At the tender age of 25-years old, I’ve stood face-to-face with the ebb and flow of the Buffalo Bills more times than I’d like to recount. Surely, my elder aquaintances would topple my tally simply by their worldliness in the self-described small world that is Buffalo. But, nonetheless, few fan bases have experienced the mass turnover that is so often implemented by the Buffalo Bills.

As the playoff drought appears as out of this world as it is, one may safely assume that another notch or step can be added to the never-ending staircase of playoff hopes that is now nearing a span of 18 years, joining the company of some of the NFL’s most historically desiccated teams.

The Bills will embark this offseason on a task to supplementally rebuild their franchise and will turn the page to enter a new chapter of their historical existence. This new chapter will be written by general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott.

McDermott and Beane are not the first to embark on this difficult journey, nor will the be the last. What lies ahead of these two powerful and energetic men will be the monumental obstacle that is to assemble a football team that not only has character but has the determination to remove themselves from voodoo and curses and make the postseason in a city that hasn’t seen it since the turn of the 20th century.

In the upcoming new year, the image and the feel of the Buffalo Bills will change extensively and in a way that has not been seen for some time. The Bills will have five opportunities within the first three rounds of the NFL draft to select players they see fit to be apart of a foundation and groundwork that will continue to reshape the franchise.

Buffalo had the ninth oldest starting lineup Week 1 in 2017 and will certainly get younger with their arsenal of eight picks. The team needs to answer the question of quarterback, something that’s stumped the franchise since Jim Kelly left.

With Kyle Williams nearing his final game in the league and the team shipping off Marcell Dareus to Jacksonville, a defensive lineman will need to be taken. Buffalo may also be looking to add another linebacker to their defensive caliber as well.

On top of the player personnel changes that look to be coming at One Bills Drive, head coach Sean McDermott may see fit to make changes to his staff as well. Buffalo’s offense has struggled incredibly this year to move the ball through the air. It’s undetermined whether or not McDermott has seen enough of both his quarterback and his offensive coordinator but the statistics point to him moving on from both after the year.

At the end of the 2017 season, many changes look to be on the horizon in Western New York. Changes that could impact the product on the field so greatly that the team may not be recognizable anymore. In their first season together with the Bills, Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane have already moved on from a slew of former-draft picks as if they were toxic. Sammy Watkins and Marcell Dareus jersey’s were a common sight at New Era Field and both were given a ticket out of Buffalo.

In short, be prepared to not truly recognize the team that steps onto the field in 2018. Be prepared to get emotional about the team ridding themselves of players you’ve grown to love. It may be painful to move on and it may take some time to adjust but at the end of the day, they’ll still be your Buffalo Bills and there’s hope on the horizon.