive is a loose term. I was probably referred to as an executive well before I should have been. And so I just say, if you’re not going to put your name on it, we really shouldn’t validate it.”
Beane spent the better part of the first three minutes being asked and answering questions about this specific instance of someone criticizing Allen.
“For what he’s done for this team, for what he’s done in this league and his own accomplishments, to say he’s overrated and to point out a flaw here or there is… it’s ignorant,” Beane said with a thud.
Bills GM Brandon Beane, (right, pictured with Bills owner Terry Pegula) took exception to an unnamed executive calling Josh Allen overrated. (Mark Konezny / USA Today)
Outside of the GM standing up for his franchise quarterback, what stood out on the field on Day 1? Here are several observations from the team’s first day of camp.
WRs working in with Allen on Day 1
Heading into this camp, one of the most intriguing things to track is the wide receiver group — and rightfully so. The receiver depth chart is the most open it’s been since Allen took his place among one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and players earning roles in the offense will iron itself out over the next month. The Bills are also very intentional with their receiver reps during practices. Over the years, it’s been quite apparent that they do not want to let a single team drill rep go by with Allen throwing to someone they aren’t considering using in the regular season. Opportunities are earned as camp progresses, whether by strong performance or by injury, but it’s always good to see where players stand to start.
On Day 1, a total of five receivers worked in with Allen throughout the morning. The group consisted exclusively, in no particular order, of Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Curtis Samuel, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Mack Hollins. Shakir mostly worked out of the slot, and Coleman mostly worked out of his X-receiver position. Shakir practicing in full on Day 1 was a great sign after his spring injury, as he’s likely to have a fairly consistent role on game days. But there was some mixing and matching of roles with the other three, which was most surprising with Hollins, who was projected to be an X-receiver solely. After practice, Allen was effusive in his praise of Hollins’ work ethic and fit in the locker room, saying of the receiver’s personality, “I love Mack. He’s one of the all-time greats.”
Most notably, players on the outside looking in during that time with Allen were Chase Claypool, Justin Shorter, KJ Hamler and Andy Isabella. Claypool came down awkwardly on a team drill rep near the end of the session and had a noticeable limp on his right leg, though after practice, he was jogging and having a lighthearted catch with Shakir, which is a good sign. The Bills will need to see which of that next group of receivers, including second-year player Tyrell Shavers, can force their way into some time with Allen and into the mix for a roster spot at the end of the summer.
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Allen looks sharp on his first day back
Each day of practice usually has a central theme of what the team wants to work on most during team drills, and on the first day, it was almost exclusively red zone work. The team likely wanted both to challenge the new-look receiver room with tightened space near the end zone while seeing if the newish defensive backfield would be on the same page in getting all spots covered in a condensed area. It was quite clear that the offense had the defense’s number on the first day. Allen was sharp, efficient and put the ball on the numbers to multiple receivers throughout the day for low-yardage touchdowns. He hit Coleman for one and almost had another on a toe-tap opportunity near the sidelines. They called Coleman out and incomplete, though Allen swore up and down that the rookie made the play. And by the looks of the photo evidence, Coleman was pretty close to in.
Touchdown. 🙌#GoBills | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/cE4EtPpypR
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) July 24, 2024
Tight end Dalton Kincaid had a scoring play where the defense lost track of him just past the goal line, among other good offensive work. Most years, the defense is ahead to start training camp, making for the offense needing to play catch up as the days stack up. However, it was unmistakable that Allen was on his game right from the start of camp.
Kincaid looks great, but Knox is still a factor
All the momentum surrounding Kincaid, his approach, talent and his on-field connection with Allen have pushed the tight end into a popular second-year breakout candidate. Kincaid was also excellent on his first day, showing that the chemistry he had with Allen from 2023 offseason workouts through last season was not just a one-off. The potential is definitely there for him to be one of their top targets in 2024. However, from the looks of things on the first day of camp, those expecting Kincaid to usurp the full-time role from Dawson Knox this year and push the veteran tight end into a backup may have their hopes dashed.
Both Kincaid and Knox worked heavily with Allen throughout the first practice. As far as I could see, neither player worked in with backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. And as we pointed out with the receivers, reps with Allen in a practice setting are highly intentional. So while it’s fine to believe Kincaid can better his very strong rookie season output in 2024, it’s important to note his role went back to early season levels after Knox’s return from injured reserve last year. Over their last six games, playoffs included, Kincaid had just a 53.6 percent snap share. Knox even outsnapped him in two of those games. Kincaid had a pair of big games, but his average output over those six appearances was 3.3 catches for 47 yards on five targets. The Bills love Knox, Allen loves Knox, and it’s wise to remember that until they show signs of fully committing to making Kincaid the full-time starter.
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A slight surprise at safety
Outside of the receiver group, the position with their starting duo up in the air is at safety, and it brought on an interesting pairing to begin camp. Taylor Rapp was in one starting position, which was expected given his role as the team’s third safety in 2023. But next to him on the first-team defense for much of the practice was fourth-year player Damar Hamlin, who had spent much of 2023 as a healthy scratch. Hamlin was ahead of both veteran Mike Edwards and rookie second-round pick Cole Bishop, who worked together on the second team. Beane mentioned that Hamlin came back hungry to win a starting job, so the first-day work was a likely reward for his spring performances. The Bills often rotate their up-in-the-air positions day by day on defense, so we’ll have to see if Hamlin with the first-team sticks over the next few days.
As for Bishop, who, given his draft status, was expected to push for the starting job, it seems he has his work cut out for him. Coach Sean McDermott mentioned his belief that safety is one of the three most difficult positions to learn as a young player. And then when asked about Bishop, McDermott made a comment about players needing to be in shape.
“He’s got to come out and get off to a good start,” McDermott said. “We mentioned when we left to the whole team of being in the best shape that you’ve ever been in, because that’s really the start. If you don’t come into camp in shape, things happen, you’re not available, then you can’t do anything.”
Bishop did practice, but the response from the head coach can’t be ignored when figuring out early camp reps. McDermott also stopped one play before the snap to have a full-on 15-to-25-second conversation with Bishop, likely to use it as a teaching moment. So Bishop, at least for now, appears behind in the hunt for a starting job while learning on the fly.
With the starting safety position up in the air, one of the most common questions about the 2024 season is whether longtime Bills starter Micah Hyde will return for one more season. Hyde was openly mulling retirement during locker room cleanout, but there has yet to be a resolution. When asked for an update Wednesday, Beane said nothing had really changed from where they were in the spring with Hyde, but did add that the safety is “staying ready” in the event of a return to football. Hyde is ultra-competitive, and each day his decision lingers as football season nears, you have to wonder if he wants to play one final year. He could always use the popular option among veteran free agents of skipping camp entirely and signing a week or two before the regular season. But as of now, there doesn’t seem to be an immediate conclusion to a question that has persisted all offseason.
Matt Milano gets nearly a full workload on Day 1
As the team’s offseason workouts concluded this spring, one massive step forward was star linebacker Matt Milano working into practice for the first time since his season-ending leg injury early in 2023. And Milano took that a step further during the team’s debut practice in Pittsford, taking nearly a full share of first-team reps in team drills next to Terrel Bernard. The Bills said they are going to have a plan so Milano doesn’t put too much on his plate too soon, and there may even be some reps off, or whole practices off. But Milano is massively ahead of players like Tre’Davious White in 2022 or Von Miller in 2023 at this point in camp. As long as there are no setbacks, the Bills should have one of their best defenders to begin the year.
(Top photo of Josh Allen: Shawn Dowd / USA Today)