Two Beloved Buffalo Bills Players Unlikely to Be Back Next Season

The Buffalo Bills don't have a game this upcoming week, as they rest during their bye week. It gives the players and coaches time to reflect on what has gone wrong with a 6-6 record, although the coaches are likely to continue working at One Bills Drive over the next several days.

Head coach Sean McDermott has come under fire for his failures in these close, entertaining games -- with poor decision making, such as using one of his two remaining timeouts to ice Eagles kicker Jake Elliott, who was facing a 59-yard field goal anyway. Then, McDermott decided to not allow Josh Allen and the offense to try and get in field goal range with 20 seconds left and one timeout left.

The Bills can still make the playoffs, but will likely need to go 4-1 or 5-0 in their remaining five games, which has two brutally tough games up after the bye: at Kansas City and home against Dallas.

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It's not a bad thing for fans to look ahead to 2024 and what changes could be made. Despite many wanting McDermott gone, the chances of that happening are probably not great, considering his track record and the other off-field things the Pegulas are going through right now (new stadium, Sabres, front office changes).

The Bills have over 20 pending free agents in 2024 and most are on the defense. Two names stick out for expiring contracts, and it's probably a good bet neither are back for the Bills in 2024.

Safety Micah Hyde and wide receiver Gabe Davis.

Hyde was signed along with Jordan Poyer back in 2017. They have been here ever since as the safety tandem for McDermott's defense. However, he missed most of 2022 with a neck injury and will turn 33 in week 16 this season.

Hyde has looked slower this season and with his neck injury and age, it's hard to imagine he's back, even with all he has done for Buffalo in the last seven seasons. Poyer might not be far behind, who has one year left on his contract after 2023.

As for Gabe Davis, he's scheduled to be a free agent in March. There's really been nothing on the field that would warrant general manager Brandon Beane giving him a contract north of $15-20 million per season. He has games he explodes for multiple touchdowns and is a good blocker, but has simply not been productive enough.

The Bills will also be cap-tied. Josh Allen's cap hit goes up to $47 million in 2024 and the Bills will have to make some upgrades, retooling at wide receiver and on defense.

Fans should prepare for both Hyde and Davis not being back for 2024.