NFL Trade Rumors
Projected Cap Space: -$15.7 million
Draft Picks: 10
Notable Free Agents:
1 – Defensive Line
If there’s one theme running through the many, many losses the Bills have accumulated against the Chiefs in the playoffs to this point, it’s that Kansas City’s offense has consistently been better than Buffalo’s defense, especially when it mattered most. The Bills have largely been great on defense in the regular season but have lacked that extra oomph to get over the hump. The best way to get that extra punch is by juicing the defensive line.
The Bills didn’t have a bad defensive line last year but it certainly wasn’t great. They were middle of the pack with 39 total sacks, but No. 10 in pressure rate despite ranking just 27th in blitz rate. No one on the team had double-digit sacks. Starting DEs Greg Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa had eight and six respectively, about in line with their career averages. Bills DT Ed Oliver dropped from 9.5 sacks last year to 3.5 in 2024.
Rousseau is in the last year of his contract and is an extension candidate. He and Epenesa would be great No. 2 and No. 3 edge rushers, but Buffalo needs a game-wrecker on its front four. Von Miller was supposed to be that player but due to age and injury, that swing hasn’t worked out. Elite pass rushers are hard to find but finding one would be the simplest way to take the Bills to the next level. Maybe Rousseau or Oliver can take their games to another level, but more than likely the Bills will have to look externally.
2 – Cornerback
The Bills got a much-needed developmental win when CB Christian Benford took a major leap this past year, establishing himself as a bonafide starting caliber corner. Finding Benford in the sixth round was a big win for Bills GM Brandon Beane and the front office and the type of hit they have to have with limited financial flexibility.
Unfortunately former first-round CB Kaiir Elam has not met expectations so far, and with Douglas set for free agency, that leaves a hole at the other cornerback spot across from Benford. The Bills could also use better depth in the secondary, as Elam got exposed when Benford was concussed for the second time in a week in the AFC title game.
3 – Safety
Buffalo held things together at safety by hitting on the low-cost signing of S **[Taylor...
