The Buffalo Bills made several changes after what was seen as a promising 2014 season when they finished 9-7. Rex Ryan was brought in to make the defense elite, but he did just the opposite. The Bills finished with an 8-8 record and dropped off in nearly every defensive category -- most notably sacks.
Now, they enter their second offseason with Ryan at the helm and have several areas in which they need to improve. These are the Bills' five biggest needs following a disappointing season.
1. Offensive tackle
One of the biggest areas for concern is the team's offensive tackle situation. Their starting left tackle, Cordy Glenn, is just 26 years old and will be a free agent, and the cap-strapped Bills may not have enough money to re-sign him. On the other side of the line, Seantrel Henderson and Cyrus Kouandjio have been inconsistent and aren't exactly viable starters going forward. If Glenn gets away, the Bills must sign or draft a solid left tackle to protect Tyrod Taylor's blindside. Buffalo also allowed the 11th-most sacks in the league in 2015.
2. Wide receiver
There's no doubt Sammy Watkins is the top receiver on the team right now, and will be in 2016, as well. But there are several question marks beyond him. Percy Harvin was ineffective this season and will be a free agent, while Robert Woods was asked to block more than he was asked to catch passes. It's clear the Bills don't have a ton of confidence in Woods going forward and could use a good route runner to keep defenses honest when defending Watkins. Additionally, Chris Hogan will be a free agent as well after playing a bigger role than some expected in 2015.
3. Linebacker
Buffalo was mediocre when defending the run, finishing 16th in the league in rushing yards allowed. The defensive line played a role in struggling to stop the run, but so did the linebackers. Nigel Bradham is set to be a free agent, and while the Bills would like to have him back, he was far from consistent. A linebacker who can run sideline to sideline would help shore up the run defense, as would a thumper in the middle. Preston Brown didn't impress enough to hold onto the starting job in 2016.
4. Defensive end
The Bills are in need of a defensive end for several reasons. The biggest reason is the situation regarding Mario Williams. He played surprisingly poor in 2015, recording just five sacks -- the second-fewest in his career. Add in the fact that he'll count for 12.92 percent of the team's salary cap with his hit of $19.9 million in 2016 and he'll likely be playing elsewhere next season. There's also plenty of displeasure and disconnect between Ryan and Williams, mainly due to the defensive scheme. Finding a replacement for Williams won't be easy, but finding a cheaper option shouldn't be difficult.
5. Safety
Aaron Williams suffered a severe neck injury in 2015 and missed most of the season. He's already come out and said he considered retiring after the injury, and there's little reason to think he won't consider it again this offseason. Bacarri Rambo played well in his place but he'll be a free agent in the coming months and has really only had one decent season as a starter. Finding a rangy safety to play over the top of Ronald Darby and Stephon Gilmore will help improve their 19th-ranked pass defense.
*All salary cap information comes from OverTheCap.com
