Buffalo’s Biggest Need Isn’t Star Power, It’s Depth
Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
There has been a lot of chatter this offseason about guys who could make a difference for the Buffalo Bills in 2025 and beyond, but are we focusing on the wrong players?
When heading into a restaurant, you want your main course to taste great. But what happens if you go to that same restaurant and the side dishes are undercooked, or have no flavor? Are the reviews of your meal going to be as good?
Probably not, and that’s exactly what the Bills have to try to avoid this offseason. The Bills are a team that has a lot of top-end talent in Josh Allen, James Cook, and their offensive line. The main course is there, and it’s delicious. But the parts of the roster they need to get right this offseason won’t bring a fancy main dish to the table, it’ll be making sure they nail the rest of the meal.
With that in mind, while fans and media might be dreaming about the Bills going after a top free agent like Tee Higgins, or trying to swing a trade for Myles Garrett, Buffalo’s biggest need is to make sure they get the right complimentary players in place. It’s not going to be an offseason about $20 million-plus superstars, but $3-5 million signees who accentuate the Bills’ overall flavor.
For an example of where this unglamorous approach is needed, look at their depth chart at linebacker. Matt Milano is still a stalwart at the position when he’s on the field, but at least for the last couple of years, that hasn’t been that often. He only played five regular season games two years ago, and just four in 2024. Milano was healthy enough for the playoffs this season, and that was a plus, but the Bills would be foolish not to bring in some depth that they believe could start behind him. Someone who might fit the system on the cheap could be former Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys linebacker Eric Kendricks.
A more obvious position group to address is cornerback. Whether it’s through the draft or free agency, creating depth and competition is vital. Kaiir Elam is still under contract with the Bills, but he’s only made 12 starts after being a first-round pick in 2022. Maybe a fresh start would help rejuvenate his career, but one thing has been made very clear the last couple of seasons: it’s not happening in Buffalo. Elam is virtually unplayable on this team, and having him heading into 2025 would be an unforgivable mistake.
One player that could make a lot of sense would be Emmanuel Moseley, so long as he isn’t the only option brought in. The injury bug has hit him hard the last few seasons, with two torn ACLs in 2022 and 2023, on top of a torn pectoral in 2024. When healthy, though, he is an above-average cornerback who the Bills could get a major discount on. Perhaps they can also pursue Kendall Fuller, who is getting up there in age but has still shown some production, picking up seven passes defended and 50 total tackles last year with the Miami Dolphins.
There are also areas on offense that could also use some depth. It wouldn’t hurt to fortify the wide receiver position, and depending on the Cook situation, getting another running back they can lean on to start a few games could be big. There is also the question about who is going to be Allen’s backup. Will it be Mitchell Trubisky or someone else? That’s not as crucial of a position to fill, but still one that needs to be figured out before the season. If Allen goes down for a game or two during the season, the Bills have to have someone they can trust.
All the talk this offseason has been about the nice filet mignon or lobster that the Bills could target to make this team better for 2025 and beyond, but doing that is focusing on the wrong pieces? Let’s make sure the Bills have a complete meal in 2025, not just the entree. You’re gonna love this steak once Buffalo gets some melt-in-your-mouth potatoes and freshly-roasted asparagus to complete the meal. If the Bills are going to have a five-course meal next season that ends in the Super Bowl, it’s imperative that every course tastes good.
Up Next