After a dramatic start to the offseason, the Buffalo Bills have addressed most of the roster questions posed by the disappointing end to their 2025 campaign. They added a No. 1 receiver for Josh Allen, bolstered their pass rush, and filled out their secondary.
Still, one key weakness remains. Dorian Williams and Terrel Bernard are currently the team's starting off-ball linebackers, with Joe Andreessen and rookie Kaleb Elarms-Orr serving as depth. That's not enough to compete for a Super Bowl, even if defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard boosts the unit.
There might be an easy answer available in free agency. Veteran Bobby Wagner is still unsigned after his contract expired with the Washington Commanders. He may be a shadow of the All-Pro linebacker he once was, but Wagner would be an improvement at linebacker for the Bills. If they can make a deal happen at a low cost, they shouldn't think twice.
Bobby Wagner makes too much sense for the Bills to ignore
Maybe the Bills don't need to be tripping over themselves to sign 35-year-olds, but Wagner could be an excellent addition for this defense. Even in his 14th NFL season, he was incredibly productive for the Washington Commanders. He logged 162 tackles and two interceptions, keeping a bad defense from plummeting into a full disaster.
Wagner is limited in coverage at this point in his career. There's no denying it. He posted a career-low PFF coverage grade of 51.1 in 2025. His declining athleticism just doesn't allow him to turn and run with receivers and tight ends at a high level. But he's still a force in the running game, and that's exactly what the Bills need.
Bernard, Buffalo's best current linebacker, is undersized for the position. He's best as a versatile piece, not as a true "Mike" linebacker. Bills fans are all too familiar with what happens when he's asked to defend the run consistently.
Wagner could fill that role, allowing Bernard to be at his best. The veteran can take on blocks and plug running lanes on early downs, helping the defense get into favorable situations. Even if he doesn't take on a full-time workload, the 35-year-old linebacker could be an important addition.
Spotrac currently estimates that Wagner's market value is around $7.6 million per year. While they're still somewhat limited financially, that's a price that the Bills should be willing to pay to fill the most glaring hole on their roster.
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