Five bold predictions for the Bills' 2026 NFL offseason

· Yahoo Sports

With the 2025 NFL season and another Division round playoff exit in the rear view mirror, the Buffalo Bills are seeing changes and looking to improve.

The team's former offensive coordinator, Joe Brady, is their new head coach, and GM Brandon Beane has been promoted to an additional role as President of Football Operations.

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With a new-look coaching staff in tow, what might the front office do with the time between now and the start of their 2026 campaign to help give them the talent they need to get to the Super Bowl?

Here are five bold predictions for the Bills' offseason:

Brandon Beane Uses 1st Bills Draft Pick on pass rush

The Bills have several key position needs this offseason to strengthen, and three of those are on their defense. Buffalo has needs at linebacker, edge rusher, and safety. Beane has drafted defensive ends in the first two rounds before and has since added Landon Jackson alongside Greg Rousseau and current free agent A.J. Epenesa. Joey Bosa joined the group on a one-year pact, and with his and Epenesa's next moves not yet known, it could be a position they add to in free agency, by trade, or in the draft, which is deep at the position.

The same can be said for linebacker and safety; both positions are deep in the upcoming draft, though outside the top 10, LB talent drops off. Adding at the position for new defensive coordinator Jim Leonard's group could be in line one way or another, as there are good options in free agency. Receiver is the only position of greater need for Buffalo, and while there is depth at the position in this year's draft class, it lacks elite talent, so the GM could go after one via trade to secure a proven talent over a development project, and still select one with the second or third pick. All that could suggest the first selection Buffalo makes could be a position in their pass rush.

Quality Over Quantity Draft Picks

Hitting on their draft picks in Buffalo's key positions adds more value to the current team than finding developmental talent, especially because those players will be on more cap-friendly contracts. Beane has a knack for finding value talent in the middle and later rounds, yet with QB Josh Allen turning 30, this is an offseason he can afford to push some more chips in via future picks and later-round draft capital to be aggressive and trade and move their early-round picks further up the board to secure those more immediate contributors.

Depending on what positions Beane prioritizes first in free agency, receiver, defensive end, linebacker, and safety are the most pressing needs. Those are positions the team could target in the early rounds of the draft for the type of talent they need at a cap-friendly cost. Ultimately, they'll take the best players available once on the clock, but if the team can bundle assets to secure talent at those positions who can contribute in their rookie seasons, their draft will have been a success.

Bills Add A Speedy Perimeter Threat

It's completely within the realm of possibility that the Bills add to the receivers group in the early rounds of the draft, though this year's class is deep, it lacks elite talent. That wouldn't necessarily fit the profile of their receiver group of veteran pass catchers in their mid-to-late 20's, but Keon Coleman (22) and Brandin Cooks (32) could suggest a receiver could still be taken early, or some free agent veterans added on short-term pacts.

The receiver room needs upgrades in free agency, Alec Pierce on a multi-year agreement, and Mike Evans on a one-year deal profile as fits for the depleted Bills WR corps if Beane can free up the cap space to get deals done. Pierce could solve their downfield threat needs, and Evans can fill an area of need while helping to provide veteran mentorship and development for Coleman.

It's worth noting that some of the GM's best work during his tenure has been on the trade market, and he could find an answer there by way of talent like Justin Jefferson, Jaylen Waddle, or A.J. Brown should their teams make them available.

QB Josh Allen has entered his prime and achieved his first NFL MVP-winning campaign. At age 30, the Bills can no longer afford to value shop for short-term solutions at WR1 and WR2 or bet on player development. If they are looking to make it to the Super Bowl, it's time to find a long-term solution that can solidify the position for the foreseeable future and revive the Bills' downfield air attack with reliable rotation support and depth behind them.

Bills Trade For A Key Position Need

While the team doesn't have many players that could be considered potential trade chips, and while there are no reports suggesting they might move any personnel in a swap with another club, they do have their current and future picks to work with.

Receiver figures to be the best bet as far as what position they would target, as suggested by offers they made at last season's deadline. There are some good linebacker options in free agency and early in the draft if they want to trade up, but if new DC Jim Leonhard has a player on another roster in mind that a trade could be swung for, it could happen. Edge rusher seems like a good bet for the team's first pick in the first round, unless they package it in a deal for a current NFL player or position at the top of the draft if they see a talent they like in the top 10-15 selections. The team could address their need at safety in free agency or the draft.

Beane has found good value and some of Allen's best receivers via trade; he may do so again in a win-now move.

A Familiar Face Returns to Buffalo

The Bills have areas of need to fill, but can also aggressively look to solidify and upgrade positions.

Could a free agent like Wyatt Teller or Von Miller find themselves back in a Bills uniform?

Both could fit areas of need, and Buffalo would present them with a better situation than they found themselves in with other teams last season. Teller would figure as a versatile add and switch to left guard. At safety, Jordan Poyer had a successful return last year and could help at the position again. And it would give them a chance to win.

Miller was said to be discussed in trade talks at the deadline between Buffalo and Washington. He saw the Bills as providing the best chance to compete year to year to reach the Super Bowl and had a good rapport with Beane.

If a free-agent deal could be struck and amiable terms reached to do so, we could see some former Bills back.

This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Five bold predictions for the Bills' 2026 NFL offseason

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