According to many national pundits, the 2022 Super Bowl favorite Buffalo Bills are facing tremendous pressure this season after falling short in the playoffs to Cincinnati. While no longer the clear favorites to get to the big dance, some speculate that the Bills could be flying a bit under the radar this year, as many outlets don’t even have them pegged to win their division again.
While many members of the Mafia find a smaller target to be a good thing, there is a chance that it grows once we get into the season. In order for that to happen, however, some players are going to have to show up and ball out.
Notable veterans and cornerstones of the roster, such as Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs, and Von Miller, are, of course, expected to do just that. If they are truly going to get over the hump, though, the Bills will need a few lesser-known names to break out this season.
Khalil Shakir
Bills WR Khalil Shakir (10) – Getty Images
Taken in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Khalil Shakir was expected to provide depth in Buffalo, and he certainly has done that. Going into last year, many thought Gabriel Davis would take a major step forward, cementing himself as the second WR option for Quarterback Josh Allen, particularly considering his break out game in the divisional round against the Chiefs.
Unfortunately, Davis, who played much of the year through an ankle injury, failed to make the leap last year, leaving the wide receiver options behind Diggs rather questionable. The lack of production from not only Davis but also Isaiah McKenzie, who was expected to fill in at the slot position in lieu of Cole Beasley, opened the door for Shakir to establish himself within the offense.
Throughout the year, Shakir increased his production, closing out the season with a total of 10 receptions for 161 yards and a touchdown. Considering that he only played in a handful of games late in the year, Shakir has shown that he is a willing receiver with reliable hands.
And since Diggs currently remains the lone standout pass catcher on the roster, it’s going to take a break out season from one of their other receivers to get the job done. I look for Shakir to be that guy this season.
Kaiir Elam
Bills CB Kaiir Elam (24) – Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images
Unlike Shakir, Kaiir Elam did not have to sweat for long on Draft night in 2022, as he was selected at number 23 overall by the Bills in the first round. The Florida CB also did not have to wait nearly as long to see playing time with the Bills’ best corner, Tre White, nursing an ACL injury most of the year. Still, the job was not simply handed to Elam.
With serious depth at the position, Elam had to work last season to stand out among the likes of Christian Benford and Dane Jackson. Elam secured two interceptions, had four passes defended, and 41 total tackles last year, which are not incredible stats, but also not the worst for a rookie with limited reps.
Nevertheless, Elam is going to need a serious break out year to solidify himself as the second cornerback opposite a now fully-healthy White. There is still plenty of competition for the position, and McDermott will certainly make him work for it. Barring any setbacks, however, I think it’s fair to expect a break out season from Elam, or maybe I’m just hoping to see the value we should expect from a first-rounder.
James Cook
Bills RB James Cook (28) – Joshua Bessex/Getty Images
While I would rather not look for break out seasons from all second-year guys, and there are a lot of other players who could use a big year (Ed Oliver and Spencer Brown, to name a couple), I have to go with RB James Cook here to round out this list. As the younger brother of Dalvin Cook, James has a lot on his shoulders to live up to the family name.
Albeit, Buffalo has made some serious moves at the running back position this offseason, sending Devin “Motor” Singletary to the Texans and picking up downhill running veterans Damien Harris and Latavius Murray. The team also still has Nyheim Hines as well, and this group shows that the team is looking to beef up their run game, which has been lacking for several years.
At this point, it is looking fairly obvious that Cook is primed to take on the RB1 role, and the Bills need to show serious improvement in that area this year. As I mentioned earlier, the Bills have some pressure on them this season, and perhaps few more are feeling it than Cook. Whether or not he is up for the challenge remains to be seen, but it’s fair to say that Cook is certainly one player to watch for a break out year in 2023.
