NFL Power Rankings: Post-free agency
By John Buhler
Buffalo Bills
AFC, East
As with the Colts, it’s hard to decide what type of team the Buffalo Bills will be in 2017. While they still have the same general manager in Doug Whaley, Buffalo will have its fourth head coach in six years after hiring former Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott.
Though the Bills have lost a few big names in free agency like cornerback Stephon Gilmore to the New England Patriots and Robert Woods to the Los Angeles Rams, Whaley and McDermott have made a few well-calculated moves this offseason.
Buffalo’s biggest splurge was on signing safety Micah Hyde away from the Green Bay Pacers. McDermott is a former safety himself, so clearly that was a position he felt he needed to get right during his first year on the job.
Adding a pair of fullbacks in Patrick DiMarco and Mike Tolbert is a bit unorthodox, but are two of the best in football at what they do. Buffalo already has a strong running game with tailback LeSean McCoy and thankfully the return of dual-threat quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
Bringing back Lorenzo Alexander as a pass rusher makes sense. So does upgrading at kicker with Steven Hauschka. However, Buffalo has the longest active playoff drought in the NFL for a reason. It may end this season or it may continue for an 18th straight season.