While we just heard the breaking news that the Buffalo Bills have decided to part ways with former head coach Sean McDermott, it's time to see which players also won't be back next season.
With aging veterans and cap casualties, the Bills may have to make some even tougher roster moves going forward.
Players who won't be back on the Bills' 53-man roster next season
1. C Connor McGovern
While McGovern has been a staple the last couple of years in the middle of the O-line, it looks like his time in Orchard Park is over. The 6-foot-5-inch, 318-pound wrecking machine has a huge cap hit of $8.45m. At 29 years old and in his final year of a 3-year, $22.4 million contract, his time is up.
If he were to leave, this would place a huge hole in one of the more important positions on the offensive line. They could restructure his deal again to create more cap space, but it may be easier to just replace him by drafting a rookie and having him compete for the starting center job.
2. OG David Edwards
Edwards is another valuable contributor on the Bills' stable and talented line that helped running back James Cook win the rushing title after he was paid 4 years, $48 million in the offseason. Similar to McGovern, however, he has a ballooning cap hit of $4.9 million on a two-year, $6 million contract.
He is also expected to be a UFA after this season, and the Bills already have Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, who can play both center and guard, and then they can draft another guard in April.
3. ER Joey Bosa
After losing edge rusher Von Miller last offseason to the Washington Commanders in free agency, the Bills tried to make a low-risk, high-reward move by signing talented pass rusher Joey Bosa. The deal was only for one year, worth $12.6 million.
The Bills already knew about his prior injury problems, but they believed that by signing him for only 1 year, they would get the Bosa of old, wreaking havoc on the quarterback.
Fortunately, he was able to stay healthy this year and did produce when he was on the field. It's just one of those things where the Bills were glad to have him for only this year, but now, in the offseason, they are done dealing with the inconsistencies of a Bosa saga in Orchard Park.
Look for Landon Jackson when he is 100% healthy to come back and fill Bosa's role as the starting edge rusher in 2026 and beyond.
4. LB Matt Milano
Of all the players mentioned in this article, Milano may be the most difficult one to say goodbye to. The veteran linebacker will be 32 years old, and this year, he bounced back from his leg and torn bicep injuries.
Still, these injuries have hampered Milano from returning to his all-star form, and going on 32, that may be the reason to move on from him and go younger in his position.
Plus, he too has a huge cap hit of $12.2 million.
5. DT Jordan Phillips
Not really known as a superstar player, Jordan Phillips really loved playing for former Coach McDermott, and now that he's gone, it will be a hard sell for the big man to come back under a brand-new coach. At 6 feet 6 inches, 342 pounds, Phillips is a large body in the middle to bring down running backs and stop them in their tracks.
If McDermott is hired by another team, maybe Phillips will join him there, which could mean more reps for other defensive tackles, such as DaQuan Jones and younger players like Deone Walker and T.J. Sanders.