Even if there’s room for understanding, Bills Mafia is still frustrated to see the Buffalo Bills’ inactiviy in free agency. The fact of the matter is that general manager Brandon Beane doesn’t have the flexibility to shoot for the stars on the open market.
That, of course, didn’t keep him from kicking the tires, or Bills Mafia from getting their hopes up. The Bills reportedly checked in on Trey Hendrickson before he eventually signed with the Baltimore Ravens following their fiasco with Raiders star Maxx Crosby.
The Bills watched it all unfold from the sidelines and still have an urgent need on the edge of the defensive line. But ultimately, the Bills are better off having missed out on either of the two highly sought-after pass rushers.
Trey Hendrickson and Maxx Crosby came with major risks Bills were better off avoiding
Obviously, the Bills need an elite presence on the edge. Joey Bosa likely isn’t coming back, and Crosby and Hendrickson were the top options available. Still, both players carried immense risk that would not be suitable for a team in Buffalo’s financial situation.
Regardless of who is truly at fault for the trade falling through in Baltimore, the fact remains that Crosby suffered a knee injury that required surgery. While the Ravens may have played a nefarious game, they’ve backed out from injured players before, and those players didn’t often stay in the league much longer.
Sure, Crosby could still be had in a new trade, and likely for a lower price given the circumstances. But if a perennial contender like Baltimore didn't want him, and lost as many free agents as they did because of it, it'd be more than understandable if Beane keeps the Bills out of the fray.
As for Hendrickson, there’s a long list of reasons why he wouldn’t be the play. At the top of the list were the financials. Hendrickson’s price was rumored to be dropping, but he still scored a four-year, $112 million deal. The Bills were reportedly in the race, but they clearly couldn’t compete with that type of offer.
Still, Hendrickson, 31, had his own bout with injuries last season. A core injury sidelined him for more than half the season in 2025. Toss in his public criticisms of the Bengals franchise, and Hendrickson begins to look like the type of player Bills fans would want to avoid if his position were wide receiver instead.
Of course, the Bills will be hard-pressed to find an edge rusher who can match either player’s production when they are healthy. Hendrickson posted 17.5 sacks in each of his most recent full seasons. Crosby had 10 last season in 15 games and publicly asserted he could have finished the season despite his knee injury.
That type of production is no longer available in the free agent market. The Bills can find useful depth and rotational pieces at the position, which is still necessary given the change in scheme. Their best hope of finding a starter, though, is in the draft.
There are plenty of options in the first round when the Bills pick at No. 26, and if Beane wants a more aggressive answer on the edge, he could trade up for one of the top players in the class. Whether he sits tight at 26 or moves up, though, Buffalo could stand to come away from the situation stronger if Beane lands a pass rusher who can become a cornerstone defender to build the entire unit around.
Either way, Bills Mafia shouldn’t be too bent out of shape about missing on either player. Crosby and Hendrickson carry enough star power to overshadow their drawbacks. But in the end, as long as Beane plays his cards right in the draft, Buffalo can relax knowing that instead of dealing with an aging and injured vet, they’ll likely have an exciting young talent to develop into their own star pass rusher.