2016 NFL offseason: Buffalo Bills needs

Retaining offensive contributors, finessing the defense, and drafting for depth and developmental prospects should be key offseason strategies for Buffalo Bills.

The naming of Rex Ryan as the new head coach of the Buffalo Bills a year ago caught many by surprise. Just a couple of weeks earlier Ryan had gotten the ax from Woody Johnson after posting three straight losing seasons in New York, and the feeling around some NFL circles was that perhaps it was time for Ryan to return to his roots as a defensive coordinator.

Fortunately for him, though, the league’s newest owners had other plans, especially with the unexpected coaching vacancy created by Doug Marrone’s surprise opt-out. And so it was that Ryan landed on his feet quicker than anyone could have possibly predicted, and found himself trading in black sweater vests and a green Mark Sanchez jersey tattoo for giant personalized pizzas and a blue (Colton Schmidt?) jersey tattoo.

There’s nothing that kills a new head coach’s honeymoon phase faster than mediocrity, though, and that’s exactly what Bills fans got in the first year with Rex. Inheriting a defense that ranked top five in both yards and points allowed in 2014, the logical expectation was for that unit to contend as the NFL’s finest now that defensive guru Ryan was at the controls.

But Buffalo’s defense actually regressed last season, finishing a paltry 19th in yards allowed and 15th in points allowed. What was considered to be one of the best defensive lines on paper struggled to stop the run all year. Even more alarming, the Bills ranked second to last in total sacks this season, despite trotting out a lineup that featured Mario Williams, Marcell Dareus, and Jerry Hughes.

Considering the high talent level on defense, not to mention the addition of LeSean McCoy and the emergence of Tyrod Taylor as a capable starting quarterback, it’s fair to be disappointed with the team’s final record of 8-8. Bills owner Terry Pegula reportedly gave both Ryan and GM Doug Whaley an ultimatum last month: make the playoffs in 2016 or face unemployment. It’s a harsh decree considering the Bills own the longest active postseason drought in professional sports, but clearly another .500 season isn’t going to cut it in Buffalo.

If the Bills want any chance of ending that drought next year, they need to start now by addressing certain areas during the offseason. There’s plenty of potential on both sides of the ball, but Whaley would be wise to add depth at certain positions on the roster through the draft. The team also needs to lock up several important players who are free agents, or replace them with quality finds from other teams if necessary.

Next: Players that might leave in free agency