Josh Allen may have just celebrated the most joyful moment of his life by marrying Hailee Steinfeld, but the NFL world isn’t as optimistic about the quarterback’s professional future as some analysts warn the 2025/26 campaign could end in disappointment.
The Buffalo Bills are once again being tipped as postseason contenders following their run to the AFC Championship Game last time out, where they were beaten by Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs again.
However, according to CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin, they could be headed for a shockingly short playoff run, one that doesn’t even include a rematch with their nemesis at the Arrowhead Stadium.
“The absence of a bona fide No. 1 wide receiver plagues Allen,” Benjamin wrote for CBS Sports. “As he tries to carry Buffalo’s offense.
“And Sean McDermott‘s shuffled secondary can’t hold up as the Bills go one-and-done for the first time since 2019.”
Despite Allen‘s MVP season and a Bills offense that averaged 30.9 points per game in 2024, the departure of Stefon Diggs has left uncertainty in the receiving corps, though Buffalo has added options.
They picked Keon Coleman in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft and signed Elijah Moore and Joshua Palmer, but none have proven to be consistent top-tier targets in the league.
The Bills have also made efforts to revamp the defense, particularly in the secondary. Through free agency and their first five draft picks, the front office has invested heavily to address the unit’s depth.
Is Curtis Samuel being overlooked?
Curtis Samuel is one player who could help stabilize the Bills‘ receiving unit, though he’s received little attention this offseason as he enters the second year of a reported three-year, $24 million deal.
Samuel is healthy and showing promise during minicamp after an injury-riddled 2024/25 campaign and ended last season on a positive note, scoring touchdowns in both the Wild Card and AFC Championship games.
He’s familiar with offensive coordinator Joe Brady‘s system from their time together at the Carolina Panthers, where Samuel posted over 1000 yards from scrimmage in 2020; but he has never functioned as a true WR1, and placing that expectation on him may prove unsustainable.
“I feel good, you know, confident, feel fast and excited for this journey,” Samuel said. “It’s just all about being healthy, just getting in the rhythm.
“Just being familiar with the offense and being familiar with the system, and kind of understanding the areas you got to be in, and not overthinking things.”
While optimism surrounds Allen‘s leadership and athleticism, there are still fundamental concerns about the supporting cast. Are these worries merited? Only time will tell at the Highmark Stadium in New York if Josh wants to win the second-most important ring of his life.
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