Bills GM Brandon Beane and HC Sean McDermott - si.com
On Thursday, February 6, at the 2024 NFL Honors, Josh Allen was named the league’s MVP. He squeaked out Lamar Jackson in one of the tightest votes in award history.
Allen became the third Buffalo Bill to win the award since Thurman Thomas in 1991 and OJ Simpson in 1973.
He also became the first Bills quarterback to win MVP, a feat even Hall of Famer Jim Kelly never accomplished.
In his acceptance speech, Allen mentioned that winning MVP is more than just a single-player award. It’s also about the teammates who helped elevate him to make 2024 a success.
“I know this is an individual award and it says Most Valuable Player on it, but I think it’s derived from team success and I love my team,” Allen said. “So with that being said, be good, do good, God bless and go Bills.”
That shows that the team worked very hard together to get where they did, and the management’s moves made a huge difference to the team.
What Made 2024 a Success in the Tackle Position
- Resigning bookend tackles Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown
“You already schknnnow” why the Bills had to extend these two beasts of humankind. Continuity on your offensive line is the key to offensive success.
Dion Dawkins was already a multi-year Pro Bowl player and was set to become a free agent in 2024.
Nevertheless, Brandon Beane made sure Dawkins would stay. He signed him to a three-year, $60.5 million deal and will remain under contract until 2027.
Additionally, Spencer Brown improved significantly in 2023, so there was no choice but to get his deal done.
After Dawkins received his payday, saving $7 million in cap space, Brown received his four-year extension worth $72 million.
The Bills successfully signed their star tackles to keep the left and right sides of the O-line together. In addition, they signed them to inexpensive deals under the market value for their respective positions.
What Made 2024 a Success in Trades
2. Dealing Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans
This was a bittersweet moment during the Bills’ 2024 off-season. After four years of steady production and suspense from star wide receiver Stefon Diggs, the drama king in him meant it was time to move on.
During his time in Buffalo, Diggs reeled in 445 catches for 5,372 yards and 37 TDs. This was good enough to mark him third on the all-time career franchise record behind Andre Reed and Eric Moulds.
Together, he and Allen became the most dangerous QB-receiver dual in the league. He just wore out his welcome.
The Bills and the Houston Texans agreed to a trade that would send the talented but wild-child receiver to Houston. Buffalo would receive a second-round pick in 2025.
While folks thought that was crazy, let’s go back in time to understand why this move was made.
In the 2006 NFL offseason, Bills’ WR Moulds was disgruntled with the team and the environment they created.
The Bills in January hired Marv Levy as general manager and now the late Dick Juron as head coach.
Keep in mind also that Moulds was 32 years old and looking past his prime. Suddenly, the Bills have traded Moulds to guess who, the Houston Texans.
They only received a fifth-round pick in 2006 for Moulds, and everybody in Buffalo thought that wasn’t enough. Well, that fifth-round pick was none other than Kyle Williams.
He would go on to play his entire career with the Bills during the playoff drought.
So now, moving forward to this move. Fans initially complained that a 2nd round pick in 2025 for Diggs wasn’t enough, but taking the $31 million dead cap hit to get him off our hands was worth it.
Additionally, knowing how the Bills have drafted under Beane, I’m sure this pick will end up being a guy who plays all of his career with the Bills.
(OC) Joe Brady’s Philosophy
3. Enforcing the Everybody Eats
It’s out with the me and in with the “WE.” One premier player who took away from the other receivers on the team because he wanted the ball too much has gone.
Entered a new phase coined “Everybody Eats” by offensive coordinator Joe Brady. In this offense, everybody earned an opportunity to catch passes from Allen and make the key plays necessary to help the team win games.
This mentality worked, as multiple receivers caught passes from Allen during the regular season, ensuring that no one was left out of this offense.
While their run came to an unfortunate end in the AFC Championship game, this mentality helped Allen finally win league MVP at the 2024 NFL Honors.
What Made 2024 a Success – WR/RB
4. Welcoming Mack Hollins
The most impactful free agent signing by the Bills had to be none other than Mack Hollins. “The Barefoot Wonder,” as Bills play-play announcer Chris Brown referred to him.
Hollins turned heads this season, projecting from being a special teams guy to one of Allen’s tandem targets alongside Khalil Shakir.
The two teamed up during the regular season. Hollins, however, played 853 snaps to Shakir’s 723. Hopefully, they can make their cap space work so Hollins can earn a second contract.
5. Drafting Rookie Running Back Ray Davis
It’s no secret James Cook is developing into a top-five running back in the league. It’s also no joke that the same running back position has become more devalued.
Hence, the Bills gambled in the fourth round by taking rookie running back Ray Davis out of Kentucky.
Davis is a bruising running back who can also catch it out of the backfield.
When Bills Mafia heard his story of growing up homeless as a child and persevering into a grad senior and NFL draft pick, they were impressed with the work ethic of today’s generation.
He also had the play to back it up, as he posted 442 yards on 113 carries in a backup role during his rookie year.
With Ty Johnson’s age, the Bills could have a young, dynamic one-two punch with Cook and Davis for years.
Replacing Center
6. Plugging in Connor McGovern after releasing Mitch Morse
After five productive seasons of snapping the ball to Allen, it was time to move on to another salary cap-saving move.
The Bills let Mitch Morse walk and sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who struggled with a (4-13) record.
This move made sense. Connor McGovern was already on the roster at guard and has a big frame at 6’5″, 318 lbs, so moving him to center would give the Bills a big and nasty presence in the middle of their line.
“Connor is at a leadership position on our offensive line,” McDermott said, “He’s the one that sets the table the call the huddle, to really start the next play. I think he’s done a nice job to this point. He’s got very good energy on a daily basis, which is important for us. And he seems very aligned with (offensive line) coach Aaron Kromer and what they want to get done up front.”
McGovern made the O-line even better than in 2023. Now the Bills are looking at all starting five linemen returning for 2025.
