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Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen and TE Dawson Knox
Heading into the offseason, the top item on Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane’s to-do list is finding a suitable replacement for head coach Sean McDermott, who was fired earlier this week after a 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Buffalo is interviewing a host of possible replacements including Joe Brady, Brian Daboll, Mike McDaniel, Anthony Lynn, Philip Rivers, and Lou Anarumo to fill McDermott’s role.
But after finding a new head coach, Beane must turn his attention to building his 2026 roster — an endeavor that includes deciding which of Buffalo’s 23 free agents are worth retaining, filling roster holes with prospective free agents, and building a 2026 draft class.
Dawson Knox Casts Doubt on Bills Future
GettyBuffalo Bills TE Dawson Knox
The Bills are projected to be $11.61 million over the 2026 salary cap, according to Over the Cap.
There are a handful of players who could be on the chopping block as cap casualties, and tight end Dawson Knox is at the top of that list — and he knows it.
During a recent appearance on Mitch Morse’s “Monday Morning with Mitch” podcast, Knox revealed that there’s a good chance the Bills don’t bring him back next season.
“I know that they want to bring me back, however, they can’t even know right now what the cap’s going to be,” Knox stated.
“… Wherever I end up, I hope my tight ends coach is there with me.”
Knox is about to enter the final season of his three-year, $29.5 million extension he signed back in 2022. He carries a $17.068 million cap hit in 2026, and Buffalo can save a decent chunk of change by parting ways with the 29-year-old pass-catcher.
If the Bills cut or trade Knox pre-June 1 cut, they’d save $9.664 million in cap space, per Over the Cap. If he’s cut or traded post-June 1, the team saves $12 million in cap space.
Buffalo can also create sizeable amounts of cap space through contract restructures — Josh Allen ($12.56 million), Dion Dawkins ($11.37 million), Ed Oliver ($8.88 million), Spencer Brown ($10.62 million), Joshua Palmer ($6.5 million).
It can also extend some players to create more breathing room with the cap as well — Allen ($12.56 million), Dawkins ($12.13 million), Oliver ($10.66 million), Brown ($10.62 million), Knox ($8.28 million), Palmer ($5.56 million), and Curtis Samuel ($3.94 million).
If the Bills do move on from Knox, it would leave Dalton Kincaid, Jackson Hawes, and Keleki Latu as the tight ends under contract.
Looking at the Bills’ 2026 Free-Agent Class
Buffalo has several players it likely wants to retain, and several positions of need it wants to fill as well.
Below are all of the team’s impending free agents:
Quarterback: Mitch Trubisky
Fullback: Reggie Gilliam
Wide receivers: Gabriel Davis and Brandin Cooks
Guard: David Edwards
Center: Connor McGovern
Defensive tackles: Jordan Phillips, Larry Ogunjobi, and DaQuan Jones
Edge-rushers: A.J. Epenesa and Joey Bosa
Linebackers: Shaq Thompson and Matt Milano
Cornerbacks: Cam Lewsi and Tre’Davious White
Safeties: Sam Franklin, Darnell Savage, Jordan Poyer, and Damar Hamlin
Kicker: Matt Prater
Punter: Mitch Wishnowsky
Restricted free agents:
Offensive tackles: Alex Anderson and Ryan Van Demark
Michael Gallagher Michael Gallagher is a sports journalist covering the NFL for Heavy.com. He has more than a decade of experience working for both local and national news outlets covering the NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA, college football, and MMA. His work has been featured in Newsweek, Yahoo Sports, Fox Sports, Athlon Sports, The Hockey News, the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, and Yardbarker. More about Michael Gallagher
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