The Buffalo Bills’ season is over, and so begins the process of building a new squad for the next season ahead. The Bills know they squandered an opportunity this season with the AFC wide open for the taking, but even in the disappointment of how the campaign ended, they also have to know they overcame a lot just to get as far as they did.
Of course, general manager Brandon Beane doesn’t have a ton of cap space to work with from the jump, so he’ll have to work some magic just to improve the roster.
Still, there’s no doubt in the minds of Bills Mafia where he and the franchise should focus their efforts this offseason.
The Buffalo Bills can’t waste another year of Josh Allen like this
Josh Allen and the Bills need wide receiver help in the worst way. Some other poor team can correct me if I’m wrong, but, arguably, Buffalo had the worst receiving group in the NFL last season. Even with the best quarterback in the NFL, that’s a lot to overcome.
Beane has made efforts in the past, but they have not worked out. Free agent signings like Curtis Samuel and Josh Palmer have been total disappointments when they’ve been healthy, which hasn’t been often. Keon Coleman, despite flashing once every blue moon, will have to dig himself out of the hole he buried himself in in 2025.
While Brandin Cooks was more reliable down the stretch, he struggled to complete the catch on two deep shots late against Denver. Beyond Khalil Shakir, who’s reliable in his own right despite not being a true No. 1 option, the Bills don’t have a threat out wide for their elite QB to utilize.
While yes, the Bills need defensive help in their front seven, particularly with an infusion of youth and a long-term elite pass rusher, there’s no greater need than finding multiple receivers this offseason. Allen needs a big-body option to compete with Coleman and a speedy option to replace Cooks.
Options may be limited. Some of the bigger names in the wide receiver free agent pool, such as Mike Evans, George Pickens and Alec Pierce seem likely to get re-signed by their current teams. Other names like Dyami Brown and Jahan Dotson don’t exactly strike fear into defenses either.
READ MORE: Full list of Bills pending free agents heading into 2026 offseason
Hopefully, a name like Jauan Jennings does become available, but otherwise, the Bills will need to look to the NFL Draft or try to swing a blockbuster trade to resolve the issue. It may be a risky option, but I hear A.J. Brown wants out of Philadelphia, just as one example.
The Bills will either hold the 25th or 26th overall picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, depending on whether the Chicago Bears win their playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. A Bears win, and the Bills pick 25th. That late in the first round, it’ll be tough to come away with top-shelf talent at the position with this class.
Beane has his work cut out for him, no doubt. But Bills Mafia isn’t going to stand for another season with Allen throwing to as poor a collection of receivers as he did in 2025 again. It’s the one issue that must be resolved ahead of next season.