The Buffalo Bills are in odd territory compared to the last few seasons.
They have 11 players who finished the season on the active roster set to enter free agency. But the Bills also don’t have a burning need to bring back any of them, which is a good problem for a cash-strapped team looking to make upgrades in certain areas.
The Bills don’t currently have their entire offensive line — starters and reserves — under contract for next season. While six of their top seven receiving options are signed.
But even though there aren’t many make-or-break pending free agents, there are some the Bills would like back to fill out the roster. Here’s a look at how they should handle those 11 free agents.
Make it work
Amari Cooper, Wide Receiver: The Bills got exactly one game out of the Cooper they traded for. He injured his wrist in a Week 9 game in Seattle, missed two games and played the remainder of the season in a cast. And when Cooper did play, it was often in a limited capacity, playing just 46% of the offensive snaps.
But when the Bills targeted Cooper, he always seemed to make a play. He made 20 receptions for 297 yards and two touchdowns, while Josh Allen seemed to look his way often when he was on the field in critical situations.
The wrist injury shouldn’t be a lingering issue and Cooper showed his legs still have some juice. Free agency and the draft aren’t deep at receiver, so unless the Bills can swing a trade for someone like DK Metcalf, Cooper is a solid option.
But at 31, the concern for the Bills will be the length of the contract and the money. Spotrac.com estimates Cooper’s market value at two years, $28 million.
In comparison Tampa Bay’s Chris Godwin is projected to net $22.5 million per year over three years in free agency and is one year younger and coming off a dislocated ankle. If the Bills can get Cooper at $14 million per year, it would be a good value.
Reid Ferguson, Long Snapper: Ferguson made $1.212 million last season. That’s about what the Bills could sign him for again this year.
Long snappers don’t land big contracts and Ferguson probably isn’t asking for one. The Bills know what they have in Ferguson and it would be easier to just sign him rather than putting the time into finding a replacement.
Reggie Gilliam, Fullback: Gilliam just completed a two-year, $4.6 million contract. The world won’t end if the Bills don’t re-sign a fullback, but he can provide some different options in the backfield or as a pinch-hitting tight end, while playing a big role on special teams.
The Bills should be able to bring Gilliam back at a low rate and he’s a good person to have in the locker room.
Ty Johnson, Running Back: Allen repeatedly called Johnson the best third-down back in the league. And he was good enough as a route runner and pass protector to keep James Cook off the field, even when the game was on the line.
Spotrac values Johnson at two years, $5.385 million and that would be a reasonable sum. Johnson had three receiving touchdowns and another on the ground, while also adding special teams value as a cover man and a returner.
Dawuane Smoot, Defensive End: Injuries hampered Smoot’s first season in Buffalo, but he was a solid player when healthy. At 6-foot-3, 264 pounds, Smoot was unlike most of Buffalo’s edge rushers.
Instead of being long and lean, Smoot is built like a bull and he’s a good force defender against the run and he can kick inside in pass-rush situations. Smoot is a good veteran to have at the right price.
He netted a $1.468 million deal last season. His market value is listed at $2.9 million per year, so if the Bills can get him back at around $2 or $2.5 million, he would be a nice fit in the defensive line rotation.
If the price is right
Rasul Douglas, Cornerback: Douglas was a home-run addition at the trade deadline in 2023, but he didn’t produce the same number of big plays in 2024. Douglas had four interceptions and two fumble recoveries in nine games in 2023, but didn’t have an interception after having at least four in each of the previous three seasons.
More than that, Douglas seemed to be a step slower at times last season. And two years in a row when asked about an extension at the NFL scouting combine, general manager Brandon Beane didn’t seem over the moon about the idea.
Douglas will be 31 when the 2025 season starts, but he knows Buffalo’s scheme. It’s an aging cornerback market, so bringing back Douglas as a bridge to a drafted player might be an intriguing option.
His market value is listed at $11.905 million per year over three years. That’s a long contract for Douglas’ age. If the Bills can get him on a front-loaded deal worth $24-30 million, it might be worth bringing him back.
Mack Hollins, Wide Receiver: Hollins isn’t going to command big money in free agency. He’s likely not going to fetch more than $3 million per year after making $2.775 million last year.
But the reason Hollins isn’t in the first group is because he will turn 32 early in 2025, and despite a career-high five touchdowns, he has proven to be a career No. 4 receiver. The Bills loved Hollins’ attitude, blocking and special teams play, but rewarding him with more playing time probably didn’t help the offense.
Hollins led all Bills receivers in snaps, playing 66.3% of the offensive plays, with his 721 offensive snaps being more than 100 more than second-round pick Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir, who just signed a $60.2 million extension.
If the Bills are willing to move Hollins back into the No. 4 role and give Coleman, Cooper and Shakir more opportunities, then it would make sense to bring him back.
Time to move on
Damar Hamlin, Safety: Hamlin’s story is undeniably great. Not only did he return to football after suffering commotio cordis, but he became a starter last season and didn’t relinquish the job.
In 2022 and 2024, Hamlin started a combined 27 games and proved to be a decent NFL safety. His 180 tackles during those two seasons showed he was capable of stepping in when needed, but Hamlin isn’t a starting-caliber safety for a contender.
Hamlin struggled in coverage, especially man-to-man, and the Chiefs targeted him in the AFC championship game. He also didn’t excel as a center fielder in zone coverage. He played most effectively in the box and as a blitzer, but he also was a catcher rather than seeking out tackles in run support.
Quinton Jefferson, Defensive Tackle: Jefferson is set to turn 32 and has produced a solid nine-year career. He returned to Buffalo for his second stint with the Bills and appeared in seven games.
Jefferson had one sack and played 26% of the defensive snaps. The Bills can find an upgrade.
Austin Johnson, Defensive Tackle: Johnson didn’t play as much as anticipated in his first season in Buffalo. He’s about to be 31 and only played 31% of the snaps. The Bills could bring him back with no pushback, but they can probably find an upgrade.
Jordan Phillips, Defensive Tackle If the Bills don’t bring Phillips back, they will have to find someone else to implore the crowd to make noise. The Bills love Phillips and he loves them, saying he will only play for the Bills or retire.
The problem is that Phillips is going to be 33 less than a month into the season and injuries have plagued his career since he left Buffalo in 2020, playing in just 53 of 83 possible games. The Bills let Phillips walk last offseason and that should be the plan again.