The Buffalo Bills finished the 2025 season with a 12–5 record and an AFC East title, but their campaign ended in disappointment with a Divisional Round loss. While Josh Allen led the way in the regular season with individual excellence, finishing with 3,668 passing yards and 25 touchdowns, the team struggled with inconsistency during narrow games.
The season was also plagued by injuries on the defensive interior, including the loss of star tackle Ed Oliver, which impacted the unit’s ability to control the line of scrimmage. The primary struggle in 2025 was run defense and third-down consistency.
Buffalo finished the regular season with the league’s 28th-ranked run defense, surrendering 136.2 yards per game on the ground. This weakness was exploited in the postseason, where opponents consistently moved the chains and wore down the clock.
Also, the defense struggled in long-yardage situations, ranking in the bottom three of the league for third-down conversions allowed. Offensively, the lack of a true, consistent vertical threat beyond Khalil Shakir made the passing attack predictable in the final month of the season.
Top 10 Free Agency Targets For Buffalo Bills
1. Mike Evans (WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Evans is the missing piece for a Bills offense that lacked a consistent receiving threat in 2025. He recorded 30 catches for 368 yards and 3 touchdowns in an injury-plagued 8-game season, yet his 6’5″ frame remains a premier red-zone weapon.
With Josh Allen entering his prime, Buffalo needs a reliable target who can win contested catches and force safeties away from the line of scrimmage. Evans provides the elite receiver profile that would allow Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir to thrive in their natural roles.
2. Connor McGovern (C, Buffalo Bills)
Re-signing McGovern is a priority for offensive line continuity. He started 16 games in 2025 and provided veteran stability for Josh Allen in a year where the rest of the line dealt with injuries. While Linderbaum is a higher-ceiling target, McGovern already knows the protection calls and has a strong rapport with Allen.
He is currently projected to command roughly $16.3 million per year. Retaining him ensures the Bills don’t have to break in a new center while also hunting for a new wide receiver.
3. Alijah Vera-Tucker (OL, New York Jets)
Vera-Tucker is a versatile “fix-all” for an offensive line that faced significant volatility in 2025. He appeared in 15 games in 2024 and maintained high-level production through the following year before a minor late-season injury.
His ability to start at both tackle and guard is an incredible asset for a Bills team that struggled with interior depth. Vera-Tucker’s movement in space is a perfect match for Buffalo’s outside-zone rushing plays.
4. Devin Lloyd (LB, Jacksonville Jaguars)
Lloyd remained a productive playmaker in 2025, recording 81 tackles and 5 interceptions in 15 games. His elite coverage instincts and range would immediately upgrade a Bills linebacker corps that was exposed against the run and on third-down conversions.
Buffalo’s defense allowed several high-volume rushing performances last year due to poor gap discipline from the second level. Lloyd brings the three-down versatility required to stabilize the middle of the unit and improve the league’s 28th-ranked run defense.
5. Jamel Dean (CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Dean is a physical cornerback who allowed a league-best 46.9 passer rating on throws into his coverage in 2025. He recorded 46 tackles (38 solo, 8 assists), 3 interceptions, and 9 pass deflections. Buffalo’s secondary was strong in 2025 but struggled against elite physical wideouts in the playoffs.
Dean’s ability to win in press-man coverage would allow the Bills to be more aggressive with their front seven. He offers a veteran lockdown presence to pair with Rasul Douglas and Christian Benford.
6. Tyler Linderbaum (C, Baltimore Ravens)
Linderbaum is a technical master who anchored a top-five rushing attack in 2025. Buffalo’s current center, Connor McGovern, is a pending free agent, and Linderbaum offers a significantly higher ceiling as an elite move-blocker.
His arrival would stabilize the interior of the line and provide a leader for a unit that struggled with communication on stunts in 2025. He is a plug-and-play starter for the next decade.
7. Breece Hall (RB, New York Jets)
Hall is one of the most explosive dual-threat backs in the league. In 2025, he recorded 1,065 rushing yards and four touchdowns despite playing in a stagnant Jets offense. While James Cook had a breakout year, Buffalo lacks a high-end “1B” to manage the workload and provide a physical presence in the red zone.
Hall’s ability to create yards after contact and his 4.4 yards-per-carry average would provide the balance the Bills need to protect leads in the fourth quarter.
8. Darnell Savage (S, Buffalo Bills)
Savage joined the Bills mid-season in 2025, providing veteran depth to a secondary hit by injuries. In his limited action with Buffalo, he posted 18 tackles and three pass deflections, contributing to a unit that allowed just 214 passing yards per game.
With several starters entering free agency, re-signing Savage offers a cost-effective solution to maintain the defensive backend’s stability under Sean McDermott.
9. Quinton Bell (EDGE, Miami Dolphins)
Bell emerged as a productive rotational pass rusher in 2025, tallying eight tackles and one fumble recovery in limited snaps. While the Bills have core starters, they lack cost-effective depth that could win on third downs without extra help.
Bell’s quick first step disrupts the pocket and fits the high-pressure identity Buffalo wants to maintain. He is a “low-risk, high-reward” target who ensures the team can maintain a fresh pass-rush rotation throughout the season.
10. Reggie Gilliam (FB, Buffalo Bills)
Re-signing Gilliam is the most important internal move for the Bills‘ offensive identity. He finished 2025 with 2 receptions for 24 yards and served as the lead blocker for a rushing attack that averaged 5.0 yards per carry. He also recorded two carries for four yards and 13 tackles (6 solo, 7 assists).
While he doesn’t fill the stat sheet, his versatility as a blocker, receiver, and special teams ace is invaluable to Josh Allen’s success.
Also Read: 10 Free Agents Baltimore Ravens Can Target in 2026 Free Agency
