In March of 2021, the Buffalo Bills signed wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders to one-year, $6 million contract. They had just come off the best season of quarterback Josh Allen’s career, with him ascending to new heights, establishing himself as an MVP candidate, and leading the team into an entirely new era of optimism. The Bills were a juggernaut on offense for the first time since the 1990s.

When asked about the signing, general manager Brandon Beane said something that resonates in my mind now: “You never want to lose your fastball.”

The “fastball” in this case, was Josh Allen throwing the ball down the field to wide receivers. The Bills had two 100-target wide receivers, both of whom were voted All-Pro that season (Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley). Those two players both averaged at least

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