The NFL free agency period is officially about two weeks away. Before then, the Buffalo Bills need to continue making roster moves to be cap-compliant when the new league year starts on Wednesday, March 11.
The Bills currently have 21 players on their roster who are regarded as unrestricted free agents at their respective positions. Many of these key contributors have been with the team for a while and may not return next season.
9 players the Bills should not let go before free agency
1. LB Shaq Thompson
After it was revealed that the former Carolina linebacker played in a 3-4 scheme during his time with the Panthers, Brandon Beane should know not to let a player from Carolina go. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound best season came in 2022, when he started all 17 games and recorded a career-high 135 total tackles, 78 of them solo.
Also, he was already reunited with Sean McDermott from Carolina and will now reunite with Joe Brady, who was the offensive coordinator in Carolina from 2020-2021. If the Bills re-sign Thompson, he will be the latest of the long line of the "Carolina Bills", from Ken Dorsey, to Sean McDermott, to Joe Brady, and Beane.
2. S Damar Hamlin
Since entering the league in 2021, the Bills have not regretted their investment in Hamlin, as he has loved every minute of being in Buffalo and has so much to be thankful for.
In 2024, he finally became the Bills' permanent starter at safety and recorded his first two interceptions of his career.
Hamlin and the Bills would love to get this deal done quickly, as the two sides have mutual respect, and Hamlin knows he wants to spend the rest of his career with the Buffalo Bills.
3. DE AJ Epenesa
Epenesa is a very good football player, and he can be productive in any defense he's needed to play. The 6-foot-6-inch, 260-pound defensive end is a blue-collar player from the University of Iowa.
His best seasons came in 2022 and '23, when he recorded 6.5 sacks, totaling 13 in those two years. Despite recording only 2.5 sacks last year, Epenesa has been a durable player, missing no more than 3 games in any season.
He should be re-signed because of his durability on the field, and the production will follow.
4. CB Tre'Davious White
At 5 feet, 11 inches, 192 lbs, White was very durable last year, starting in 16 games and recording one interception. After starting hot in his career with the Bills, non-contact injuries started biting him, and it even became the subject of the grass vs. turf field debate, as two of his injuries were non-contact and on artificial turf.
The saving grace for White is that the Bills' new stadium will be a grass field, and if Beane wants White to test the theory that grass is safer than turf, he can sign him to another one-year prove-it deal.
5. FB Reggie Gilliam
The Bills believe that the best athlete on their team is their "do-it-all" fullback, Reggie Gilliam.
Gilliam is a beast at 6 feet, 244 pounds, and is a jack of all trades. He can block like a traditional fullback for running back James Cook, catch passes out of the shotgun formation, and even get his hands dirty in the ever-popular "Tush Push" play.
Giiliam may be the heart and soul of this team, along with guys like AJ Epenesa and Josh Allen.
6. WR Brandin Cooks
James Cook is a singular name, but Brandin Cooks has plurality. At the same time, James will "cook" at the running back position. Brandin has more "cooks" helping him catch the ball.
At 5 feet, 10 inches, 190 pounds, Cooks still showed he can play wide receiver in a 17-game NFL season. He hauled in 279 yards in 15 games with two teams and became an asset to Josh Allen and an offense that really lacked a deep passing game.
Cooks already played for Sean Payton when they were both with the Saints, and now, he would get to play under Brady, who was a longtime assistant of Payton.
7. WR Gabe Davis
It's always a fun time when Davis returns to Buffalo. The 6-foot-2-inch, 225-pound wideout returned to Orchard Park on a practice squad deal after flopping out of Jacksonville on a 3-year- $39 million deal.
Last season, Davis only racked up 129 yards on 12 catches for one touchdown, but he also made an impact in the run game by blocking, which doesn't show up on the stat sheet.
Plus, with a year under Brady, he can still be a key piece in the wide receiver room if they get him some help in the offseason.
8. C- Connor McGovern
McGovern is a huge priority; the Bills must be able to re-sign. They already restructured right tackle Spencer Brown's contract, per Sal Capaccio, to shore up that side of the offensive line. Now, they must restructure Dion Dawkins' deal, which would open up more cap space to be able to let guard David Edwards walk and plug in Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, who can play center and guard.
The reason for keeping McGovern over Edwards is that he's been a very durable center since his career with the Dallas Cowboys. Also, you can afford to lose a guard, but the center is the most important position to have on the offensive line.
9. P Mitch Wishnowsky
Wishnowsky comes from a long line of punters who punt the ball coffin-corner style, trying to pin it out of bounds near the goal line without it going over for a touchback.
Also, Wishnowsky has that wild backspin on the ball, making it harder for opponents to catch.
Part of a Brady-coached team is running creative special-teams plays, just as his boss did with the New Orleans Saints.