Andrew Buller-Russ
Twelve NFL teams have never won a Super Bowl. The Buffalo Bills are one of four teams to have made an appearance, but never actually won one. Is this the year that changes?
The Bills are on a shortlist of Super Bowl favorites, especially thanks to the presence of the NFL’s reigning MVP Josh Allen, who won’t be slowing down any time soon. While some thought the Bills’ receiving corps would be their biggest downfall last season, Buffalo’s offense still ranked second in scoring.
Yet, they still came up short of the ultimate goal, which means it’s time to ask, what do the Bills need to get over the hump? Here are three decisions they can make right now to help fuel a potential Super Bowl run later on.
Sign Brandon Scherff
Buffalo’s top priority is ensuring its face of the franchise, Josh Allen, stays as healthy as possible. To do so, the Bills will need excellent protection up front. While the offensive line has made great strides in the past few seasons, there is still room for improvement.
One area that could use some more competition is at both guard positions, where David Edwards graded 28th and former second-round pick O’Cyrus Torrence ranked 64th among 77 qualifying guards graded by Pro Football Focus. That’s not a championship-caliber grade, but there could be a solution sitting in free agency.
Our suggestion is to bring five-time Pro Bowl guard Brandon Scherff in for a workout to see how prepared he is for the upcoming season. Still just 33 years old, the former All-Pro has shown an ability to play at an elite level in the past.
While his 57.3 run block grade isn’t impressive, Scherff still performed well in pass protection, earning a 74.5 grade last season. That’s good enough for 19th-best among all guards. In other words, he could probably help the Bills at some point this season, even if it’s not as an immediate starter.
Pay James Cook Now
The Bills are playing hardball when it comes to rewarding their two-time Pro Bowl running back for his performance since arriving as a late second-round pick. Yet, it’s hard to argue that Cook hasn’t blown past expectations as the 63rd overall pick.
After appearing in 16 games as a rookie, Cook emerged as the team’s full-time starter in his second season, amassing 1,122 rushing yards and earning a Pro Bowl nod. His last season was even stronger, where Cook ran for 1,009 yards, but tallied a league-leading 16 rushing touchdowns.
Now, as Cook enters the final year of his rookie deal, he rightfully wants an extension. While some teams caution against paying running backs as they start to age, doesn’t it make more sense to work out a three or four-year agreement with the 25-year-old running back right now, rather than allow him to test the open market next offseason?
While signing a player to an extension may not lead to more wins, the Bills need to do anything and everything they can to eliminate distractions ahead of another extremely important season.
Sign Justin Simmons
Another area that has needed reinforcement in recent seasons is the secondary, whether to replace injured players or fill in for departed talent. That remains true as the 2025 season draws near.
One potential solution could be to sign two-time Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons, who is still unsigned after spending last season with the Atlanta Falcons. While he earned poor PFF grades on the Falcons’ defense, we have to remember he was also learning a new scheme, and he may just need another change of scenery.
Whether it’s as a starter or a role player, we have a feeling Simmons can help the Bills reach their goals this season.
Related: Where’s Josh Allen in Sportsnaut’s NFL QB Rankings?
