The Buffalo Bills have already made a few heavy changes as the 2026 offseason begins in earnest. Our first full weekend without NFL football of the offseason has passed us by, and now, in the coming weeks, the top Bills decision-makers will have to make several more such changes.
This offseason for the Bills, with general manager Brandon Beane and new head coach Joe Brady leading the new era of the franchise, is certainly a pivotal one. Seemingly every decision made will be framed by how much it helps the team make good on its reasoning for firing Sean McDermott, by getting over the offseason hump.
As the offseason gets started across the league, just weeks away from a new league year and the start of free agency, these are the three biggest decisions the franchise faces as it prepares for the 2026 campaign.
3 Decisions that will define Buffalo Bills' 2026 offseason
Which big swing to take
Bills Mafia is restless at the lack of star power on the roster beyond Josh Allen and James Cook. It’s less the glitz and glamour of having superstar players, and more so the game-changing ability and reliability such players often come with.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter said last week he anticipates the NFL offseason could see a spike in trade activity. The Bills have the cap maneuverability to make space for a top player on the trade block at a position of need. If Beane is ready to pull the trigger on a trade that can change the future of the franchise for the better, he needs only prepare the spreadsheet and select a target to add.
Unfortunately, free agency won’t offer much at wide receiver, so a name like A.J. Brown from Philadelphia becomes more enticing.
As for finding a dominant presence on the edge of the defensive line, Maxx Crosby wants out of Las Vegas. The Bills can afford him financially, but the trade compensation might be massive.Â
Those are just two possibilities of the many big swings that should be available to Beane this offseason. Of most importance to Bills Mafia is finding someone who has established themselves as a difference-maker, as Crosby and Brown have, rather than taking a risk on someone in free agency who hasn’t yet taken that step.
The First Round Pick
Assuming Beane doesn’t part with his first-round pick in a blockbuster trade, the first-round selection will be a point of emphasis for the front office as it is for any season.
That said, Beane’s shaky classes of the past are noted with a few gems, and he’ll need to tap back into what made for successful classes in years like 2017, 2018, and, in many ways, 2022. With Brady instituting an evolved culture and bringing forth a new defensive approach that needs cornerstone pieces, defense seems to be the logical direction. There’s a massive need at inside linebacker and at edge rusher, and either position could be comfortably addressed at No. 26 overall.
Still, the issue at wide receiver would persist. Buffalo needs a No. 1 receiver, yes, but they also need to invest in the future of the position further after failed free agent signings and the stunted development of Keon Coleman.Â
Which veterans to re-sign
Fourteen Bills defenders are set to become free agents as the franchise begins an offseason in which a new defensive scheme will be implemented, which will no-doubt require different skillsets, body types, and mindsets.
For veterans like Tre’Davious White, Matt Milano, Shaq Thompson, DaQuan Jones and A.J. Espenesa, who have spent most if not all of their careers working in McDermott’s scheme, there may not be a natural space for them in the defense. But, in the spirit of evolving the culture, Buffalo can’t necessarily afford to throw out most of its defensive leadership solely for the sake of scheme fit.
Players like Cam Lewis, Damar Hamlin, and Milano might be worth keeping around solely for cultural and leadership continuity. Still, it leaves a lot to replace in free agency, which gets expensive quickly, and the draft, where Buffalo may need to be willing to part with picks to find an elite player to boost the team’s championship viability.
Offensively, two key pieces in the middle of the offensive line, left guard David Edwards and Connor McGovern, are also set to hit free agency. The team could save some money and put faith in some in-house replacements, like 2024 fifth-rounder Sedrick Van Pran-Granger at center or Alec Anderson or Ryan Van Demark at guard.
Naturally, the interior offensive line isn’t the best place to gamble in the name of cap compliance and future-focused decisions. So, it’s not a move that can be taken without confidence in the replacements to hold up while resources are directed elsewhere. Otherwise, absorbing the financial hit and signing both veterans back can offer continuity in the trenches, keeping the team’s biggest strength fully intact through transition.