1. Stefon Diggs ranks here on the NFL.com list of best pass-catchers
NFL.com grouped the 10 best pass-catchers of 2019 together and Bills WR Stefon Diggs made the list at No. 3. The stats taken into account via Next Gen Stats to build the list were catch rate and expected catch rate. The most important variable is the difference between the two per Nick Shook. The higher the number in the difference between the two, the better.
This stat is important to the Buffalo Bills entering the season because it proves the offense can be more successful in moving the ball downfield to score more points. General manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott have voiced many times that an uptick in points in 2020 was one of the biggest issues to tackle during the offseason.
3. Stefon Diggs
Catch rate: 67%. Expected catch rate: 56.3%. Difference: 10.7 percentage points.
We've entered the home-run hitters portion of this list. In what turned out to be his final season with the Minnesota Vikings, Diggs caught just 63 passes but outgained Lockett in receiving yards, riding a yards-per-reception rate of 17.9 to 1,130 total yards (compared to Lockett's 1,057). His catch percentage wasn't nearly as high as Thomas' or Lockett's, but he made the most of his opportunities, posting a +10.7 percent catch-rate difference -- and he did so by winning press challenges. Diggs was pressed on 42 percent of routes run, enjoying just 2.5 yards of separation on average, yet his targets came with an air-yards average of 14.9. Most of his success was earned in single coverage, a testament to Adam Thielen's presence (despite Thielen's injuries) and a multi-level Vikings offense that didn't focus too heavily on Diggs.
On top of his average of 17.9 yards per reception from last season, Diggs has scored 23 touchdowns in the last three seasons.
2. CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora: I think the Bills are in a great spot
CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora joined One Bills Live this week to talk about what he thinks of the AFC East and Josh Allen's progression since entering the NFL. When looking at each AFC East team's roster and what teams have done to improve in the offseason, La Canfora thinks the Bills should win the AFC East.
"I think the Bills are in a great spot," La Canfora said. "I think they have the best roster in the division. I think they have, what I think will be, a huge competitive factor this offseason, they have continuity. They have quarterback continuity, scheme continuity, philosophy continuity, continuity of coordinators and head coach. New England still checks a lot of those boxes, but going from Tom Brady to Jarrett Stidham is a thing that's going to be something for them to overcome. I don't like their roster nearly as much as Buffalo's. I think Buffalo has a lot of young ascending players who feel like their building something there and a part of a movement."
La Canfora wrote an article ranking Josh Allen as third on a young quarterback’s confidence scale, meaning who is in the best position to succeed in 2020. Allen earned that rank because of Buffalo's ability to bring out the best in him and the staff's continuous effort in his growth. Add in the new weapons around Allen entering the season, La Canfora thinks the Bills QB is poised to have successful year.
"I think that they know what he is right now and they're doing a great job of maximizing that," La Canfora explained. "I think they'll continue to do a great job of maximizing that and you couple that by bringing in Diggs and having another really good draft. I think he's going to be positioned to be playing playoff football again."
3. Bills fans might want to learn this undrafted free agent's name
Bleacher Report made a list of one undrafted free agent from each team that could be the most exciting to watch in camp and have a chance to add potential to the roster. For the Bills, B/R selected Penn State safety Garrett Taylor.
In 2019 alone, Taylor racked up 84 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, an interception and a defensive touchdown. He had four interceptions and nine passes defended over the past two seasons.
With the Bills, Taylor should quickly find a home in a safety rotation that includes starters Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde. He should also be able to make an immediate impact as a fast, physical special teams standout.
Taylor finished his collegiate career with seven tackles for loss, four interceptions, 15 passes defended, two forced fumbles and 169 total tackles. Taylor was also a team captain in 2019 and earned All-Big Ten honorable mention twice.
