Brandon Beane says it every year around this time. The goal is to address roster needs through free agency and roster wants in the following draft. So, if we look at free agency with the intent to address their roster shortcomings, then we first need to determine where those shortcomings are. Based on the recent releases, I think the secondary should be priority number one.
the other area would be the defensive line, specifically. the interior where only one player is currently under contract beyond the 2024 season, that being Ed Oliver. The Bills have already had defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi in for a free agent visit and he won't be the last either. Also, with both Leonard Floyd and A.J. Epenesa pending free agency, edge could be an issue as well, but we'll get into that later.
I also believe there is a need at linebacker. The Buffalo Bills have their starting duo of Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard. After that, the Bills have pending free agent Tyrel Dodson, along with Dorian Williams and Baylon Spector. I hope Dodson re-signs with the Bills and with Williams and Spector, we don't know for sure what they can bring to the table. Spector has looked good at times but struggles to stay healthy. Williams is a very athletic linebacker and has shown promise but still needs more to prove.
the other positions are wide receiver and offensive line. We know Gabe Davis and Trent Sherfield are free agents and Deonte Harty was released earlier in the week. Oh, and there is corner, where Tre'Davious White was just released, and Dane Jackson is a pending free agent. So, the entire defense, and wide receivers need answers. You could throw in the offensive line too, with Ryan Bates trade and releasing Mitch Morse.
The Buffalo Bills need to sign these five free agents.
DaQuan Jones - Defensive tackle
DaQuan Jones might be the single biggest free agent for the Buffalo Bills. He and Ed Oliver at the beginning of the season were playing as well as any defensive tackle duo in the league. I feel like a broken record at times, but injuries once again derailed the season and even still the Bills almost found a way in the end. Regardless, let's get Jones back in a Bills uniform for the 2024 season and see what these two can do together for a full season.
Jones is a vital piece to the Bills defensive front and makes everyone's job easier. He occupies blocks and collapses the pocket. What he brings to the field, allows the edge rushers to make plays, and the linebackers to roam free and clean from sideline to sideline, all while helping the coverage on the backend.
Jordan Whitehead - Safety
I don't think the Bills will be breaking the bank in free agency this season. I believe they will do their best to re-sign their free agents, such as DaQuan Jones; however, they need some help in the safety room after releasing Jordan Poyer and Siran Neal. The Buffalo Bills did re-sign one safety, Taylor Rapp to a three-year deal. The Bills will sign a free agent safety and maybe draft one too, if the value falls right for them.
That said, some Bills fans may remember Whitehead in Week One of the season, when he picked off Josh Allen three times. He only recorded one more interception the rest of the season, ending with four but he would be a solid addition for the Bills in 2024. A tandem of Rapp and Whitehead wouldn't be the same as Hyde and Poyer but I think the Bills would be fine with the two of them manning the defensive backfield.
A.J. Epenesa/Leonard Floyd - Edge defenders
I'm cheating on this one, but I think the Bills should bring both of these guys back. If they can re-sign these two, it would solidify the position and would not be a need at all. I know some fans probably want something different, but a healthier Von Miller, a healthy DaQuan Jones, and Floyd, along with Epenesa and Rousseau, can be a formidable group. They were one of the top teams in terms of sacks and that was with Jones out most of the season, and Miller still trying to get healthy.
Looking for a legit pass rusher that can have an impact in year one is not easy, almost as hard as finding a franchise quarterback. So much so, that if you look historically, the league's best pass rushers are typically high draft picks on day one. The Bills have a couple of solid rushers in Epenesa and Floyd, sign them back on, and focus elsewhere in the draft.
Josh Uche - Linebacker
Josh Uche is only 25 years old, but 2023 wasn't a good season for him but just a year ago, he recorded 11.5 sacks for the Patriots. The ability is there and in the right system, with the right players around him, I think he could be a terrific depth piece and be part of some of the Bills' pressure packages as well. If the Bills can re-sign Dodson and bring in Uche on a free agent deal, this would be a strength of not just the defense but the whole team.
Spotrac.com has Uche's market value listed at $8.3 million per year, but Beane has shown time and time again that he can get free agents in Buffalo for less. Plus, Spotrac's market projections are typically higher than what players sign. Uche might command too much on the free agent market but if Beane can work his magic, I think Uche can offer something for the Bills.
Gabriel Davis - Wide receiver
Some fans would prefer Davis sign elsewhere and the Bills to move on. I'm afraid I have to disagree and hope Buffalo can retain him. Understand though, I still want Beane and the Bills to draft at least one wide receiver, preferably two but keeping Davis on the roster is a good thing. He knows the system and QB1, and while we may want more consistency, fans don't call him "Big Play Gabe" for nothing.
If the Bills can find an answer for their number two receiver and Davis becomes the third or fourth option, the Bills could be even more lethal on offense. Secondly, if they swing for a number two wide receiver in the draft and he's not ready in year one to be that guy, the team can still fall back on Davis to continue that role. The Bills offense has been one of the top scorer teams in the league and that's with Davis as the number two wide receiver.