With the Buffalo Bills operating under head coach Joe Brady and general manager/president of football operations Brandon Beane, these guys have been working hard together to find the best free agents who fit the Bills' vision for 2026.
Still, with a limited salary cap of just over $9 million, there are players the Bills would like to get but cannot afford. Despite these limitations, they were still able to get key players to fit specific needs.
Top six most important free agency moves
6. CB Dee Alford
Dee Alford signed a three-year, $21 million contract as a replacement nickel corner for the outgoing Taron Johnson, whom the Bills traded to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Replacing a nickel corner like Johnson, who was better suited to play safety in the big nickel packages of Sean McDermott's 4-3 scheme. With Alford, he is better suited to play safety in the big nickel packages of Jim Leonhard's scheme.
Look for the mobile chess piece to bring his flexibility and strength to Buffalo's transitioning defense.
5. S Geno Stone
By signing Geno Stone to a one-year deal, the Bills were going to leave no stone unturned to find guys for their big nickel packages.
Stone had his best season last year with the Cincinnati Bengals, in which he totaled 104 tackles along with two sacks and two picks.
He can also play a traditional cover safety while also playing in the box to tackle like a linebacker. Count on Stone to be durable for a 17-game season, and look for him to play both as a big nickel safety and an inside-the-box linebacker.
4. DE Bradley Chubb
Beane took another swing on an aging pass rusher when he signed Bradley Chubb to a 3-year, $43.5 million deal in hopes of finally having a productive player to rush the quarterback with a more aggressive scheme.
The 29-year-old pass rusher can be either a 4-3 edge rusher or an OLB in a 3-4 in what he will play in Buffalo's defensive scheme.
At 6 foot 4, 268 pounds, Chubb is big and powerful enough to be a 3-4 outside linebacker and to come off the line and sack the quarterback. After missing all of 2024 with a torn ACL, he was on a mission in 2025, recording 47 tackles, 20 QB hits, and 8.5 sacks (more sacks than any other Bills player).
3. S C.J. Gardner-Johnson
By signing C.J. Gardner-Johnson to a one-year deal worth up to $6 million, Brady wants players to play with energy and toughness on defense, so bringing on players like Gardner-Johnson shows the team's obligation to build the defense.
Gardner-Johnson had a solid 2025 season with both the Houston Texans and the Chicago Bears. He tallied 66 tackles, three sacks, and two interceptions.
The vocally loud safety likes to share his feelings during games, but he can back it up on the field, as he backs it up by frustrating opposing receivers. He is the type of player the Bills used to be afraid to take, but not anymore under Beane and Brady.
2. WR D.J. Moore
The Bills over the last two years have tried to make do with less in the receiving corps and have finally decided they want to add "Moore" to the mix.
Literally and figuratively, D.J. Moore finally brings quarterback Josh Allen a true No. 1 wideout. Unlike the Patriots' acquisition of Romeo Dobbs, who has never had a 1,000-yard season, Moore has that on his playing record.
Plus, he knows Brady from when they were both on the Carolina Panthers. Not only did Beane finally have a No. 1 receiver like Moore, but he also had to go back to the well and find one from Carolina.
In his two seasons in Charlotte with Brady as his offensive coordinator, Moore had back-to-back seasons of at least 1,100 receiving yards, and hopes the reunion in Buffalo will begin another streak of at least 1,100 receiving yards.
1. C Connor McGovern
By far, resigning Connor McGovern to a four-year, $52 million deal was the best signing of the offseason. The 6-foot-5, 318-pound staple has been a rock for Josh Allen at center.
McGovern has been very reliable at the center position on that top-notch Buffalo Bills offensive line. He has been excellent since replacing former center Mitch Morse.
This also makes more sense for the release of guard David Edwards. Keeping the center and losing the guard puts the Bills in a better position than the alternative. In my opinion, the center is the most important position on the team.