There’s no question that the Buffalo Bills made a bigger splash in this year’s free agency frenzy compared to last year. They were in a more horrific salary cap position last year and while this year wasn’t the best either, it was far better than last year.
One of the more surprising factors to consider is that while the Bills let a good amount of players walk, yet a lot of them still remain unsigned. Maybe there will be an eventual reunion with players like Amari Cooper or Rasul Douglas, but signs are pointing towards that it most likely won’t happen.
The Bills made defense their priority in free agency with acquisitions of players like Joey Bosa, Larry Ogunjobi, Michael Hoecht and Darrick Forrest. They have made some offensive signings with guys like Joshua Palmer and also brought back running back Ty Johnson. However, defense is what has been this team’s achilles heel recently.
Even though the Bills did address their defense in free agency, they could have done more. There are four free agents who all signed with new teams this offseason that would have made a ton of sense for the Bills to acquire. However, Bills fans may have to see them excel somewhere else. One of them of course went to Buffalo’s biggest challenge in the playoffs.
4 defensive free agents Bills will regret not signing
DT Jonathan Allen
Imagine a world where Jonathan Allen and Ed Oliver are lining up for the Bills in 2025…well, it won’t happen because Allen signed with the Minnesota Vikings after being released by the Washington Commanders.
Allen is a versatile defensive lineman who can play off the edge and inside. So it would have been Oliver and Allen causing havoc on the inside, and then Allen and Joey Bosa coming off the edge. However, that won't be happening this upcoming season.
DT Dalvin Tomlinson
Another defensive tackle that the Bills could have signed. Dalvin Tomlinson is taking his talents to the Arizona Cardinals on a two-year deal. Tomlinson is a fantastic interior lineman who can take on double teams and even rush the quarterback. He had a career-high 18 QB hits last season with Cleveland.
CB D.J. Reed
Now we get into the secondary issues that the Bills still have to address. Despite the Bills signing their star corner Christian Benford to a four-year extension, they still have a huge gap at their CB2 spot. While they managed to bring back Dane Jackson who spent last season with the Carolina Panthers, it would have been better for the Bills to find a better upgrade.
D.J. Reed is very familiar with the Bills, seeing as how he spent the last three seasons playing against them as a member of the Jets. After years of losing with the Jets, Reed was ready to move on from New York and he now heads up north to join the Detroit Lions. The last two seasons have been great for Reed, allowing no more than a 58% completion rate when the ball is thrown his way and he’s only given up four touchdowns the last two seasons.
Reed would have arguably been Buffalo’s number one corner, but it seems like the Bills want to take a different direction with that position.
CB Kristian Fulton
Again, another corner who still may have his best football ahead of him. Kristian Fulton was in Los Angeles with the Chargers after starting out his career with the Tennessee Titans. Injuries have played a part in his career which is ultimately why he was with the Chargers. He had a strong start in 2024 and now he is joining the Kansas City Chiefs on a two-year deal.
If the Bills and the Chiefs meet up again in the playoffs, Bills fans will now have to worry about Fulton being a playmaker against them rather than for them.