The Buffalo Bills wrap up their offseason program with a three-day mandatory minicamp beginning Tuesday. It’s another chance for players on the roster fringe to make a statement before training camp kicks off in July.
Although the Bills enter the 2024 season as the defending AFC East division champions for the fourth straight year, the team’s roster is in flux after several high-profile departures. The list includes Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, and Tre’Davious White.
Replacing those stars won’t be easy. It’ll take both internal improvement and quick acclimation by Buffalo’s draft and free-agent additions. That process makes the June minicamp more important than it’s been for the franchise in years.
Bills Players To Watch At Mandatory Minicamp
WR Chase Claypool
By all accounts, Claypool was one of the best players on the field for the Bills throughout organized team activities (OTAs). Head coach Sean McDermott praised the 25-year-old wide receiver’s dedication in his early days with the organization.
“[Claypool’s] very focused, he’s working extremely hard day in and day out,” McDermott told reporters in late May. “… Very impressed with his day-to-day approach, a true pro, high character, smart player, and he’s been a good addition to our team.”
One of the few bright spots from the #Bills offense at Tuesday’s OTAs came on a completed deep ball from Mitch Trubisky to Chase Claypool for about a 50-yard TD. Claypool caught the ball over rookie S Cole Bishop, who was in coverage. Claypool with a few catches during team work
— alex brasky (@alexbrasky) June 4, 2024
The 2020 second-round pick out of Notre Dame looked like a future Pro Bowler during an impressive rookie season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He recorded 62 catches for 873 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s never been able to match that production.
Claypool, who’s also played for the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins, admitted he hasn’t lived up to his own standard in recent years.
“I think it is tough believing the player that you are or can be, and falling short of those expectations, especially over the last two years,” the Canadian wideout said last month. “I know there are times when it can be frustrating if I’m not living up to my potential. But if it’s frustrating to the outside world, it’s even more frustrating for me. I understand where I should be.”
The Bills are working to replace Diggs, Davis, Deonte Harty, and Trent Sherfield. Khalil Shakir is the only receiver on the 2024 roster who made a catch for the team in 2023. So there are a lot of snaps and targets available. Not to mention the chance to catch passes from MVP candidate Josh Allen.
Shakir, Curtis Samuel, and rookie Keon Coleman sit atop the depth chart. Everything beyond that is up for grabs, however, and Claypool is making a strong case to earn the No. 4 receiver role based on his play during OTAs.
Claypool’s upside far surpasses the other players in the competition, led by Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Mack Hollins, but he’s severely lacked consistency in recent years. That’s why it’s crucial for him to build off the strong OTAs during minicamp.
EDGE Von Miller
You could make the argument Miller, a future Hall of Famer, was the NFL’s worst player in 2023 after returning from a torn ACL. He registered just three total tackles and zero sacks in 12 appearances. He was a complete non-factor in every game.
In most cases, players return to form in their second season after ACL surgery. It’s tougher to know whether that’ll be the case for a 35-year-old edge-rusher entering his 15th season, though. Major injuries are harder to recover from during the latter stages of a career.
Miller remains confident he can still re-emerge as an impact player.
“It’s definitely been trying, but at the end of the day all I’ve got is my optimism and my faith,” Miller said last week. “I know what I can still do and you just got to keep pushing. Whenever God says it’s over with, it’ll be over with, but I still think I’ve got a couple years left and I’m going to give it my all.”
Pass rush wins vs actual sack rates among edge defenders in 2023. Wins bake in additional context of pressures/opps pic.twitter.com/NxYs8hN5SC
— Football Insights
(@fball_insights) June 10, 2024
Yet, the Bills have quietly prepared to move on from the Denver Broncos legend. They signed Dawuane Smoot and Casey Toohill to provide defensive end depth behind starters Greg Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa. They also drafted Javon Solomon in the fifth round.
If Miller struggles during training camp, it’s possible he could get released. Cutting him wouldn’t save Buffalo much this season ($280,000), but it would open up $17.5 million for next season, per Over The Cap. That’s significant for a cap-strapped team.
Make no mistake: The Bills are a more dangerous team with a full-strength Miller. He was once a virtual lock for double-digit sacks, and rushing the passer has been an issue at times for Buffalo during its current run as a Super Bowl threat. Getting back to that level would be a massive boost to the team’s defense.
Alas, those days may be a thing of the past and the Bills might have to move on before the regular season gets underway in September.
CB Rasul Douglas
Douglas skipped the entirety of the Bills’ OTAs. It raised questions about whether he was potentially heading toward a contract holdout as he enters the final year of his previous deal.
Through the Bills three media-open sessions of OTAs that spanned each Tuesday over the last three weeks, the only player not accounted for by those of us observing was cornerback Rasul Douglas.
— Sal Capaccio
(@SalSports) June 4, 2024
Tim Graham of The Athletic reported Friday that Douglas’ absence was “not connected to any contract concerns.” Graham’s source provided no further information about why the 29-year-old cornerback wasn’t in attendance for the voluntary workouts, though.
Mandatory minicamp should bring clarity to the situation. Either the corner, who was acquired from the Green Bay Packers in an October trade, will be on the field or it’ll become clear whether his absence is excused or unexcused. The latter would result in a fine.
Douglas was outstanding for the Bills after his arrival. He tallied 29 total tackles, eight passes defended, four interceptions, two fumble recoveries, a sack and a defensive touchdown. It helped Buffalo fill the No. 1 CB void left by White’s torn Achilles.
The Bills continue to lack depth at corner. Their other two projected starters, Christian Benford on the boundary and Taron Johnson in the slot are strong, but all of the options behind the starting trio are either untested or unproven.
In turn, Douglas has leverage if he does ultimately seek a new contract before Buffalo plays the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1. For now, it doesn’t sound like his time away from the organization is pointing toward a long-term holdout.
Main Photo: Jamie Germano/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle-USA TODAY NETWORK
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