Josh Allen, the quarterback, is by far the Buffalo Bills’ most under pressure heading into the 2024 NFL
season. To be honest, you could probably say that about the quarterbacks on most teams, but for Allen,
things have changed this season. The franchise signal-caller for the Bills is under much more pressure
now, and his response will define his legacy.
The Bills have done an excellent job of sustaining Josh Allen on the roster since selecting him with the
seventh overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. In an effort to support his quarterback, general manager
Brandon Beane has built an experienced offensive line and acquired Stefon Diggs.
These actions have paid off for Allen, who has become one of the NFL’s top signal-callers throughout the
course of his six-year career after staring at Wyoming. Allen is the only quarterback who has achieved
more success than Patrick Mahomes and possibly Joe Burrow in terms of both individual and team
performance.
The Bills have qualified for the playoffs five out of the last six seasons and have won four straight AFC
East championships. Allen has five postseason victories and a regular season record of 63-30 as a
starter.
For the last six seasons, Allen has either been on his rookie contract or in the early, team-friendly days of
his big contract extension, which made it possible to surround him with a solid, veteran team. According
to Spotrac, his cap hits over the previous three seasons were $10.2 million, $16.3 million, and $18.6
million. That amount rises to $30.3 million this year, and by 2025, it is expected to have doubled.
This is essentially a below-market deal in the NFL, and given Allen’s past success, it’s well worth the
money. That being said, when a team acquires a star veteran quarterback on a top-tier extension from a
young quarterback on a rookie contract, the nature of pro football team development is drastically
altered.
Thanks to the mechanics of the deal and some clever NFL bookkeeping, Beane has done a fair job of
keeping the roster intact since Allen signed his extension three offseasons ago. But eventually, the bill is
due, just like with other borrowed money.
This offseason, the Bills’ salary cap reached a breaking point.
Diggs was moved by Buffalo, who also allowed fellow wide receiver Gabe Davis to enter free agency and
allowed seasoned players such Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde, the safeties, and center Mitch Morse are
out. Therefore, the Bills’ offensive line this season will consist of a natural guard (Connor McGovern) or
rookie (Sedrick Van Pran-Granger) playing center, a motley crew of inexperienced youth, and mediocre
(at best) veterans at receiver.
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