As the Bills head into another offseason, the feeling of disappointment lingers after falling short of the Super Bowl again. The AFC championship defeat was another chapter from the same book; the offense holds up and performs while the defense lets them down yet again.
It feels like this is one of the most important offseasons since Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott took over the franchise. Hitting in free agency, nailing draft picks and making the right trades fall on their shoulders and is going to be necessary to eventually “kick the door down” next season.
Let’s take a look at three potential free agents that the Bills could target to help bolster the defense in 2025.
Khalil Mack
Although this may feel like another Von Miller type experiment, Mack has proven that he still has a lot more gas left in the tank. He is expected to return to play football in 2025, so the Chargers will have a decision to make and it’s not a guarantee that he will return to Los Angeles.
The former University of Buffalo Bull had 17 sacks just two years ago and has missed just one game since 2021. For comparison, Miller had a combined 14 sacks in his three seasons in Buffalo and missed 14 games during that span.
The consistent need for more pass rushers come playoff time should have the Bills first in line to bring Mack in this offseason.
Eric Stokes
Throughout the season, the depth at cornerback was a concern. The Bills were able to get by in those games, but the AFC Championship was an entirely different story. With Christian Benford going down early with another concussion, Kaiir Elam was forced into the game. Bills fans know how that story unfolded and that is why cornerback is a top priority in the offseason.
Eric Stokes is not a particularly hot name in the 2025 free agency list, but he can be a great addition to an already thin secondary. The former 2021 first round pick from Green Bay has had a tough start to his NFL career, but has shown flashes of being a productive corner in this league. In his rookie year, Stokes finished with 14 starts, 55 tackles and one interception.
At just 25 years old, Stokes may thrive with a change of scenery and Buffalo is in serious need of more cornerback depth.
Andre Cisco
The safety position was another question mark for the Bills this year and again, they were able to cycle through a few players to get the job done in the regular season. However, just as the cornerback position got exposed against Kansas City, so too did the safeties.
As Damar Hamlin heads into free agency, the Bills have a decision to make. Bring back a staple member of the organization to keep the chemistry, or move on in an attempt to upgrade at the position? Hamlin’s play in the AFC Championship game was an indication that it might be time to move on.
An intriguing replacement option is Jacksonville’s Andre Cisco. The former Syracuse Orange safety has been very productive in his four NFL seasons and has continued to shine in a somewhat dysfunctional organization. In his 63 games, Cisco has eight interceptions and 229 tackles. For comparison, Hamlin has two interceptions and 184 tackles in 48 games.
While the Bills will likely begin next season as one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl, improving the defense is the only way that they finally break through. It starts with free agency, so be sure to keep an eye on these three targets for Buffalo.