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State of the Bills Offense: Offensive Line

Published

2 months ago

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One of the biggest issues that needs to be addressed this offseason for the Buffalo Bills is the offensive line. While Josh Allen and the rest of the offensive skilled positions made mistakes of their own, the offensive line protection was severely lacking. The Bills need to find better depth and better starters at the right tackle and interior OL positions. With many pending free agents, important decisions need to be made.

Tackles

Bills OT Depth Chart

Dion Dawkins: 2025

Spencer Brown: 2025

David Quessenberry: FA

Tommy Doyle: 2025

According to Pro Football Focus, Dawkins ranked the highest of the Bills tackles, but with a very average score (73.5). As for Brown (51.4), Quessenberry (59.3), and Doyle (51.4), their rankings fell incredibly short, sitting at the bottom tier for their position. While Brown and Doyle are still young players (and Doyle will return from a torn ACL), we will need to see a big step forward in terms of development from both players as they prepare for their third season.

FA David Quessenberry may not be so lucky. Mostly a reserve for the Bills this year, he played just under 400 offensive snaps. Quessenberry was worse in run blocking than pass blocking, and the thought of the Bills re-signing a 32-year old backup lineman at this point seems a bit silly.

Truly, he does have an incredible story. From undergoing three years of intense chemotherapy to breaking the hospital bell and making his NFL return, Quessenberry is undoubtedly a dedicated player. However, the Bills will not be making their decisions off of this. As the coaching staff will be looking to get younger and deeper up front, we should start preparing to say goodbye to their old right tackle.

Interior Offensive Linemen

Bills Interior OL Depth Chart

Mitch Morse: 2025

Ryan Bates: 2026

Rodger Saffold: FA

Greg Van Roten: FA

Ike Boettger: FA

Bobby Hart: FA

Mitch Morse (61.4) and Ryan Bates (61.8) sit amongst the best of the worst, ranking similar to Dawkins in the middle of the pack for their position. It is safe to say Bills GM Brandon Beane will hold onto them for at least another season, but the others may not be so safe.

Like Spencer Brown and the other Buffalo Bills tackles, Rodger Saffold ranked among the worst of his position (43.7). As a free agent, it is unlikely that we will see him return. The same goes for Van Roten (57.6), Boettger (62.8), and Hart (52.0). With below average rankings and impact on the offensive line, we can look for the Bills coaching staff to make major changes here.

Still Searching for Answers

While Morse was voted to the 2023 NFL Pro Bowl and Dawkins and Saffold were added as replacements, we are still searching for answers from Buffalo Bills OL coach Aaron Kromer.

Our expectations of Kromer heading into the 2022-2023 season were much higher than the actual results. Buffalo had the best rushing offense when Kromer was the OL coach here in 2016, and the 55-year old received a ton of praise from former and current players.

While the topic of the Bills coaching staff is an entirely different conversation, we can expect to see the team trying to solve these issues in the upcoming weeks.

Anyways, stay safe, stay warm, and #FlyEaglesFly?

Featured Image: Bryan M Bennett/Getty Images

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