Tonight, the Buffalo Bills will begin their latest season of attempting to snap their 17-year playoff drought. New executives Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane bring smiling faces to an organization that’s had a sour taste in their mouths for nearly two decades.

Bills’ seasons are akin to watching an episode of Seinfeld – you’ve seen this before and you know what’s going to happen, but you still find comedy in a show about nothing.

Related 3 biggest surprises coming out of Bills training camp

McDermott and Beane are the men who are trying to reboot the series and write a new season – a season that’s fresh and new. A key element that will make or break the new folks sitting on the iron throne is the success of Buffalo’s defense.

The Bills’ defense with former defensive coordinators Mike Pettine and Jim Schwartz was something to reckon with. The two coaches had playmakers from sideline to sideline, tantalizing opposing offenses while the Buffalo offense would sputter. These two coaches did their job and did it well.

Coach McDermott knows a thing or two about tantalizing opposing offenses.

McDermott’s defense with the Carolina Panthers finished in the top 10 in yards allowed each season from 2012 to 2015. He had the likes of Luke Kuechly and Josh Norman walk through his door to terrorize everyone and anything in their path. McDermott now hopes to bring that same fear to the Queen City.

Below are three players to keep an eye on during tonight’s preseason game. These three players are similar in many ways but could all end up having different paths once this season is over, for better or for worse.

MLB Reggie Ragland

Ragland hasn’t put on a Bills uniform yet but he’s already ridden the metaphorical Superman roller coaster multiple times since arriving in Buffalo.

Ragland, who was once touted as a stellar linebacker and potential NFL star that slipped right into the Bills hands, now appears to be a question mark sitting on the depth chart.

Ragland was praised by McDermott early this offseason when the coach compared his leadership to that of Luke Kuechly. However, Ragland hasn’t looked Kuechly-esque thus far.

What gives Ragland the benefit of the doubt right now also hinders him – his injury.

Ragland, who tore his ACL in last year’s training camp and didn’t play a single down in his rookie season, may have fully healed but mentally, but he doesn’t appear to have fully healed yet.

Since training camp has begun, the likelihood of Ragland starting for Buffalo has diminished. A once potential Week 1 starter has fallen as far as the third-team defense at times and has a lot of catching up to do.

Although Ragland will see plenty of action Thursday, his results should be taken with a grain of salt. Going up against the second or third-team offense of Minnesota shouldn’t be used as an accurate measuring stick of where the linebacker is.

Better yet, Bills fans should take note of how Ragland looks in his first game based on confidence and how he carries himself. Those characteristics will give further insight on what Buffalo can expect from the linebacker in the coming months and if he’s ready to perform at a high level.