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Brandon Beane filled several of Buffalo’s roster holes through free agency. Have those additions made the roster better, though?
The main wave of free agency is firmly behind us, with general manager Brandon Beane having made moves to fill some of the glaring gaps in the team’s roster and establish a floor so he doesn’t feel forced to draft purely by need early on during the 2025
NFL Draft. How good are those new additions, though? Do they move the needle making this team better in 2025 or is it just more of the same, compared to the players the Bills already have on the roster or the ones that just left the team?
Unlike last season, when the roster went through a large transformation with several long-tenured veterans leaving the team, Buffalo didn’t lose many key pieces this offseason. Wide receiver Amari Cooper had his moments but never became a true WR1 for Josh Allen. Cornerback Rasul Douglas, showed clear signs of physical decline, making him ill-suited for what defensive coordinator Bobby Babich wants to do with the coverage schemes.
Future Hall of Famer Von Miller had a comeback year compared to 2023, but it still wasn’t enough to justify the $22 million cap number the team would’ve carried keeping him on the roster. After playing just 16 snaps in the biggest game of the team’s season, it became clear the coaching staff didn’t see him as the difference maker he used to be.
Journeyman wide receiver Mack Hollins was a nice story, and it’s fair to say his performances got better as the season went on. Anyway, if he’s among a team’s top three wide receivers in snaps per game, it’s pretty clear that the WR3 job can be upgraded.
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Other than those four pieces (all on the wrong side of the 30s), the Bills didn’t lose any other starter or big-time contributor. Also, those were good but not indispensable pieces on the team’s roster, pieces that shouldn’t be so difficult to replace.
Did the Bills do so through the free agency, though? Let’s check and analyze the new additions.
WR Joshua Palmer
The former third-round pick had his breakout year in 2022 when, with veterans Keenan Allen and Mike Williams struggling with injuries, he made the most of his opportunity and finished the season with 72 receptions, 769 yards, and three TDs for the
Los Angeles Chargers. However, he couldn’t sustain the momentum in the following seasons, not just falling behind Keenan Allen in 2023 and rookie Ladd McConkey in 2024, but also to the unimpressive Quentin Johnston in both years.
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Despite not reaching the 40 receptions or 600 receiving yards mark in three of his four NFL seasons, Palmer is supposed to be — according to some advanced metrics — a very good separator. The film shows me a decent WR3, good in some areas but far from great in any of them. He’s a better receiver than Mack Hollins but, unlike many people believe, that’s not the player he’s been brought in to replace.
The Bills had trouble with their passing game early in 2024 because they simply didn’t have someone capable of beating man coverage outside. Amari Cooper was brought in to solve that problem and, despite not being the elite separator he once was, he still demanded respect from opponents and made contested catches.
Palmer’s traits and the money invested in him show Buffalo trusts him to be that “man-beater” they expected Cooper to be. His addition means wide receiver isn’t a must in Round next month, establishing a floor in the starting lineup.
If the Bills don’t add a wide receiver early, or if the rookie needs some time to develop, they believe they’re fine with a top three of Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Joshua Palmer. That’s my concern with this signing: I don’t believe that’s a group you can say you’re really helping Josh Allen with.
Right now, I don’t see Buffalo in a position to pass on one of the top four wide receivers in the draft if one of them falls to 30. Ideally, you have Palmer as insurance in case Coleman doesn’t take the next step this season, or a rookie struggles early. I suspect the Bills see this signing differently than I do, trusting Palmer has enough to take the next step in a favorable situation with Josh Allen throwing him the ball. We’ll see.
Was there a better option?
I believe so, and I’ll bring up some possibilities.
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The first one is Amari Cooper. He isn’t the player he used to be but he still made some important plays for the Bills in less-than-ideal circumstances. In the regular-season game versus the Chiefs, for example, he was the guy to make the two catches against Cover-0, forcing them out of those calls and changing the way Kansas City tried to defend Buffalo’s offense. He finished the game with two catches on three targets, but those two catches were crucial to their win.
Cooper hasn’t signed anywhere yet, which makes me believe he’d be available for Palmer’s money. With an entire offseason preparing alongside Allen, I believe he’d still be more reliable than the former Charger.
The second one isn’t on par with Beane’s free-agency strategy, rather a “What if?” scenario. Remember when Sean McDermott said pairing Derrick Henry with Lamar Jackson made so much sense and it was a genius move by the Ravens?
Why not give Josh Allen Davante Adams then? His new contract with the
Los Angeles Rams is far too rich for some people’s taste but, at $22 million per year in the next two seasons, it would have given Allen a proven separator for a Palmer + Hoecht or Palmer + Ogunjobi price. I’d rather have Adams as WR1 and Javon Solomon as DE4 or DeWayne Carter as the backup 3-tech, than Palmer and Hoecht or Palmer and Ogunjobi in those roles. Sean McDermott has said he needs two or three elite players on each side of the ball to win those big games, Adams is the only name here who fits the bill right now. But yes, he’s no longer available.
My third option is another veteran who’s still available, and he’s not just been better than Palmer overall, but he has in fact kept Palmer on the bench for years. Keenan Allen is coming off a 70-catch season with the Bears and is a proven separator. He’s getting older but the film shows he still has it.
Allen has always been a better option in the slot but, to be a guy with one clear role, beat man coverage, I have no doubts he can get the job done no matter where he’s lining up.
DL Michael Hoecht
Hoecht is a guy who Beane wanted to add for quite some time , but with a second-round tender in last year's restricted free agency, it was considered way too rich at the time. One year later, here he is, even though a six-game suspension will need to be served before he finally suits up as a Bill.
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On paper, Hoecht seems like an interesting fit. A Swiss Army-knife kind of piece, he can line up everywhere on the front-seven and bring chaos, a kind of piece Buffalo hasn’t had since Lorenzo Alexander retired.
He has the athleticism and the motor to create pressure and become a good asset in the team’s pressure packages, and should be able to play as an EDGE on early downs and as an interior rusher on passing downs. That’s the role that Dawuane Smoot played surprisingly well, when healthy, last season.
Despite all the good traits he has and the intriguing possibilities his skillset brings to the table, I’m a bit afraid the Bills won’t find ways to make the most out of his versatility. We’ve seen that in the past in other positions (Curtis Samuel the most recent case), and let’s not forget that Hoecht is coming from a down year.
After starting all 17 games (with six sacks) in 2023, he started just five last season, sacking opposing quarterbacks just three times. For comparison's sake, A.J. Epenesa has been more productive than Hoecht. Overall, an interesting signing but go easy with the expectations here.
Was there a better option?
I believe so. One name that quickly comes to mind is Dante Fowler Jr. The former first-round pick from the
Jacksonville Jaguars has become an interesting journeyman rusher over the years, most recently putting up 10.5 sacks with the
Washington Commanders last season.
Fowler just signed a one-year deal with the
Dallas Cowboys, for similar money as Hoecht. I believe he’d have offered the Bills better pass rushing as a traditional edge, and would be an upgrade over Epenesa — something we can’t really confirm with Hoecht.
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Another option would be to save the money spent on Hoecht to add it in a deal for a better and more expensive free-agent addition elsewhere, as I talked about in the Davante Adams suggestion above. Let me give you another example — I’d rather have Jonathan Allen or Javon Hargrave as DT and Solomon as the DE4, than the combination of Hoecht and Ogunjobi, for the same money.
EDGE Joey Bosa
I don’t have a problem with the Bills betting on Bosa after not having a shot at Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby in the trade market, and Trey Hendrickson being too expensive according to the reports. My problem with this investment is how it’s been made.
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Buffalo cut Von Miller, considering it too expensive to keep him. With the decision, $8 million was saved and the Bills “spent” $15 million of their cap to push Miller off the roster. Then the Bosa addition happened for $12.6 million, with the possibility of the deal reaching the $15.6 million mark if he stays healthy and plays well.
It’s a big if, considering his recent seasons, but still, it could happen. Most of the fans bought in on the move thinking Buffalo got Bosa for $4 million, considering Miller’s savings when, in fact, the team refused to spend $22 million in cap space with Miller, but now is spending around $28 million in cap space to add Bosa (his $12.6 million plus Miller’s $15 million dead-cap number). Not ideal when Bosa, despite being six years younger, has struggled with injuries as much as Miller recently.
What’s even scarier is the fact that the same advanced metrics used to defend the Palmer signing are ignored when comparing Bosa and Miller last season. Miller was able to put up better production despite the lack of snaps:
Overall, I can understand Beane seeing Miller on his last legs and trying to get younger with Bosa, a DE who fits better what he and McDermott envision at the position with his size and strength. His health is a big question mark but the bet is valid, in my opinion, since he can be one of the three elite players the Bills need on the defensive side of the ball.
Was there a better option?
I don’t believe so, other than keeping Miller instead and actually playing him. I know it isn’t the sexy choice and people want to see change, but it’s a valid question considering both players’ performances last season.
I like Bosa and he’s younger, sure, I just don’t like the price — or let me put it in a better way, how they used their cap space. There’s $15 million being wasted here. I would have liked to double down here keeping Miller on the roster as well, instead of signing Hoecht and Ogunjobi, or even moving on from Epenesa. Despite his age, Miller still was the most consistent pass rusher the team had.
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I’d rather use the entire $22 million on a veteran pass rusher who can still help in limited snaps than save $8 million and then spend around $20 million on backups at DT and DE, plus spending $15 million of the cap for a player who won’t be there.
Give me Bosa, Rousseau, Epenesa, Miller, and Solomon at DE and Oliver, Jones, Carter, and a rookie early in the draft, plus Jordan Phillips back for the minimum and no wasted cap space, instead of Bosa, Rousseau, Epenesa, and Hoecht, plus Oliver, Jones, Ogunjobi, Carter, and the rookie, plus wasted $15M.
DT Larry Ogunjobi
Solid piece, and a solid player. He might be able to play a bit of NT as well, which would explain the relatively high price spent on him. It’s still a very questionable move, in my opinion, especially with the suspension situation.
And no, it’s not good that “he will sit and be fresh later.” If it’s so good, why don’t teams do that more often in order to keep their main players fresh for the postseason? Nonsense.
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Ogunjobi does fit Beane’s strategy, though. He offers the team a solid floor, not having to rely on DeWayne Carter’s development in year two or a rookie coming in and playing a key role. They still can (and I believe they will) draft a defensive tackle early next month, they just don’t feel pressured to do so if the board doesn’t go in this direction.
Was there a better option?
For sure. I already mentioned Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave as better options. They were more expensive but achievable. Another player who I believe would've been a way better option for extra $6 million is Dalvin Tomlinson.
Tomlinson would've been an upgrade at NT in DaQuan Jones’ place, the ideal partner for Ed Oliver. Not signing one of Hoecht, Palmer, or Bosa and maybe keeping Miller instead would’ve opened the necessary space to make this signing.
S Darrick Forrest Jr.
I loved this signing and I actually believe this is the type of move Beane should’ve looked for on most of his signings — going after the most expensive players, the ones with the biggest shot at making the difference for the Bills in big games, or the more affordable/high-potential ones, like Forrest.
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Forrest has a real shot at flourishing under McDermott, as Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer did in the past. The athleticism is there, and there’s good tape of him as a starter as well. He might be a guy just in need of an opportunity, and the Bills may be willing to give him that chance.
Was there a better option?
Not for this price. Jeremy Chinn is a guy who I'd love to see Buffalo add, but he’s way more expensive at $8 million per year. Forrest represents awesome value.
WR/KR Laviska Shenault Jr.
Another valid addition for a very affordable contract. Shenault is one of the few players able to return a kickoff for a touchdown under the new rule, and he’ll have a shot at winning the kickoff return job.
He’s also a dangerous player with the ball in his hands, as someone tough to bring down. As a former second-round pick, who knows if he can fulfill his potential with Josh Allen throwing him the ball. I like this type of signing.
Was there a better option?
Possibly. At this price tag, though, it’s very debatable.
CB Dane Jackson
After completely overplaying his draft status as a Bill, it’s fair to say Jackson became a free-agency bust for the
Carolina Panthers, losing his starting job early on. The Bills brought him back as the CB2 floor, trusting him to play well enough there if needed.
I’m not very comfortable with that move. He’s a backup who knows the schemes at best, in my opinion. Drafting a cornerback early is a must at the moment.
Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Was there a better option?
Not at the price of Jackson’s contract. I’d trade some of the investments the Bills made in free agency for the Charvarius Ward deal with the
Indianapolis Colts ($18 million a year), or would like to see them bring Stephon Gilmore back to finish his career where he started it. With how Kaiir Elam’s career in Buffalo ended, I’m a bit afraid of the team going to the draft with a big need at cornerback.
OL Kendrick Green
Not much to say about this one. If Kromer wanted him, I want him as well.
Was there a better option?
In Kromer I trust.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I don’t see the Bills getting better so far this offseason, compared to what they had last year. The additions made are solid — with the potential to work out very well in the best-case scenario. At the same time, we can’t ignore how average those guys have been so far in their NFL careers (with Bosa as the exception).
If the roster isn’t stronger than it was last season, I don’t necessarily believe it’s weaker, either. The signings kept them at the same level, mostly, with slight upgrades and slight downgrades here and there, depending on how well those guys will fit.
I just don’t like how Beane sometimes goes after quantity instead of quality — I’d like to see him pay a bit more for guys with more potential to be real difference-makers even if it would mean trusting some of their draft picks and younger players to fill out the rotational roles and backup spots.
Some of them would struggle and might need to be replaced for vet minimum guys, but you also could be surprised by the development of some of those late-round picks, and that’s been one of the strengths of Beane’s regime — finding and developing good players late in the drafts.
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Signing all those vets sometimes blocks the path for rookies and young players, who would benefit from playing more early in their careers. Also, the team would benefit from having more high-end talent signed in free agency, instead of all those good-but-not-great players who likely won’t be enough when the Bills take on the cream of the crop in the playoffs.
There’s room for the early picks to come in as starters and contribute immediately. But will they? Or will they be replaced by solid vets who won’t make the rookie mistakes but also won’t offer the necessary potential for the Bills to take the next step? Time will tell.
I loved the re-signings — those are talented players, and still young, who will play their prime years in Buffalo. To become a better team in 2025 I believe the Bills need two things to happen The home-grow talent must continue developing, with Dalton Kincaid and Keon Coleman on offense, and Greg Rousseau, Ed Oliver, and Cole Bishop on defense taking the next step. They also must hit on draft picks early, adding guys who will play from day one and make an impact, especially by playoff season.
If it happens, I can see an upgrade, otherwise, this roster will be stuck at the same level as was the case in 2024: good to very good with Josh leading the way, but not on par with the best ones in the league.
That’s a team-building strategy that has worked to make the team perennial contenders. But is it enough to make them
Super Bowl champions? I don’t believe so.
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