The Buffalo Bills enter the free agent period with some work to do to get cap space, but also with plenty of holes to fill on both sides of the ball.
President of football operations and general manager Brandon Beane will attempt to get the Bills’ roster into optimal condition as they try to shape it around new head coach Joe Brady’s vision for what it should look like. Who might be of interest, and what are some of the more compelling pairings?
With the help of The Athletic’s Top 150 free agents by Daniel Popper, here’s a deep dive into potential Bills targets next week.
Wide receiver
Jauan Jennings (No. 21)
Jalen Nailor (No. 27)
Romeo Doubs (No. 28)
Rashid Shaheed (No. 32)
Calvin Austin III (No. 38)
Christian Kirk (No. 138)
Hollywood Brown (No. 149)
DeAndre Hopkins (NR)
Tyquan Thornton (NR)
Brandin Cooks (NR)
Olamide Zaccheaus (NR)
The Bills’ need for a big-ticket wide receiver in free agency took a major step back after they traded for DJ Moore to be their presumed new No. 1. The Bills are still likely to add another wide receiver of some kind, whether in free agency or the draft but one who will have a much lower impact on their available cap resources. If they’re looking for another boundary target to play opposite Moore, Jennings, Doubs, Shaheed, Brown, Hopkins, Thornton and Cooks would all fit that. Only Jennings and Doubs would lack the deep-field ability, though they may fit better as a No. 2 with Moore as the team’s new top target that they’ll use to access all three levels of the field. Doubs makes a great deal of sense if his market doesn’t get too nutty, especially considering how good a blocker he has been. If they want someone who can play both at the slot and on the outside, Nailor, Austin, Kirk and Zaccheaus could do that. I like Nailor and Austin’s fit for the Bills the best, given their ages and earning potential. If their markets get too pricey, rounding out the room with Kirk would make sense, too.
Edge rusher
Al-Quadin Muhammad (No. 79)
Malcolm Koonce (No. 81)
Kingsley Enagbare (No. 119)
Arden Key (No. 125)
Jacob Martin (No. 133)
Von Miller (No. 144)
Arnold Ebiketie (NR)
I clumped the edge rushers together because they are mostly around the same case. It’s generally unwise to go big game hunting for an edge rusher in free agency because the truly game-changing ones either aren’t available or are close to the end of their prime, if not there already. The Bills also went the big-contract-to-an-older-edge-rusher route with Miller in 2022. That said, fishing for a potential second starter or, even a third rusher, is a lot more logical an approach for a team in the Bills’ situation. Muhammad, Key, Martin and Miller are all pass rushers in their 30s who would fit an odd-man front in either that No. 2 or No. 3 role. Koonce, Enagbare and Ebiketie are all in their 20s and have each shown some potential even without a consistent role, and could also fill that No. 2 or No. 3 role. The entire group is likely to cost about the same range as the Bills look to fill out defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s defense.
Inside linebackerQuay Walker (No. 57)
Walker was a first-round pick in 2022, and his long-term potential is appealing, given his blitzing and run-defending abilities. Though since Walker will only be 26 and has a lot of starting experience, this might be on the high-end of inside linebacker contracts, which could be an automatic rule-out for the Bills.
Alex Singleton (No. 99)
The 32-year-old inside linebacker is a great story who became an extremely important piece of the Broncos’ defense last season. Despite his age, Singleton’s experience in Leonhard’s defense, size, physicality and blitzing acumen would provide something the Bills don’t have on their roster.
Leo Chenal (No. 106)
I could easily see Chenal being a priority for the Bills because of his versatility. They need both an inside linebacker and someone who can rush off the edge, and Chenal can do both to give them a bit more unpredictability. Chenal, having played for Leonhard at Wisconsin when Leonhard was the defensive coordinator there, certainly helps the potential pairing, too.
Justin Strnad (NR)
For the same reason as Singleton, Strnad would help the transition to Leonhard’s defense after spending time with the Broncos. Strnad will turn 30 this summer and has only been a part-time starter, which could lessen his cost.
Defensive lineJohn Franklin-Myers (No. 15)
Franklin-Myers is on here almost exclusively because he was just with Leonhard in Denver, and for that, you can’t rule him completely out. But he would be costly, and the Bills have plenty of options in-house at his position.
David Onyemata (No. 48)
Onyemata is likely more their speed along the defensive line, both with their most pressing need and the overall cost. He can play all across the line at a high level, which could enhance their overall versatility in player deployment. Onyemata turns 34 in November, so his price point will likely be extremely manageable.
Khyiris Tonga (No. 80)
The fit of Tonga with the Bills’ defense is excellent. He’s a stout run defender while still giving a bit of a pass rush ability. While the Bills have Deone Walker to play nose tackle, bringing in Tonga to give a lot of reps at nose tackle allows them to move Walker around wherever they see fit based on the situation. Tonga should be a moderately priced free agent who turns 30 in July.
Roy Lopez (No. 108)
Sebastian Joseph-Day (No. 123)
If the Bills get priced out of the Tonga free agent discussions, Lopez (29 this season) and Joseph-Day (31) can provide a similar role to Tonga. The drawback is that Lopez and Joseph-Day aren’t penetrators like Tonga. Lopez or Joseph-Day would be a rotational run-stuffing nose tackle who could allow Walker to get some breathers or line up elsewhere.
Interior offensive lineIsaac Seumalo (No. 18)
If the Bills are looking for a one-year band-aid, the 32-year-old Seumalo would be the best bang for their buck before trying to find a more long-term solution. Seumalo just spent three years with Pat Meyer as his offensive line coach, who is now with the Bills.
David Edwards (No. 34)
Between Edwards and Connor McGovern, I think Edwards is the likelier of the two to return because the Bills have two in-house centers, in Sedrick Van Pran-Granger and Alec Anderson, who Beane likely believes could take a step forward in 2026. Edwards should do well on the free-agent market, given that he’s in prime and has been outstanding over the last two seasons. The Bills very well could be priced out.
John Simpson (No. 49)
Simpson could be a good fit at left guard at a smaller price point than Edwards. As the Bills have been veering toward power in their run game recently, it would suit the 330-pound Simpson’s game pretty well in that phase.
Joel Bitonio (No. 61)
Bitonio would be a cheaper one-year option at left guard, but the Bills would know they’re getting a good player near the end of their career. Bitonio, who has never played for a contending team during his NFL career with the Cleveland Browns, may be willing to make a little less in his age-34 season to do just that.
Dylan Parham (No. 78)
Parham is on the next level down from Edwards and Simpson of in-prime guards who could be a multi-year solution. Parham has experience at all three interior positions. He’s entering his age-27 season and is likely more of an average-to-slightly above-average player than a difference-maker, which his price tag should reflect.
Alijah Vera-Tucker (No. 85)
One thing Beane consistently has liked to do throughout his tenure is bring in a talented player on a one-year prove-it deal to help rehab their value. A one-year deal for Vera-Tucker, 26, on an excellent Bills offense could open a lot of doors for him the following offseason as the price on guards continues to go up.
Bryan Cook and Cole Bishop would make a strong safety duo. (Denny Medley / Imagn Images)
SafetyBryan Cook (No. 35)
The Bills had some interest in Cook during his draft year, which makes the potential pairing interesting. Given his abilities to defend the run and blitz, pairing him with Cole Bishop would be a good duo that could do a little of everything. But it will ultimately come down to how much the former Chiefs safety costs. He might be the big fish of the safety group.
Nick Cross (No. 66)
Cross is more of a box safety type than the other names, which would effectively lock both him and Bishop into respective roles without as much interchangeability as others. Regardless, Cross is a very good run defender and blitzer. Because there’s a lack of box safeties who specialize in run support this free agency, his market might be better than anticipated.
Reed Blankenship (No. 90)
The Blankenship pairing is intriguing because he had somewhat of a down year in 2025, but really showed well for the Eagles before it. He can play both safety roles, but would primarily be the strong safety to allow Bishop to roam the field as the free safety. Blankenship is still only 27 years old.
Ar’Darius Washington (NR)
Washington is another one-year prove-it type whose coming off a big injury. When he was healthy, he was extremely important to the Ravens defense.
P.J. Locke (NR)
If the Bills strike with other safeties, Locke is a logical target after having spent time with Leonhard in Denver. Even if they sign a higher-priced safety, Locke could be a solid depth and special teams option to round out the group.
CornerbackMontaric Brown (No. 101)
Brown wasn’t unleashed as a full-season starter with the Jaguars so there is still a little projection that could provide some savings on a deal. However, he could provide some good depth and insurance if Maxwell Hairston isn’t ready for the full-time role.
Roger McCreary (No. 107)
McCreary, 26, would provide depth as both a boundary and nickel, giving him multiple outs to get into the lineup. The Bills lack depth at both positions, so there could be a real path here if the price is cheap enough.
Marshon Lattimore (No. 130)
A torn ACL ended Lattimore’s 2025 season in early November, which could put his return around the start of the season. This would be a cheap veteran depth add by the Bills, and one that may not have to happen until after the 2026 NFL Draft to see how it all shakes out. He would not count against the compensatory formula, to which the Bills will have plenty of their own free agents signed by other teams this offseason.
Asante Samuel Jr. (No. 139)
Samuel got back onto the field with the Steelers and showed some promise after a major injury. There might be a good buy-low opportunity on a one-year deal for someone who has shown a lot of talent in his career and is still only 26 years old.
Chidobe Awuzie (NR)
Awuzie was my pick in the mock offseason for boundary cornerback depth, given both his experience and price point. Awuzie, who spent 2025 with the Ravens, will be 31 in 2026.
FullbackReggie Gilliam (NR)
I’m of the belief that the Bills would like to have Gilliam back. However, considering he’s only 28, plays all special teams, and has more than proved his worth on offense, his market might be a lot better than the Bills are comfortable spending on a fullback, given their cap situation.