Despite boasting elite veterans, Buffalo plummets to 29th in recent under-25 rankings. Analysts question if Keon Coleman and a raw rookie class can spark a deep playoff run.
The Buffalo Bills have one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL in Josh Allen, one of the best running backs in James Cook, and one of the better offensive lines. But when it comes to their younger talent, some don't believe in who they have.
One such person is analyst Aaron Schatz.
The Football Outsiders editor-in-chief and regular ESPN contributor recently released his rankings of NFL teams based on players under 25 years old. And he wasn't too kind to the Bills.
Schatz has Buffalo ranked near the bottom of the league at 29th.
Down from 26th last year, Schatz pointed to players like Cole Bishop and Maxwell Hairston as talented young players on the team. He also referred to Deone Walker as the team's blue-chip prospect.
Offensively, he mentions rookie Skyler Bell, who joins the league at 24 years old. He also questions whether Keon Coleman has a future with the team, but, at 23 years old, he admits Coleman "still has room to develop."
Elsewhere in his rankings, Schatz has AFC East rival as the number one team thanks to players like Will Campbell, Christian Gonzalez, and Drake Maye. The New York Jets are ranked seventh after being 28th in 2025. Schatz says that players like Malachi Moore, D'Angelo Ponds, David Bailey, and Omar Cooper Jr. are reasons to be hopeful for the future.
Finally, the other AFC East team, the Miami Dolphins, jumped from 31 to 12 after making 13 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. He highlights guard Jonah Savaiinaea as the team's only blue-chip player, but mentions rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and running back De'Von Achane as positives for what's expected to be a long season for Miami.
Circling back on Buffalo, they enter the season with an average age of 25.97 years old, which is 14th in the league. Their best players are all over the age of 25, but they'll need the young guns to step up if they want to reach that elusive Super Bowl. That means players like Coleman, Bell, Hairston, Walker, Davison Igbinosun, Landon Jackson, and T.J. Sanders will all have to make an impact.
If they do, 2026 could be a special year for the Bills.
