Bills 2022 free agent tracker: Who’s coming and going in Buffalo

The Buffalo Bills saw their season come to an end in the AFC Divisional Round with a 42-36 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The focus for general manager Brandon Beane and the front office is how to improve the roster to help this franchise get past the Chiefs and ultimately reach the Super Bowl.

This is a list that will be updated in the upcoming months as the Bills make moves in free agency as well as tracking the players who are free agents who may leave Buffalo this offseason.

*Bills free agents designations courtesy of Spotrac.com

Who are the Bills 2022 Unrestricted Free Agents?

Jerry Hughes, DE

The Buffalo Bills defensive end is the longest-tenured player with the franchise after they traded with the Indianapolis Colts in 2013. However, at 33 years old it remains to be seen how much he has left and if the Bills are ready to make some changes at the position.

Article: Jerry Hughes Free Agent Profile 

Mario Addison, DE

Another veteran defensive end that is a free agent this offseason is Mario Addison. The Bills signed Addison as a free agent in 2020 and the former Carolina Panthers pass rusher would lead the team in sacks in each season with the team. Similar to Hughes, he is towards the end of his career and Buffalo may be looking to take the position in a new direction.

Article: Mario Addison Free Agent Profile

Efe Obada, DE

One of the moves Buffalo made last offseason to try and improve the position was signing Efe Obada to a one-year deal. Another former Carolina Panthers pass rusher, he knew this defense well and in limited snaps finished the year with 3.5 sacks.

Harrison Phillips, DT

The Buffalo Bills drafted Harrison Phillips in the 2018 NFL Draft and the former Stanford defensive tackle had an up and down four years with the team. He struggled with injuries during his time with the team but when he was healthy, like the second half of this season, he showed he could be a good starter on this defensive line. He will likely be a top priority free agent for this team this offseason.

Article: Harrison Phillips Free Agent Profile

Justin Zimmer, DT

Justin Zimmer earned a role in the rotation at defensive tackle last year and was expected to play a similar role this season. However, his season was cut short due to a knee injury that limited him to only six games this year.

Vernon Butler, DT

Another former Carolina Panthers defensive linemen, Vernon Butler joined the Buffalo Bills in 2020 as a free agent. However, he struggled to produce like he did his final season in Carolina and was only active for 10 games this year and finished with only 11 total tackles.

Article: Vernon Butler Free Agent Profile

Levi Wallace, CB

The Buffalo Bills originally signed Levi Wallace as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and he has been the starter opposite Tre’Davious White every season since. The Bills brought Wallace back on a one-year deal last offseason but the market for Wallace is likely going to be much more competitive after another solid season in this defense.

Article: 4 teams that could be interested in signing Levi Wallace

Article: PFF names one free agent the Buffalo Bills can’t afford to lose

Siran Neal, S

The Buffalo Bills drafted Siran Neal in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. While he hasn’t made much of an impact on defense, he has become a key part of the Bills’ special team unit and has played 60% or more of the special teams’ snaps in each of the past three seasons.

Mitchell Trusbisky, QB

Mitchell Trubisky joined the Bills as a free agent last offseason after he struggled with the Chicago Bears. He joined Buffalo in hopes of resetting his career and Trubisky will now likely be looking for an opportunity to compete for the starting job with another team in 2022.

Article: 5 teams that could be interested in signing Mitchell Trubisky

Ike Boettger, G

For the second straight year, Ike Boettger would start the year as a backup but become the starter as the season went along. Unfortunately, Boettger suffered a season-ending injury this year and was not able to finish the year as a starter after starting 10 games at guard.

Emmanuel Sanders, WR

The Buffalo Bills signed the veteran wide receiver to a one-year deal last offseason. As the season went along, Sanders’ role in this offense continued to diminish and he had just one target against the Kansas City Chiefs. Even if the Bills were interested, it remains to be seen if Sanders would want to return knowing he likely would have a limited role in this offense.

Article: Emmanuel Sanders Free Agent Profile

Isaiah McKenzie, WR

The Bills claimed Isaiah McKenzie off waivers during the 2018 season and his role over the years has shifted from starting wide receiver to gadget player to starting this year as the team’s starting kick and punt returner. However, he would lose that role and move back to gadget player but he showed he is more than capable of being a starting slot receiver in this offense. It will be interesting to see if Buffalo wants to commit to him in that role.

Article: Isaiah McKenzie Free Agent Profile

Matt Breida, RB

Buffalo wanted to add speed to the running back position and signed Matt Breida as a free agent. He saw limited playing time outside of a three-week stretch from Week 10 to Week 13 where he would have three total touchdowns.

Article: Matt Breida Free Agent Profile

Taiwan Jones, RB

Taiwan Jones returned to Buffalo in 2020 as a free agent and has been a key part of the team’s special teams group. However, at 33 years of age Buffalo may look to go in another direction this offseason.

Who are the Bills 2022 Restricted Free Agents?

Ryan Bates, G

The offensive line was seemingly being shuffled on a weekly basis midway through the season until Ryan Bates got a chance to start. In Week 16, he became the starter at left guard and would remain in that role for the remainder of the season. The Bills should bring him back and he should have a good chance to start next season.

Who are the Bills 2022 Exclusive Rights Free Agents?

Tyrel Dodson, LB

The final free agent is Tyrel Dodson, who was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He would be a key part of the special teams unit and was one of the primary backups at linebacker. Dodson would finish the year with 15 total tackles.

Article: Buffalo Bills re-sign Tyrel Dodson to a one-year deal

2022 Free Agents signed by the Bills

Article: Buffalo Bills sign Siran Neal to a new three-year deal

2022 Free Agents leaving the Bills

This is another section that will be updated as Buffalo Bills’ free agents sign with other teams throughout the offseason.