The Bills Like Roster Will Likely Look a Lot Different in 2024

The Buffalo Bills head into their week 13 bye week with uncertainty surrounding a potential playoff berth.

The Bills dropped to 6-6 after a crushing overtime loss to the Philadelphia Eagles this past Sunday. It's a game that the Bills were clearly the better team, playing great on offense for the duration of the game, with a great first half on defense. The Eagles played great on offense in the second half but let Josh Allen make plays all game long.

Unfortunately, the Bills defense wilted in the second half and overtime, which led to the 37-34 loss. The game has sparked debate on whether or not head coach Sean McDermott should stay in Buffalo after the season, and where to go from here (how to stop the troubling trend of devastating losses the Bills should have won).

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The Bills will have to win their remaining five games to assure themselves a playoff spot, although they have a good to decent chance with a 4-1 record to finish the season, especially if that one loss is against the Dallas Cowboys and not against one of the four remaining AFC opponents.

That's a lot of assuming. The Bills offense looks like they're all the way back, but the injuries on defense and the way that they have blown games, it's hard for any optimism from fans.

It's okay to look ahead to the 2024 season. What will happen this March and April? When the new league year begins, which will bring free agency and the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Bills will likely look a lot different, especially on defense.

Buffalo has over 20 pending free agents this upcoming March. Here are some of the names who could leave.

• Micah Hyde
• Gabe Davis
• Dane Jackson
• Jordan Phillips
• AJ Epenesa
• Shaq Lawson
• Tim Settle
• Leonard Floyd
• Taylor Rapp
• Linval Joseph
• Tyler Matakevich
• Poona Ford
• Trent Sherfield
• Quintin Morris
• Tyrel Dodson
• A.J. Klein
• Kyle Allen
• Ty Johnson

The Bills will start to pay Josh Allen a lot more starting next year, as his cap hit goes up to $47 million. They still are paying the likes of Stefon Diggs, Dion Dawkins, Matt Milano and Tre'Davious White.

Most of the names on that pending free agent list will likely be gone. It's hard to see Hyde and Davis continuing on the roster.

The defense will see a big retooling. Hyde and Poyer are not the players they were four years ago. Even two years ago. Tre White is coming off his second major leg injury in two years. Milano is seven years into his career. The defensive core will change. Fans need to be prepared for it.

That does not mean the team will all of a sudden go 5-12 and be a mediocre roster. The offense should still excel, especially if they add a first or second round wide receiver to not only help Allen and Diggs, but be the eventual WR1 once Diggs leaves. They still have a much improved offensive line and second-year tight end, Dalton Kincaid.

It's okay to try and improve the offense and take a step back on defense. The changes will be noticeable but it's not as bad as it appears.