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Early Standouts at 2024 Buffalo Bills Training Camp

The Buffalo Bills are looking for players to step up after several high-profile offseason exits. Which players are responding early in camp?

It’s been a relatively quiet start to training camp for the Buffalo Bills. Given the widespread roster overhaul the franchise endured during the offseason, that’s probably a good thing.

The Bills avoided the worst-case scenario: an error-ridden start to camp that would have raised questions about whether their window as a Super Bowl contender was closing. Instead, the early signs suggest Josh Allen and Co. are still a threat despite the roster changes.

A few players have earned a greater share of the spotlight than others over the past few days. In every case, it’s a promising sign for Buffalo as the 2024 NFL season draws closer.

2024 Buffalo Bills Training Camp — Early Standouts

Ed Oliver (DT)

Oliver has enjoyed some terrific stretches throughout his career. Usually three-to-five game runs where he looks like one of the league’s top defensive tackles. He’s been unable to maintain that elite level of play for an entire season, though.

The 2019 first-round pick is coming off a 2023 campaign where he tallied 51 total tackles, 9.5 sacks, and an interception across 16 games. It was his most complete season to date, but he still only managed a modest 67.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.

If the Bills defense is going to rank near the top of the NFL, they need a truly dominant season from the tackle. So far in camp, he looks ready for the challenge.

Oliver faced a lot of double teams last year while DaQuan Jones was out with an injury, which impacted his production. Not only is Jones back, but Buffalo added to its tackle depth with the additions of Austin Johnson and rookie DeWayne Carter. That should help in his quest for consistency.

It’s time for Oliver to earn his first All-Pro and/or Pro Bowl selection.

Matt Milano (LB)

Milano’s placement on this list is relative to expectations. He’s not yet back to peak form after being limited to five games last year before suffering a season-ending leg injury. On the flip side, he looks well on pace to reach full speed before the Bills kick off Week 1.

Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott preached caution with the star linebacker coming into camp.

“As we go through camp, some guys will be managed, Milano being one of them, just to name one of them,” McDermott told reporters this week. “There will be some guys that get days [off] as we go, but we’ll just take it one day at a time right now.”

While those off days may come eventually, the 29-year-old Boston College product has so far been heavily involved and looked fluid in his movements. That’s key since his sideline-to-sideline ability is the hallmark of his playmaking ability.

A healthy season from Milano and fellow starting linebacker Terrel Bernard would go a long way to answer a lot of the Bills’ defensive questions.

Wide Receiver Room

The Bills’ biggest concern entering camp has become one of the team’s biggest bright spots. The wide receivers have been making a ton of plays. It’s helping the offseason departures of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis fade away in the rear-view mirror.

Not only have all three of the projected starters—Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel, and rookie Keon Coleman—been making players, but a couple of the receivers trying to earn depth roles have also been standing out early. The latter group is led by Mack Hollins and Justin Shorter.

In addition, Shakir, Samuel, and Coleman have all been moving around the formation. Playing both on the boundary and in the slot. That’s why the summer discussion about who would fill each role was silly. It was never going to be a straight replacement for Diggs and Davis. Expect a rotation with plenty of moving around to create an edge.

Although it’s too early in camp to declare the Bills receiver situation a success, the first set of returns is bullish for the offense. If that continues once the preseason gets underway, it may be time to buy low on Buffalo wideouts in fantasy football drafts.

Main Photo: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Tim Daniels

Tim Daniels

Tim Daniels is a lifelong sports fan who spent much of his youth playing soccer. He transitioned to writing in college and hasn't looked back. He spent 11 years on Bleacher Report's Breaking News Team and helped Topps launch its Ripped collecting website.

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