The beginning stages of the NFL’s offseason are exciting once we start to get free agency news. Or maybe even a trade happens, but isn’t official until the new year for football opens up in March. Either way, once March hits, we kick off the year with a free agency frenzy where teams and players are looking to make all sorts of moves.
This past free agency frenzy was much different for the Buffalo Bills compared to last season. Rather than losing a bunch of pieces, general manager Brandon Beane managed to add some players to correct some of the gaps that this roster had. Not a lot on offense, but a ton on defense. Not to mention, Beane got ahead of the curve and extended Greg Rousseau, Khalil Shakir, Christian Benford, and Terrel Bernard to contract extensions (while also giving Josh Allen a brand new six-year, $330 million deal).
The Bills signed players like Joey Bosa, Michael Hoecht, and Larry Ogunjobi. They also drafted T.J. Sanders, Landon Jackson, and Deone Walker to add to their defensive line. This unit is going to look a lot different in 2025. In addition, the Bills also brought back CB Tre’Davious White on a one-year deal and drafted three cornerbacks (Maxwell Hairston, Jordan Hancock, and Dorian Strong).
Beane is telling us that his main priority was the defense and he delivered for sure. As for the offense, Beane signed WRs Joshua Palmer and Elijah Moore while also drafted WR Kaden Prather in the 7th round of the draft. While most Bills fans are feeling great heading into the 2025 season, not everyone was a big fan of the Bills' offseason.
Bills' offseason grade from B/R is lower than it should be
Kristopher Knox from Bleacher Report graded each NFL’s offseason and let’s just say, Knox wasn’t exactly a big fan of the Bills’ moves. Knox gave the Bills a “C+” for free agency/trades, a “B” for the draft, and extra-credit project of extending Allen. Overall, Knox gave the Bills a “B-”. Huh?
"It's hard to say that the Buffalo Bills will be substantially better or worse than they were in 2024. Most of the moves general manager Brandon Beane made this offseason can be viewed as one-for-one player replacements."Kristopher Knox, Bleacher Report
Knox went into depth about how basically, the Bills swapped Von Miller for Joey Bosa, and also brought in Maxwell Hairston who could eventually replace Rasul Douglas. So, because the Bills got younger players on cheaper contracts, this gives them only a “B-”? Okay then…
The Bills did their own version of “going all-in”. They bring in Bosa who is a ferocious edge rusher and still provides that veteran presence of the edge like Miller did. Hairston is fast off the ball and makes plays left and right. Douglas started to decline just a bit in the second half of the season.
In addition, the Bills have a completely new defensive line behind Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones. T.J. Sanders is very fast off the ball and can easily control a block, while Deone Walker is going to force double teams and open up a lane for the linebackers. Let’s not forget about Landon Jackson, who has the chance to learn from both Rousseau and Bosa and eventually be Bosa’s successor (assuming that Bosa is one-and-done with the Bills).
The Bills made it to the AFC championship last season after having a tough offseason. Now they have improved the roster more than before and it’s still not good enough? I guess September will truly show us if this grade was worthy or completely wrong.