Optimism flowed through the halls of the Buffalo Bills' practice facility on Dec. 31, the day after the Bills ended their 2018 season by scoring 42 points in a win against the Miami Dolphins in the team's highest output in more than two years.
Quarterback Josh Allen ended his rookie season by scoring five touchdowns (three passing and two rushing), helping to validate coach Sean McDermott's season-long mantra of growing and developing his young players through an otherwise fruitless campaign.
Allen, the No. 7 overall pick of last April's draft, entered the offseason eager to grow up alongside a young cast of skill-position players that included tight end Jason Croom (a 2017 undrafted rookie) and receivers Zay Jones (a 2017 second-round pick), Robert Foster (a 2018 undrafted rookie), Isaiah McKenzie (a 2017 fifth-round pick of the Denver Broncos whom the Bills claimed off waivers) and Ray-Ray McCloud (a 2018 sixth-round pick).