Niner Noise
FanSided

Predicting 5 surprise NFL teams in the 2018 season

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams gestures during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams gestures during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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ORCHARD PARK, NY – DECEMBER 24: Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Buffalo Bills warms up before the game against the Miami Dolphins at New Era Stadium on December 24, 2016 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY – DECEMBER 24: Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Buffalo Bills warms up before the game against the Miami Dolphins at New Era Stadium on December 24, 2016 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Buffalo Bills

Landing head coach Sean McDermott might not have been the flashiest of offseason signings, but it certainly was the right one for the Buffalo Bills.

The Bills have had some interesting front-office shakeups since, but things appear to be on good track heading into 2017.

Chief among these was ensuring quarterback Tyrod Taylor sticks around. That was the right choice, and with him turning 28 years old, the Bills offense could actually be in pretty good shape this year and next.

A lot of it, of course, depends on how much wide receiver Sammy Watkins stays healthy and contributes. If he can stay on the field, a dynamic pairing between Watkins and rookie wideout Zay Jones should be fun to watch for the foreseeable future.

And Buffalo can never count out running back LeSean McCoy.

But McDermott is a defensive-minded coach, and this will likely be the forte for the Bills from this point onward. Rookie cornerback Tre’Davious White should help solidify the secondary by 2018, and one might fully expect Buffalo to invest heavily in the defensive front seven during the 2018 NFL Draft.

If there aren’t too many other needs — especially if the offense remains intact — such moves would allow the Bills to make some serious headway once 2017 comes to a close.

The AFC East isn’t going to get easy anytime soon, but at least Buffalo could put itself into the discussion.