One question facing each phase of Bills as mandatory minicamp begins

Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills will begin their three-day mandatory minicamp on Tuesday.

Here is one big question facing each of the three phases of the game that Buffalo will need to begin answering before training camp begins in late July at St. John Fisher University:

OFFENSE: Who will step up at wide receiver?

Out are Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, taking 241 receiving targets with them from last season.

In are Curtis Samuel, Keon Coleman, Mack Hollins, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Chase Claypool, and K.J. Hamler.

At least two of these wideouts will have to play a significant role for the passing game in 2024, along with returning third-year receiver Khalil Shakir.

The others will be fighting for spots on the depth chart and, if they make the team, be expected to contribute.

DEFENSE: Does the pass rush have enough?

This isn't specifically a Von Miller question, but the answer hinges a lot on how well he can bounce-back from, essentially, a lost 2023 when he did not record a single sack in 12 games played after returning from a torn ACL in November of 2022.

If Miller can come back to even close to form, the Bills are in pretty good shape on the edge.

If not, they won't have a true top pass-rush threat, and may need either Greg Rousseau, A.J. Epenesa, Casey Toohill, Kingsley Jonathan, Dawuane Smoot, or rookie Javon Solomon to put up big sack numbers.

SPECIAL TEAMS: How will they handle the new kickoff rule?

This is a question facing every team in the NFL right now, and each of them may have a different answer.

The league changed the way kickoffs will work back at the League Meetings in March. It's one of the most drastic rule changes the NFL has seen in many years, completely revamping the entire play .

Will teams keep an extra kicker to place the ball in the landing zone? Will they use more regular position players as returners? How will the blocking be set up?

These are just some of the questions Bills special teams coordinator Matthew Smiley and head coach Sean McDermott will have to figure out and start preparing for.