Bills 'Shiny New Toys' Noted As ESPN Evaluates Major Moves On Defense
With a league MVP at quarterback, a veteran offensive line, and a respected coaching staff, the Buffalo Bills believe they have all they need to compete for a Super Bowl.
Advertisement
There is still one central question for the defending AFC East champions, though.
Can the Bills' defense finally match up well against the conference's best teams?
Buffalo's defense has undergone a major transformation over the last few seasons. They have said goodbye to aging veterans and replaced them with younger talent. During the 2025 offseason, the Bills added key veterans along the defensive line and secondary to help bolster their young group.
While appearing on One Bills Live this week, ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler commended the organization for their defensive improvements this offseason.
Advertisement
Especially with how dominant their offense should be.
"It's fun to get the shiny new toy on offense, but, really, when you dig down into it, this is a team that needed to replenish on defense," Fowler said. "From just a depth standpoint, an explosion standpoint, maybe a pass rush explosion standpoint, players with an edge, getting some new ideas in there, some new life."
Free agent additions like Michael Hoecht and Joey Bosa should complement a defensive-heavy draft class led by Deone Walker and Maxwell Hairston.
Will it be enough to get the Bills over the hump in the AFC?
That question remains unanswered at this moment. Buffalo is certainly younger than in recent years on the defensive side, and if they can play at a high level, they should be able to match up nicely against the Kansas City Chiefs or Baltimore Ravens.
Advertisement
Any inconsistencies, though, and the Bills will be in a challenging situation this season on the defensive end.
Related: Bills Fans All Saying Same Thing About Josh Allen And Dalton Kincaid
Related: Bills' Super Bowl Pressure Meter Reading High In 2025
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
10 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Dallas takes on Minnesota United in Western Conference action
Minnesota United FC (9-4-7, fourth in the Western Conference) vs. FC Dallas (5-8-6, 12th in the Western Conference) Frisco, Texas; Friday, 8:45 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Minnesota United FC +136, FC Dallas +179, Draw +249; over/under is 2.5 goals BOTTOM LINE: Dallas hosts Minnesota United in a conference matchup. Dallas is 4-7-3 against Western Conference opponents. Petar Musa leads the 10th-ranked scoring team in the Western Conference with seven. Dallas has scored 26 goals. United is 6-4-5 against Western Conference opponents. United ranks fifth in the Western Conference with 33 goals led by Tanitoluwa Oluwatimikhin Oluwaseyi with eight. The teams meet Friday for the second time this season. The last meeting finished tied 0-0. TOP PERFORMERS: Musa has seven goals and three assists for Dallas. Anderson Julio has scored three goals over the last 10 games. Oluwatimikhin Oluwaseyi has eight goals and four assists for United. Bongokuhle Hlongwane has three goals and one assist over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Dallas: 2-5-3, averaging 1.6 goals, 4.3 shots on goal and 3.6 corner kicks per game while allowing 2.4 goals per game. United: 5-2-3, averaging 2.1 goals, 4.1 shots on goal and 3.6 corner kicks per game while allowing 1.3 goals per game. NOT EXPECTED TO PLAY: Dallas: Kaick da Silva (injured), Osaze Urhoghide (injured), Paxton Pomykal (injured), Anderson Julio (injured), Sebastien Ibeagha (injured). United: Tanitoluwa Oluwatimikhin Oluwaseyi (injured), Morris Duggan (injured), Dayne St. Clair (injured), Joseph Yeramid Rosales Erazo (injured), Carlos Harvey (injured). ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Associated Press
10 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Colorado Rapids host Sporting Kansas City in Western Conference action
Sporting Kansas City (5-10-5, 13th in the Western Conference) vs. Colorado Rapids (7-8-5, eighth in the Western Conference) Commerce City, Colorado; Friday, 9:30 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Colorado -114, Sporting Kansas City +265, Draw +284; over/under is 2.5 goals BOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Rapids and Sporting Kansas City meet in Western Conference action. The Rapids are 6-6-4 in Western Conference play. The Rapids rank ninth in the Western Conference drawing 91 corner kicks, averaging 4.6 per game. Sporting KC is 4-8-4 against Western Conference opponents. Dejan Joveljic leads the sixth-ranked scoring team in the Western Conference with 11 goals. Sporting KC has scored 31. Friday's game is the first meeting between these teams this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Djordje Mihailovic has scored eight goals and added two assists for the Rapids. Theodore Ku-DiPietro has one goal and two assists over the past 10 games. Joveljic has scored 11 goals with two assists for Sporting KC. Santiago Munoz has two goals and one assist over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Rapids: 3-6-1, averaging 0.9 goals, 3.2 shots on goal and 4.2 corner kicks per game while allowing 1.4 goals per game. Sporting KC: 3-3-4, averaging 1.5 goals, 3.3 shots on goal and 3.8 corner kicks per game while allowing 1.6 goals per game. NOT EXPECTED TO PLAY: Rapids: Alex Harris (injured), Wayne Frederick (injured), Ali Fadal (injured), Cole Bassett (injured), Djordje Mihailovic (injured), Zack Steffen (injured). Sporting KC: Zorhan Bassong (injured), Robert Voloder (injured), Dany Rosero (injured), Joaquin Fernandez (injured), Nemanja Radoja (injured). ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Associated Press
10 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Vancouver Whitecaps play the LA Galaxy after shutout win
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (11-3-5, second in the Western Conference) vs. LA Galaxy (1-13-6, 16th in the Western Conference) Carson, California; Friday, 10:30 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Vancouver +155, Los Angeles +156, Draw +249; over/under is 2.5 goals BOTTOM LINE: A game after shutting out Los Angeles FC 1-0, the Vancouver Whitecaps visit the LA Galaxy. The Galaxy are 1-10-6 in Western Conference games. The Galaxy have a -23 goal differential, scoring 19 goals while conceding 42. The Whitecaps are 10-1-4 in Western Conference games. The Whitecaps rank seventh in the MLS with 35 goals led by Brian White with 10. Friday's game is the second time these teams meet this season. The Whitecaps won the last meeting 2-1. TOP PERFORMERS: Marco Reus has scored four goals with five assists for the Galaxy. Gabriel Pec has two goals and one assist over the last 10 games. White has 10 goals for the Whitecaps. Pedro Vite has three goals over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Galaxy: 1-6-3, averaging 1.1 goals, 4.2 shots on goal and 5.9 corner kicks per game while allowing 2.2 goals per game. Whitecaps: 5-2-3, averaging 1.8 goals, 4.1 shots on goal and 5.4 corner kicks per game while allowing 1.3 goals per game. NOT EXPECTED TO PLAY: Galaxy: None listed. Whitecaps: Giuseppe Bovalina (injured), Ali Ahmed (injured), Sebastian Berhalter (injured), Jayden Nelson (injured), Brian White (injured), Sam Adekugbe (injured), Ryan Gauld (injured). ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
