Twenty-five years have passed since the Y2K scare fizzled.

During that period, the Buffalo Bills have gone from scary inept to scary good. The first 17 seasons of the millennium went without a playoff berth and now they have become one of the league’s elite teams, with two AFC championship game appearances, five consecutive AFC East championships and seven playoff berths in the last eight seasons.

Although the Bills have produced a ton of talented players over the last eight years, it’s easy to forget they had some good players during the drought era, albeit not enough to avoid missing the playoffs for 17 years.

So I took all the teams and players over the last 25 years under consideration and built a 53-man roster. There were an abundance of worthy candidates at certain positions, like running back (an ode to Buddy Nix), cornerback, linebacker and wide receiver.

But as to be expected for a franchise that fluttered from poor to mediocre for so long, not every position was loaded with talent, like offensive line and tight end. Even some positions with superb starters didn’t have much depth, like defensive end and safety.

But of the 53 players selected, the Bills would hold their own against other all-star teams around the league from the same time period.

Quarterback

Starter: Josh Allen

Duh? There’s no other choice to be made. Of the five 4,000-yard passing seasons in franchise history, Allen owns four of them. Of the top six single-season touchdown marks, Allen has five. He’s also tied with Thurman Thomas for the most rushing touchdowns (65) in franchise history.

With 195 passing touchdowns, Allen’s already second to Jim Kelly on the all-time leaderboard and his 26,434 yards are third in just 111 games. Plus, he is the reigning NFL MVP. At his current rate, Allen will shatter every Bills passing record.

Reserve: Drew Bledsoe

Bledsoe was supposed to be the man to bring the Bills out of the doldrums after losing his starting job to Tom Brady in New England. Although the Bills disappointed during Bledsoe’s run from 2002-2004, they finished 8-8 or better twice and posted one of two records above .500 during the drought.

His 4,359 yards in 2002 is the third-most in a single season for the Bills and it was a franchise record until Allen surpassed it in 2020. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tyrod Taylor were other options, but Bledsoe was the superior quarterback.

Running back

Starter: LeSean McCoy

McCoy put together a borderline Hall of Fame career, but his best years came in Philadelphia. He was still superb when the Bills acquired him in 2015, rushing for 3,814 yards and 25 touchdowns in four seasons.

McCoy was selected to three Pro Bowls — becoming the first Bills running back since Thurman Thomas (1989-1993) to make three in a row — and he was the centerpiece of the offense for most of his tenure in Buffalo. During the drought-breaking 2017 season, McCoy not only ran for 1,138 yards, but he made a team-high 59 receptions, the most by 10 catches.

Reserves: James Cook, Fred Jackson, Marshawn Lynch

Cook battled fumbles and pass protection issues during his first 1 ½ seasons in the NFL, but emerged as one of the top running backs in the league. Not only has Cook posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, but his 16 touchdowns in 2024 matched O.J. Simpson’s franchise mark and tied for NFL lead.

Lynch’s time in Buffalo was bizarre. But the 2007 first-round pick started his career with consecutive 1,000-yard seasons before being shipped to Seattle in 2010, where he became one of the top running backs of the decade.

Jackson was a fan favorite after making the roster as an undrafted free agent from Division III Coe College. He ranks third in franchise history with 5,646 yards, fifth with 30 touchdowns and sixth with 322 receptions.

Travis Henry, Willis McGahee and C.J. Spiller challenged Jackson — who was never the undisputed starter for a full season — but none had the longevity.

Henry had consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, but lost his job to McGahee, who also matched that feat, but averaged just 3.9 yards per carry. Spiller had a tremendous 2012 and a solid 2013, but could never wrestle away the starting job from Jackson completely.

Wide receiver

Starters: Stefon Diggs, Eric Moulds, Cole Beasley

The first two are no-brainers. After being acquired from Minnesota in 2020, Diggs immediately led the NFL with 127 receptions and 1,535 yards, both Bills single-season records.

Diggs led the NFL with 445 catches from 2020-2023 and was fourth with 5,372 yards. He is the only Bills receiver with four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and multiple 100-catch years.

Moulds was one of the top receivers of his era who endured a revolving door at quarterback. He became the first Bills player with 100 receptions in 2002, the same year he became one of seven players with double-digit touchdowns in a season. He had 494 catches for 6,161 yards from 2000-2005.

Only eight receivers in the franchise have made 80 catches in a season and Beasley did it twice. A second-team All-Pro slot receiver in 2021, Beasley made 233 catches for 2,456 yards and 11 touchdowns in parts of four seasons with the team from 2019-2022.

Reserves: Lee Evans, Stevie Johnson

A first-round pick in 2004, Evans ranks third all-time with 5,372 yards and 43 touchdowns, while ranking fifth with 377 receptions. A big-play threat, he averaged 15.7 yards per catch and had two 1,000-yard seasons despite playing for a passing offense that never finished higher than 22nd.

A seventh-round steal in 2008, Johnson was one of the best route-runners of the 2010s. He became the first Bills receiver to have consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, with three from 2010-2012. Johnson had 301 receptions for 3,832 yards and 28 touchdowns in six years.

Tight end

Starter: Dawson Knox

Knox may have lost his starting job to Dalton Kincaid, but he’s been the most consistent tight end for the Bills over the last 25 years. He had back-to-back 500-yard seasons in 2021 and 2022, with 97 catches and 15 touchdowns.

His nine touchdowns in 2021 are the most by a Bills tight end in a season, and in 2022, he became the first Buffalo tight end since Paul Costa in 1966 to make the Pro Bowl. Knox has 193 catches for 2,277 yards and 23 scores entering his seventh season.

Reserves: Dalton Kincaid, Jay Riemersma

Kincaid may end up being the best tight end to play for the Bills. He started his career with 73 receptions, the most by any Bills rookie and any tight end in team history. Injuries ruined his second season, but he already has 117 catches for 1,121 yards.

Charles Clay and Scott Chandler were other choices, but Riemersma was the best all-around tight end, a position that hasn’t produced many stars for the Bills. He had 53 catches for 590 yards in 2001 and finished his time in Buffalo with 204 grabs for 2,304 yards and 20 scores, second to Pete Metzelaars among Bills tight ends when he left in 2002.

Offensive line

Starters: Ruben Brown, Dion Dawkins, Richie Incognito, Mitch Morse, Jason Peters

Brown is one of the most decorated guards in NFL history. He tied Philadelphia’s Maxie Baughan for the most Pro Bowls (9) without a Hall of Fame induction.

Of his eight consecutive Pro Bowls, four came from 2000-2003. Two of Brown’s second-team All-Pro selections came in 2000 and 2002.

Dawkins might be the best offensive tackle in franchise history, joining Brown and Billy Shaw as the only Bills offensive linemen with four consecutive Pro Bowl selections. He became the starting left tackle early in his rookie campaign in 2017, starting 122 of 128 games, while missing only three games in his career.

Incognito had a short stint with the Bills in 2009, but had a highly successful second run, making the Pro Bowl in each of his three seasons from 2015-2017. The Bills never finished worse than sixth in rushing during that time, leading the league in 2015 and 2016.

Eric Wood was the other challenger at center, but Morse got the nod. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2022 and the Bills allowed the fewest sacks in the league in 2023, the last of his five seasons with the team.

It’s easy to forget Peters’ Hall of Fame career started as an undrafted tight end in Buffalo in 2004. Peters became one of the best left tackles ever in Philadelphia, but the first two of his nine Pro Bowls and six All-Pro seasons came in Buffalo before demanding a trade in 2009 after a contract dispute.

Reserves: Spencer Brown, Andy Levitre, Connor McGovern, Eric Wood

Brown was an immediate starter as a rookie in 2021 and battled injuries before a breakout season in 2024 as the Bills allowed the fewest sacks in the league for the second consecutive season.

Levitre wasn’t spectacular, but he was capable of playing guard and tackle and started all 64 games from 2009-2012. John Fina was a potential pick instead, but his final two years came amid injuries and roster turnover in 2000 and 2001.

McGovern has only been on the team for two seasons, but he was solid at left guard in 2023 after signing as a free agent from Dallas. He converted to center in 2024 and became a Pro Bowl selection.

Two major leg injuries cost Wood playing time and he was forced to retire after the 2017 season due to a neck injury. Wood was a catalyst for ending the drought, starting his career at guard, Wood eventually shifted to center and made the Pro Bowl in 2015.

Defensive end

Starters: Aaron Schobel, Mario Williams

Schobel is often forgotten, but he was quietly one of the NFL’s top pass rushers from 2001-2009. His 78 sacks rank second in team history, 16 ½ ahead of third-place Phil Hansen.

He joined Bruce Smith as the only players in franchise history with four double-digit sack seasons and his 14 sacks in 2006 are the fourth-most in a single season.

The 2006 No. 1 overall pick, Williams signed a six-year $100 million contract with the Bills in 2012, then the largest contract for a defensive player in NFL history. Williams had 43 sacks in four seasons with the Bills, making two Pro Bowl appearances.

He recorded 14 ½ sacks in 2014, becoming Buffalo’s first defensive player to be voted Associated Press first-team All-Pro selection since Takeo Spikes in 2004. Williams had five sacks in his final season in 2015 after clashing with new coach Rex Ryan over his decision to change from a 4-3 to 3-4 defense.

Reserves: Jerry Hughes, Chris Kelsay, Greg Rousseau

Hughes churched out a 15-year career after being traded to the Bills in an attempt to jumpstart his career following seven starts in three seasons as a first-round pick of the Colts. Hughes had back-to-back 10-sack seasons in Buffalo in 2013 and 2014 and developed into a team leader when Sean McDermott became head coach in 2017, helping the team to four playoff berths in five years before leaving for Houston in 2022, amassing 53 sacks over nine years.

Kelsay never had more than 5 ½ sacks during his career, but he was a steady presence during uneasy times. He totaled 32 ½ sacks over 10 years and 147 games, the third-most games for the Bills since 2000.

Still an emerging player, Rousseau was an immediate starter after being a first-round pick in 2021. He has 25 sacks in four seasons and has already developed into one of the top run-defending ends in the league.

Defensive tackle

Starters: Ted Washington, Kyle Williams

Washington’s last of six seasons and three Pro Bowls with the Bills came in 2000. But he was one of the premier 3-4 nose tackles in the NFL during his era.

The 365-pounder signed with the Bills in 1995 after winning a Super Bowl with the 49ers and the Bills had one of the best defenses of the 1990s, capped by having the No. 3 defense in the league in 2000. Washington had just 19 ½ sacks with the Bills, but he ate up space for linebackers and other teammates.

Williams is an obvious choice after making six Pro Bowls and cementing himself as one of the top fan-favorites of the last 25 years. His 183 games from 2006-2018 are the second-most in the last 25 years and seventh all-time.

The fifth-round pick made 48 ½ sacks and 103 tackles for a loss during his 13-year career. His tackles for a loss are the most in team history, although the NFL didn’t track the stat until 1999.

Reserves: Sam Adams, Marcell Dareus, Ed Oliver, Pat Williams

Adams arrived in Buffalo after reaching the Super Bowl with the Raiders in 2002 and playing on arguably the best defense in NFL history with the Ravens in 2000. He made an immediate splash by intercepting Brady and returning it for a touchdown in a 31-0 season-opening win in 2003.

The 350-pounder played three seasons with the Bills, making the Pro Bowl in 2004. He had 22 tackles for a loss, 13 sacks and two interceptions as Buffalo had the league’s No. 2 defense in 2003 and 2004.

Dareus was the No. 3 overall pick in 2011 and had moments of brilliance before a disappointing finish that led to his trade to Jacksonville in 2017, less than two years after signing a $95.1 million extension with $60 million guaranteed, the most in the league at the time for a non-quarterback.

He made back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2013 and 2014. Dareus’ 10 sacks in 2014 were the most in the league by a defensive tackle and he was named first-team All-Pro. He had 6 ½ sacks from 2015 until his trade.

Oliver, the No. 9 pick in 2019, has also had moments of superb play. He’s a disruptive force at times and had 9 ½ sacks in 2023.

Williams had three Pro Bowl appearances in Minnesota after leaving the Bills in 2005, but he spent his first eight seasons in Buffalo. He was a backup to Washington early in his career, but at 317 pounds, he paired with Adams to have one of the best defensive tackle tandems in the league for three seasons.

Linebacker

Starters: Tremaine Edmunds, Takeo Spikes

Edmunds became the leader of the Buffalo defense as a 19-year-old rookie in 2018 and the Bills had a top-six defense four times in five seasons. He became a two-time Pro Bowler, amassing 565 tackles, 32 tackles for a loss and 7 ½ sacks before signing a then-NFL linebacker record $72 million contract with the Bears in 2023.

London Fletcher was a candidate to be the starting middle linebacker, considering he made 730 tackles — the most by any Bills player since 2000 — in five seasons from 2002-2006, but the Bills struggled defensively at times during his tenure and all four of his Pro Bowls came in Washington after leaving Buffalo.

Spikes was one of the NFL’s top linebackers before an Achilles injury cut his prime short. He signed with the Bills in 2003 after five seasons in Cincinnati, earning Pro Bowl selections his first two seasons as Buffalo had one of the best defenses in the league.

A first-team All-Pro in 2004, the franchise’s first since Bruce Smith in 1997, Spikes had 98 tackles — eight for a loss — five interceptions, four forced fumbles and three sacks. He was limited to three games in 2005 and 12 in 2006 before leaving for the Eagles in 2007.

Reserves: Sam Cowart, London Fletcher, Matt Milano

Cowart was on the cusp of being one of the best inside linebackers in the NFL before he, like Spikes, was crushed with an Achilles tear in the 2001 season opener. Cowart was a Pro Bowler and a second-team All-Pro in 2000 after making 130 tackles, 5 ½ sacks and two interceptions in just 12 games.

He never played another game for the Bills after his injury, playing three seasons with the Jets and one with the Vikings in 2005.

Milano had some inconsistent play early in his career and has only played two full seasons since being a fifth-round pick in 2017. He was a first-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler in 2022 after making 99 tackles — 12 for a loss — and three interceptions.

Cornerback

Starters: Nate Clements, Tre’Davious White, Antoine Winfield

A ball hawk, Clements was a first-round pick in 2001 and played six seasons with the Bills, making the Pro Bowl in 2004. Clements’ 12 forced fumbles are sixth in franchise history, while his 23 interceptions are seventh. His five pick-sixes are tied with Butch Byrd and Tom Janik for the most ever for the Bills, while also adding two punt returns for touchdowns.

The first pick of the McDermott regime, White became a two-time All-Pro and a two-time Pro Bowler. White had four interceptions as a rookie and was the runner-up for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2017.

He was a first-team All-Pro in 2019 after making a career-high six interceptions and finished fifth in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting. White was a second-team All-Pro in 2020 after making three interceptions.

White had 18 interceptions during his career with the Bills, but a torn ACL in 2021 and a torn Achilles in 2023 cost him 31 games before being released after the 2023 season.

A three-time Pro Bowler in Minnesota, Winfield started his career as the Bills’ first-round pick in 1998. Winfield was a tad ahead of his time in Buffalo and became a super slot cornerback in Minnesota, but he would have been a perfect fit for the job in McDermott’s defense.

Winfield only had six interceptions in five years with the Bills, but he was one of the best tackling cornerbacks in the league at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds. He made 357 tackles — 18 for a loss — with the Bills, including a career-high 109 in 2003.

Reserves: Stephon Gilmore, Taron Johnson, Leodis McKelvin

Gilmore’s best days came after his time in Buffalo. Notice a trend?

He made the Pro Bowl in 2016, but the Bills opted not to re-sign him when McDermott became coach and he was the 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the Patriots, making four more Pro Bowls. But in Ryan’s man-heavy defense, Gilmore was often left on an island and usually met the challenge.

Johnson was a fourth-round pick in 2018 and has become one of the top slot cornerbacks in the league. He’s made 515 tackles — 22 for a loss — and has had at least 90 three times, earning second-team All-Pro honors in 2023 after making 98 tackles.

McKelvin was a first-round pick in 2008 and played eight steady seasons with the Bills, making 13 interceptions in 60 starts. He also brought special teams value, with a team-record three punt returns and one kick return for a touchdown.

Safety

Starters: Jairus Byrd, Micah Hyde

Byrd made an immediate impact, tying for the NFL lead with nine interceptions as a rookie in 2009. He was a ball magnet during his five seasons with the Bills, recording 38 takeaways.

The second-round pick’s 11 forced fumbles are seventh in team history, while his 22 interceptions are tied for 10th. Byrd was a three-time Pro Bowler and a two-time second-team All-Pro and gets the edge over Jordan Poyer because of his takeaways.

Hyde was a utility player during his first four seasons with the Packers, but the Bills made him a full-time safety in 2017 and he became one of the most important players in team history. Hyde was a team leader that helped the Bills break their playoff drought and then was a key player in the team becoming one of the league’s powerhouses.

Hyde made 417 tackles and 16 interceptions during his seven seasons with the Bills. He was a second-team All-Pro in 2017 and 2021 and a Pro Bowler in 2017, although neck injuries marred his final two seasons.

Reserves: Jordan Poyer, Lawyer Milloy

Poyer would be difficult to keep off the field on this team and has a claim to be a starter. Pairing with Hyde for seven seasons, they were perhaps the best safety tandem in the league.

Poyer went from being a cast-off in Philadelphia and Cleveland to being a Pro Bowler (2022) and first-team All-Pro (2021). His 474 tackles are eighth all-time (the NFL started tracking tackles in 1978) and his 22 interceptions are tied for 10th.

Milloy was a four-time Pro Bowler in New England and signed with the Bills days before the 2003 opener after being surprisingly released. Beyond Byrd, Hyde and Poyer, the Bills haven’t produced many noteworthy safeties over the last 25 years and Milloy was the best of the leftovers, surpassing 100 tackles twice in his three seasons.

Special teams

Kicker: Rian Lindell

Dan Carpenter had the best two-season run from 2013-2014, while Stephen Hauschka had a superb 2017, but Lindell was steady for 10 seasons from 2003-2012. He ranks second all-time to Steve Christie in field goals made (225), attempted (270) and points (980), while converting 83.3% of his kicks.

Punter: Brian Moorman

Another no-brainer here. Moorman’s 190 games from 2001-2013 are the most by a Bills player over the last 25 years and — all-time. His 43.7 average is the fifth all-time and his 259 inside the 20-yard line are the most. Twice a Pro Bowler, Moorman was a 2005 first-team All-Pro after leading the NFL with a 45.7 average and then repeated the honor in 2006.

Long snapper: Reid Ferguson

It’s surprising Ferguson hasn’t gotten a Pro Bowl or All-Pro nod given it’s a position that awards usually go to a player on a good team. Ferguson was on the practice squad in 2016, but has played in 114 consecutive games since making the roster in 2017. Mike Schneck was a Pro Bowler in 2005, but lasted only two seasons in Buffalo.

Return specialist: Terrence McGee

McGee was a pretty good cornerback during his 10 years with the Bills, but he made his name early as a kick returner, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2004 and two second-team All-Pro selections. He had a franchise-record five kick returns for touchdowns — leading the league with three in 2004 — despite returning four kicks over his final five seasons.

Coaches

Head coach: Sean McDermott

This one is as obvious as Allen. McDermott’s 86 wins ranks second behind Marv Levy’s 112, while his playoff games (14) are second to Levy’s 19. His .656 winning percentage is the best ever by a Bills coach.

More than anything, McDermott took a team that missed the playoffs 17 consecutive seasons, snapped the drought in his first season and is one of six coaches to win 60 games in a five-year span. McDermott might be a Super Bowl appearance away from challenging Levy as the most successful coach in team history.

Offensive coordinator: Brian Daboll

Joe Brady gets some consideration, but Daboll crafted the offense that was passed from Ken Dorsey to Brady. Daboll also gets a chunk of the credit for helping Allen become a star as his play caller from 2018-2021.

The Bills were second and third in points scored during his final two years, marking the first time the Bills ranked higher than 10th since 2004 and cracked the top-10 in yards for the first time since 2000. They hadn’t ranked in the top-three in both categories in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1992-1993.

Defensive coordinator: Leslie Frazier

Ted Cottrell was superb, but wasn’t retained when Wade Phillips was fired in 2000. Jerry Gray had strong defenses in 2003 and 2004, but Frazier had blended success and longevity.

After a rocky start in 2017, Frazier’s defenses ranked in the top-10 in total yards four times and scoring three times in five years from 2018-2022. They ranked No. 2 in yards allowed in 2018 despite going 6-10 and ranked second in points in 2019, while having the No. 1 defense in both categories in 2021 for the first time in franchise history.