With the 20th overall pick in the first round of the 1986 NFL Draft out of Vanderbilt, Will Wolford arrived in Western New York as an instant plug-and-play contributor along the offensive line. Starting immediately as a rookie, Wolford anchored the front five during the franchise's transformation into an AFC powerhouse, providing the top-tier protection and push that defined Buffalo’s high-powered K-Gun offense.

Wolford possessed ideal length, lateral mobility, and raw functional strength. After starting his career at right guard, he quickly kicked out to left tackle—a transition that unlocked the full potential of Buffalo's passing game. Wolford excelled in pass protection with a smooth kick-slide and strong punch to absorb edge rushers, while displaying the mobility to pull out into space and seal perimeter lanes for off-tackle runs.

Wolford earned PFWA All-Rookie Team honors in 1986 while starting all 16 games at right guard. Following his move to left tackle, he established himself as Jim Kelly’s trusted blindside enforcer and a core component of the offensive front.

During his prime in Buffalo, Wolford earned two Pro Bowl selections (1990 and 1992) alongside a Second-Team All-Pro honor in 1992. He served as an indispensable anchor throughout Buffalo’s postseason dominance, starting in three consecutive Super Bowls (XXV, XXVI, and XXVII) while clearing path after path for Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas.

Following the 1992 season, Wolford became a restricted free agent. The Indianapolis Colts lured him away in March 1993 by offering a three-year, $7.65 million contract containing famous "poison pill" clauses—including a guarantee that he would be paid more than any other offensive player on the team—making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history at the time. Unable to match the unique terms without destroying their salary structure, the Bills allowed Wolford to sign with Indianapolis, where he spent three seasons before wrapping up his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He started all 102 games that he played in Buffalo.

With the 13th overall pick in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft, the Bills targeted Lee Evans out of Wisconsin with the hope of him becoming an explosive, pure deep threat. Operating as the primary perimeter target for a carousel of starting quarterbacks across seven seasons in Buffalo, Evans specialized in blowing past single-coverage and tracking deep passes over his shoulder.

Evans used his elite speed and quick gear-shifts to outrun defensive backs downfield. Mainly working along the boundary as a deep threat, his key skill was easily outrunning press coverage on go routes and deep posts. This made him a perfect target for deep-ball passers like J.P. Losman.

Evans’ career took a memorable turn on November 19, 2006, during a game against the Houston Texans. In just the first quarter, he made history by becoming the first NFL player to catch two touchdown passes over 80 yards in a single quarter—two nearly identical 83-yard scores! That quarter alone saw him rack up 205 receiving yards, setting a franchise record, and he finished the game with an impressive 265 yards, breaking the Bills' single-game receiving record. This remarkable performance showcased what a standout season 2006 was for Evans, when he caught 82 passes for 1,292 yards and eight touchdowns. He proved his consistency again in 2008 with a second 1,000-yard season, catching 63 passes for 1,013 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging an incredible 16.1 yards per catch.

Despite participating in run-focused offenses and facing frequent quarterback turnovers, Evans showed impressive durability, appearing in 109 straight games for Buffalo at the start of his career. After seven seasons with the Bills from 2004 to 2010, he was traded to Baltimore in 2011, where he played his last NFL season before retiring.

As a Bill, Evans played 112 games (104 starts), with 377 receptions, 5,987 yards, and 43 touchdowns.

Unsigned out of Division III Coe College in 2003, Fred Jackson took the hardest possible road to the NFL, starring in indoor football and grinding through NFL Europe with the Rhein Fire before finally catching on with the Buffalo Bills' practice squad. Making his NFL debut as a 26-year-old rookie in 2007, Jackson defied conventional career arcs to become one of the most productive and beloved running backs in modern franchise history.

Jackson exhibited a composed running style, superior vision, and remarkable resilience in pass protection. Predominantly operating from single-back and I-formation formations, his paramount characteristic was his versatility; he maneuvered with a low center-of-gravity advantage between the tackles while functioning as a natural, highly dependable receiver and an assertive contributor on special teams.

Jackson solidified his legacy within the NFL during the 2009 season. Establishing himself as Buffalo's primary offensive contributor, he accumulated 1,062 rushing yards and undertook kick-return responsibilities, amassing 1,014 kickoff return yards. Consequently, he became the inaugural player in NFL history to achieve 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 kickoff return yards within a single season. He concluded the year as the NFL's leading all-purpose yardage holder with an impressive total of 2,516 yards, thus earning the team's Most Valuable Player award.

Despite sharing backfields with players such as Marshawn Lynch and C.J. Spiller throughout his career, Jackson consistently exceeded expectations. He surpassed 1,000 yards from scrimmage on five occasions in Buffalo (2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014). His most productive rushing period occurred in 2011, when he averaged 5.5 yards per carry and accumulated 934 rushing yards over just 10 games before a leg injury prematurely ended what was on track to be an All-Pro season.

After eight seasons with the Bills (2007–2014) and a final year in Seattle, Jackson retired, having played 122 games (61 starts) with 5,746 rushing yards, 2,897 receiving yards, 1,014 return yards, and 39 touchdowns.