The Buffalo Bills don’t have any big splashes left in them ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. In part, it’s due to a lack of funds, but the slim pickings of available free agents certainly factor in as well.
Unfortunately for general manager Brandon Beane, he still has holes to fill on his roster, and holding just two draft picks in the top 100 selections, he’s going to have to get creative to do so. Landing a cheap veteran might be his last resort to ensure someone with ready-made experience is filling those vacant starting positions.
Naturally, an understandable position to take that route would be left guard, where the team lost David Edwards in free agency. Even if the team is ready to give Alec Anderson a shot at the position, competition at the spot would be welcomed by Bills Mafia.
CBS Sports’ Zachary Pereles recently took a look at the prevailing needs of all 32 NFL clubs and played matchmaker, pairing potential free-agent fits to fill them. For the Bills, he suggested they kick the tires on eight-year veteran guard James Daniels.
Buffalo Bills could sign FA guard James Daniels as affordable veteran insurance
“The Bills lost stalwart left guard David Edwards in free agency and don't have a ready-made solution. Even with the D.J. Moore trade, the Bills want to be a run-heavy operation, and Daniels had an excellent 2024 with the Steelers before an injury wiped out his 2025 campaign,” Pereles wrote on Monday. “Perhaps more importantly, he would come cheap, a must for a team right up against the cap.”
Daniels signed with the rival Miami Dolphins last offseason, but was lost for the season in the first game of the year with a torn pectoral. His 2024 season, his last with the Pittsburgh Steelers, was also cut short due to a devastating injury, a torn Achilles tendon, four games into the season.
Daniels’ recent injury history would understandably give pause to any fanbase, let alone Bills Mafia. It’s no wonder the 28-year-old is still available in free agency with those injuries in mind. Still, Daniels carries a ton of competent experience, and outside of those two recent seasons, he’s done well to stay healthy for the bulk of his career.
For what it’s worth, Daniels has been a right guard for the past five seasons. Still, he has position flexibility across the interior, getting his first starts in Chicago at left guard before moving to center and eventually right guard for the Bears.
As for the finances, the Dolphins signed Daniels to a three-year, $24 million contract last offseason. They cut bait this offseason, as they did with many of their expensive players in their regime overhaul. Daniels might be looking for a one-year, prove-it deal situation, considering how his past two seasons ended, and at 28 years old, he could still land another strong contract if he can make his 2026 season count. The Bills could look to bring him in on a deal worth around $6-7 million if they want to bring in some experienced insurance to their offensive line.
Even still, if the Bills do look Daniels’ way, Anderson would still have a chance to compete for the spot. Meanwhile, Buffalo would enjoy some solid depth along the interior offensive line regardless of who wins the starting job at left guard, seeing as Daniels, Anderson, and Sedrick Van Pran-Granger would be able to work at all three spots.
It may not be the flashiest or most concrete move Buffalo could make at this stage of the offseason, but if they feel comfortable with Daniels’ health and the money makes sense, it’s not a bad idea to consider.