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How does Brian Daboll's departure affect the Bills? (1:30)

Keyshawn Johnson and Domonique Foxworth talk about how the departure of Brian Daboll will affectJosh Allen and the Bills. The first part of the story is over.

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Six years ago, the Buffalo Bills were stuck in the bottom half of the division with only two winning seasons in the last 20 years.

The Bills had the sixth worst winning percentage from 2000 to 2016 and made the playoffs in the first year of the new management. There were three more winning seasons in the next four years. The foundation was set with the signings of free agent safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde, as well as the drafting of a first round pick in the defensive backfield.

It is difficult to find a list that does not have the team as the Super Bowl favorite. While the core is in place, the Bills will need more than one player to reach their goals. There are a few players to watch.

Gabriel Davis, wide receiver, Year 3

After his four-touchdown performance in the playoffs, Davis drew national attention. He has the chance to take over the No. 2 receiver role and be a popular fantasy option. Davis wasn't on the field enough early in the season. How will he deal with the increased playing time and pressure? Is it possible for him to have his first season with over 600 receiving yards and seven touchdown? Beane believes in something.

Bills receiver Gabriel Davis came on toward the end of 2021 and big things are expected for him this season. AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes

Every time his number is called, he answers the bell, according to Beane. He has been hard at work. I think he's been here for a long time. Every time you give him more, it seems like nothing is too large for him.

Spencer Brown, right tackle, Year 2

The Bills want to protect Josh Allen. The quarterback was hit 92 times during the regular season. He runs the football more than any other quarterback last year. The Bills found their ideal offensive line in the final quarter of last season, and Allen went four games without getting sacked at the end of the season, which was the longest streak of his career.

Brown started 10 games during his first year in the league. It was an issue of consistency. He had a 91.1% pass block win rate in his first four starts, but after missing two games, he finished the season with an 84.3% pass block win rate.

Brown, who didn't participate in the summer program because of an injury, needs to be more reliable for the offense to reach its full potential.

Kaiir Elam, cornerback, Year 1

The Bills didn't trade up to get Elam so he wouldn't compete for a starting job With White still recovering from a torn leftACL, Elam and Jackson will start camp as the starting outside corner.

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It will be important for Elam to join the top defense. When White returns, he will be competing with Jackson for the starting job.

There is a lot of time spent looking at the top pick. If you want to know how he's progressing, take a look and watch him. He definitely sticks out, but we need Kaiir to step up and play well for us early in the season.

The stellar play of White, Poyer and Hyde gave Beane reason to take Elam this year. Elam's development is more important because of the unknowns around White's return.

Tremaine Edmunds, linebacker, Year 5

The contract year is next year. His fifth-year option was picked up by the team, but he is going to be a free agent in three years. In a recent survey of 50 league executives, coaches, scouts and players around the league, Edmunds was ranked as the seventh-best off-ball LB.

AnNFC scout said that the physical talent who had taken a few years to grow into being a signal-caller and nerve center of the defense was an elite physical talent. His skill set has always been more natural as a weakside LB, but he has improved in his reactionary quickness, angles and ability to defeat blocks to be a solid middle LB.

The Bills see him as an asset. Making more splash plays would help take us to another level as a defense. Since the beginning of the year, he has four career intercepts, tied for 12th in the country, and two forced turnovers, tied for 78th.

Isaiah McKenzie, wide receiver, Year 6

The Bills re-signed McKenzie to a two-year, $4.4 million deal, giving him the chance to compete with veteran Jamison Crowder for the slot receiver role.

The offense will call for him to be a more complete receiver and route runner because of his speed. During camp, there will be a battle between the two players, one of which will be helped by McKenzie's past with the team.

Even though they've been together for three years, I want that chemistry betweenAllen andBeasley. I want a chemistry like that with Josh. I want to learn from him and help the team win the best way I can.