Who are the 10 most important players for the future of the Buffalo Bills?

Earlier this week, I was fortunate enough to participate in a panel to create the composite rankings of the top 10 most important Buffalo Bills for the future of the franchise. This activity is led annually by Joe Marino of Locked On Bills, and it always leads to some fantastic discussion.

You can find the episode that unveils the top 10 selections here, with commentary from the panel justifying some of their selections. The panel included 16 beat reporters and content creators, including fellow Buffalo Rumblings staffers Chris Trapasso and Bruce Nolan. It is an enjoyable exercise, and I would encourage everyone to submit their own lists in the comments section below.

Every year this is a difficult process, as the Bills have a talented roster that includes a bit of a logjam after the obvious choice in the top spot (spoiler alert: he wears #17). My top 10 list is included below, with some brief commentary that led to the pick. I will also share my brief list for honorable mention that included three players I regrettably had to omit.

1. Josh Allen – There is no other option that I could seriously consider to take the top spot. Someday Allen’s time with the Bills will come to an end, but for now he is the obvious pick.
2. James Cook – The most dynamic weapon on the Bills offense made things click last season. It is no small feat to lead the NFL in rushing, and expectations remain high for Cook this year.
3. DJ Moore – Brandon Beane took a swing at wide receiver, and Moore will need to deliver. He brings versatility on the outside, and fills a major gap on the roster.
4. Ed Oliver – I was much higher on Oliver than the rest of the panel, and I am OK with that. Injuries wrecked his 2025 season, but a new defensive scheme may be exactly what is needed for him to become a Pro Bowler.
5. Spencer Brown – The former third round pick is arguably the Bills best offensive lineman. He is still just 28 years old, and has quickly become one of the most reliable right tackles in football.
6. Cole Bishop – What a difference a year makes. Bishop quickly became one of the most important defenders in Buffalo last season. If he takes another step forward this year, fans can expect Bishop to catapult up this list.
7. Dion Dawkins – The 2025 season was an OK one for Dawkins, and he has talked about dropping some weight this off-season. He dropped a bit on this list for me based on his age (32 years old) and the fact that the team chose not to restructure his contract this off-season.
8. Christian Benford – I wonder if I should have rated Benford higher, as a somewhat silent and incredibly reliable defensive back.
9. Deone Walker – This is the only player on my ballot that did not make the...