NFL training camp: Best battle to watch for each team

Buffalo Bills: Dion Dawkins vs. Jordan Mills

For the Buffalo Bills to be good in 2017, they’re going to have to do a lot things well this fall. With a new regime in town in the form of head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane via the Carolina Panthers, except there to be several changes in how the Bills build their roster.

One area that the Carolina duo may need to pump the brakes on messing with is the vaunted Bills rushing attack. With players like LeSean McCoy, Tyrod Taylor and Richie Incognito, the Bills have proven to be more than capable of moving the chains with a highly effective ground game the last few years. This would go right in line with how a defensive-minded coach in McDermott will want to win with this team.

However, there could be a slight tweak up front on the Bills’ offensive line. While Jordan Mills has manned right tackle for the last five seasons in Buffalo, the Bills did trade with with the Atlanta Falcons to draft Dion Dawkins out of Temple. Dawkins was one of the better offensive line prospects in this draft and a four-year starter for Matt Rhule for the Owls in Philadelphia.

The idea is that Dawkins will replace Mills on the edge at some point, probably this season. What makes this training camp battle so intriguing is that it will push an already solid offensive line in Buffalo to potentially new heights. If McDermott can get Buffalo’s defense to play better while keeping the running game in Buffalo intact, the Bills will again be a dark horse contender for an AFC Wild Card berth. It’s been 18 years since the Bills made the AFC Playoffs.