No. 3: The Whole Isn’t Exactly Greater Than the Sum of the Parts

It’s reasonable to assume the Bills offensive line regressed from last season. That’s what Pro Football Focus thought, moving this unit down to No. 29 overall in the league entering 2018 — down from seventh to close out last season.

That’s quite the drop.

Here’s what PFF had to say about the unit:

The Bills have about as much to replace talent-wise as any offensive line in the NFL. That’s what happens when you lose your top-three starters (LT Cordy Glenn, LG Richie Incognito, C Eric Wood) along your offensive line (although Glenn only played 275 snaps this past year). Outside of rookie Dion Dawkins – who performed admirably with a 74.5 overall grade as a rookie – there’s not much room for ‘upside’ among their potential starters.

Aside from Dion Dawkins and Russell Bodine, key components of Buffalo’s O-line players have been perennial backups and reserves. That was the case with Vladimir Ducasse before jumping into a starting fray last season, who knocked John Miller into a backup role last season.

Right tackle Jordan Mills, a player Buffalo thrust into a starting job two years ago, might need to be upgraded at some point in the not-too-distant future.

The point being is the Bills are yet to figure out a serviceable group of linemen capable of effectively protecting the quarterback and establishing the run game to its full potential. And if Sean McDermott elects to hand his high-profile rookie, Josh Allen, the starting job in 2018, it could create a swath of massive problems.

Brian Galliford of Buffalo Rumblings explained the issues:

If the Bills’ offensive line continues to perform the way it has in its last two preseason games, whichever player lines up under center is going to take a beating. No amount of crafty game planning can change that. This is a unit that, even optimistically, doesn’t look like it will be playing well in two weeks. You have to protect your investment; Allen shouldn’t be put under center until his protection situation is significantly better.

Granted, Buffalo’s offensive line is currently dealing with an injury to its starting left tackle, Dion Dawkins. They’re also rotating several players around at the left guard, center, and right guard spots on each successive offensive series, seemingly desperately attempting to find some combination of players that can competently block. It isn’t working yet.

Former Houston Texans quarterback David Carr might be the most classic of examples of a young prospect, whose development was completely derailed by a poor offensive line.

Based off the projections, that’s the possibility Buffalo is facing with Allen. And considering how important the young quarterback is to the Bills’ long-term future, it would be wise to solve the O-line issues as soon as possible.

In the meantime, this unit will be problematic.