After trading away Stefon Diggs, the Buffalo Bills had to know they would potentially have significant receiver problems this season. I think we may have underestimated the extent of those issues.
According to Matt Parino of Syracuse.com, resident NFL journeyman/workout warrior Chase Claypool has been Buffalo’s most consistent outside playmaker during its organized team activities. Not second-round pick Keon Coleman. Not promising slot receiver Khalil Shakir. Not established solid veteran Curtis Samuel.
No, no. It’s been Claypool, who has played for four NFL teams over the last two years and has caught a grand total of 22 passes in his last 19 appearances.
My goodness. If you thought Josh Allen was in trouble before, you were probably somehow overestimating his supporting cast:
"Chase Claypool has been the Bills’ most consistent WR during OTAs and is setting the stage for what should be a run at the 53-man roster”, per @MattParrino
(via @32BeatWriters) pic.twitter.com/3chnA5lK7x
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) June 5, 2024
Look, these are just practices in shorts, and I’m sure the Bills aren’t doing anything too groundbreaking scheme-wise. They would be silly to panic in early June when some of their younger playmakers, like Coleman and Shakir, still have plenty of time to emerge.
But the mere idea that Claypool — someone who hasn’t contributed well to a winning program in nearly half a decade — is the guy shining when the lights are the dimmest is an ominous sign for the Bills’ offense. (Never mind that the idea of Claypool has always been more enticing than the actual on-field product he delivers.) This time of year should be precisely when the young Buffalo building blocks are showing off what they could do before they hit an inevitable wall later in the summer.
Josh Allen is an MVP-caliber quarterback who can carry the Bills to 11-12 regular-season wins by himself. He is, indeed, that special. There’s no denying it.
Judging from practice reports like this, the 2024 NFL season might have to be Allen’s most Herculean task yet.
