The Buffalo Bills will attempt to use free agency to put themselves over the hump in the AFC. First, they’ll have the opportunity to retain some of their own.
Headlining that group is receiver Amari Cooper, who the team traded a third-round pick for in October. Despite his pedigree, Cooper struggled to produce in Buffalo, falling into an ancillary role in an offense that seemed to rely on quarterback Josh Allen’s legs as much as his arm.
While Cooper’s name will garner the most attention, the biggest threat to the organization’s playoff hopes in free agency remains on the ground.
The run game is key to the Bills’ potential departures, on both sides of the ball. It’s difficult to win in January without being able to control the clock and keep the offense two-dimensional. For all of the conversations about positional value, running the ball and stopping the run remain pillars of winning football.
On offense, running back Ty Johnson is set to be an unrestricted free agent. Johnson emerged as a clutch playmaker during his two-year stint in Buffalo and felt like a breakout player despite seeing more volume during his time with the New York Jets. Johnson saw his efficiency spike, posting an incredible 8.2 yards per touch out of the backfield.
His ability to blossom into a legitimate passing-down back – hauling in an out-of-structure bomb in the Wild Card Round – has turned him into a viable candidate to return to the backfield in 2025.
Joining him in free agency could be fullback Reggie Gilliam and tight end Quintin Morris. The latter may have been overshadowed by the Bills’ six-linemen packages but had a knack for making plays in his limited opportunities. Gilliam, meanwhile, was an integral piece to the team’s heavier packages. He’s a block-first fullback who thrived in his role in 2024, making his case to return.
On the other side of the ball, the Bills will also have decisions to make on the defensive line. Both Quinton Johnson and Jordan Phillips are headed for the open market. Neither played over a quarter of the team’s defensive snaps.
Those veterans are competing with more than just cheaper free agents this offseason. In the 2025 NFL Draft, no defensive position is deeper than at defensive tackle. Between freakish athletes with pass-rushing potential, nose tackles, and versatile chess pieces, there are plenty of options for each role a team might be looking for.
Whether Buffalo takes a polished product on Day 2 or a flier on Day 3, it wouldn’t be surprising if they prioritized getting young and cheaper at the position due to the depth of the draft class.
