Offseason Priorities: Re-Signing Bills Free Agents

The Buffalo Bills entered the offseason in a much better situation than they have over the past few years after the league announced a salary cap increase of $23.8 million. Buffalo is about $10 million over the cap compared to the $41 million they were last offseason, and they have 12 unrestricted free agents this year compared to the 22 they had in 2024. They also have one restricted free agent, and one exclusive rights free agent. I believe the Bills should be working to retain half of their free agents, with one already taken care of, and not have to make a flurry of moves to become cap compliant before the new year begins.

One decision was made for the team when Tommy Doyle medically retired this offseason as the result of nerve damage from a devastating leg injury he suffered in the 2023 preseason.

There is also 32-year-old Jordan Phillips, who stated, “I told them if they call, I'll come back, man, but I don't think I can go anywhere else. So whatever that means, I'm not retiring, but this is the only place that I'm going to play,” Phillips told the Buffalo News. I don’t believe Buffalo will bring Phillips back before training camp but I do envision him as a player who will stay true to his word and be ready if Brandon Beane makes a midseason phone call.

The remaining eleven player players will be categorized as “re-sign” candidates or “let walk.” The market value figures that I will be using are all from Spotrac. These numbers are based on the open market, so I assume that if Buffalo re-signs any of their own free agents, it would be at a lower number than what is predicted by Spotrac.

Re-Signed

Alec Anderson (ERFA) signed 1-year deal February 12th - Anderson signed a new deal for 1 year/$1.03 million. A bargain for a player that has been invaluable in the run game as a 6th OL. He played 291 snaps last year on offense. An impressive number for a reserve offensive lineman credited with four starts, with one being at tackle in Week 18.

Re-Sign

Reid Ferguson - There is nothing to say besides that you have a reliable long snapper, so re-sign him. I expect this to be done after the dust settles once the new year starts. This could be something already agreed upon that neither side is rushing to complete.
Re-signed on a 4-year/$6.5 million contract on March 8th

Reggie Gilliam - Gilliam saw his usage increase in 2024, playing 13% of the offensive snaps compared to 8% in 2023. He’s also a key special teams contributor who led the team playing 74% of the snaps. His recent contract of 2 years/$4.6 million is in the neighborhood of what I would expect on a new deal.
Re-signed on a 1-year/$2 million contract on March 11th

Mack Hollins - I didn’t understand this signing last offseason and now I view Hollins as an important piece to the locker room and the “do whatever is necessary” type of guy that championship teams need. He won’t be expensive, but he should be brought back for 1-2 years to continue as WR 4/5 and a special teams contributor. He finished last season tied-4th on the team in receiving yards (378) and receptions (31). He was first with five touchdowns and the second leading receiver for the Bills in the playoffs.
Agreed to a 2-year/$10.4 million contract on March 10th with New England Patriots

Ty Johnson - Johnson led all running backs in yards per touch in 2024 (minimum 50 touches). I didn’t believe that at first glance and checked it here. He was on the field for 316 snaps and only touched the ball 59 times in the regular season but led all Bills running backs in receiving yards and was tied for first with three touchdowns. His ability to pass protect makes him a key part of the running back room and an important player to lock up for another two years. With a market value of $2.7 million, I can see the Bills keeping him for closer to $2.25-2.5/year.
Re-signed on a 2-year/$5 million contract on March 11th

Dawuane Smoot - Smoot’s 2024 season was derailed by injury but his versatility and production make him a valuable player to retain. At just under $3 million AAV market value, Smoot could be a key reserve as a DE and DT for the defense at a reasonable price.

Let Walk

Amari Cooper - I didn’t see enough from Cooper in his 11 games to warrant a new contract. He helped the structure of the Wide Receiver room when they desperately needed it, but the production wasn’t there. Cooper’s market value is around $14 million a season, which is too much for a player who had 20 catches for 297 yards with two touchdowns in 8 games. 272 of those yards came in four games, and he had six catches for 41 yards in Buffalo’s three playoff matchups. This production can be obtained through other means.

Rasul Douglas - Douglas did not look like the player that Buffalo traded for at the 2023 deadline. Douglas had four interceptions and two fumble recoveries in his nine games post trade. In 2024, he did not have an interception or fumble recovery in 15 games. He finished the season graded as the 103rd CB out of 116 in coverage, after being 11th at the end of 2023. Regression along with a market value of $11.9 million, Douglas is another player whose production can be replaced with a cheaper or younger alternative.

Damar Hamlin - Hamlin had his best season as a pro and played 80% of the snaps on defense, second on the team. I expect that he will want to cash in on that. Buffalo drafted Cole Bishop last year to be their future starting safety, and that should be the plan for 2025. I hope Hamlin gets an opportunity to start somewhere and continue his comeback, but I believe he has reached his ceiling in the Bills’ defense.
Re-signed on a 1-year/$2 million contract on March 12th

Quinton Jefferson - Jefferson played around 10% of the defensive snaps in 2024 and was more of a body than a contributor for a DT group that underperformed. I expect these snaps to be used by a younger player through the draft or a different player brought in during FA this year.

Austin Johnson - Johnson saw the field for almost a third of the defensive snaps last season and had some exciting big man interceptions. He didn’t produce much, and, like Jefferson, can be replaced next season.

Quintin Morris (RFA) - Morris played just under 20% of the snaps this past season, an uptick from 2023, and has been a strong contributor on special teams. I won’t be surprised if Buffalo brings him back because they know what they have in him. That can also hurt him if they are looking for more production from their TE3 position. Zach Davidson is an internal option that I believe should get an opportunity in 2025.