Power-ranking the Bills offseason needs for 2026

Jan 11, 2026; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane before an an AFC Wild Card Round game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images | Melina Myers-Imagn Images

We can talk about the areas the Buffalo Bills need to improve until we are blue in the face - and we have and will - but there are always limits on how much you can spend and home many draft picks you have. So it's time for a good old fashioned power ranking.

Here is my list of the Bills biggest offseason needs ranked by importance. I want YOUR LIST in the comments section. Disagree with me, agree with me, whatever. I will be back to defend myself or change my mind.

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1 & 2: Multiple pass rushers

We saw what the Seattle Seahawks were able to do to the New England Patriots, sending wave after wave of pressure at Drake Maye. The same thing can be said for the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos defenses and the Philadelphia Eagles the year before. Get pressure from four and win.

Joey Bosa and A.J. Epenesa are free agents. Especially if you're moving Greg Rousseau to defensive end in the new three-man front instead of standing him up, they need two pass rushers to rotate in with Michael Hoecht.

Because of the scheme change and the rotation I want, I am putting TWO pass rushers ahead of any other position. Argue away.

3: Starting wide receiver

I don't think they need an alpha number one receiver. The Bills proved they can manufacture points without the big dog. But that would certainly help. Either way, they need a guy that can play meaningful snaps because the entire package they put together last year didn't have anyone emerge.

Gabe Davis is probably out for the year and Brandin Cooks is a free agent. Josh Palmer and Keon Coleman aren't this guy and neither is Curtis Samuel.

4: Center

Connor McGovern is a free agent. I personally want him re-signed, but Buffalo may want to insert Sedrick Van Pran-Granger into the role. In that event, they will still need someone to compete with the young starter and back him up. Brandon Beane said the most important thing outside of Josh Allen is protecting Josh Allen.

5: Starting-caliber linebacker

Matt Milano is an aging free agent. Shaq Thompson is an aging free agent. Terrel Bernard had a bad year and doesn't exactly fit the defensive scheme change. The four-man front allowed him to be clean. A three-man front is going to need him to shed blockers.

At linebacker, Dorian Williams is a fit for the new scheme and then... They need some help in place of, next to, or right behind Bernard.

6: Another boundary wide receiver

Keon Coleman is fine for your fourth or fifth WR at this point. They probably move on from Curtis Samuel. Even if they keep Josh Palmer, the Bills need a new starting wide receiver AND another boundary WR to add to the mix, so they are both in my top five.

Starting WR, boundary WR, Khalil Shakir as your top three with Josh Palmer, Keon Coleman and four and five and you need another special teamer or two to round out the group with Tyrell Shavers and Gabe Davis on the shelf for most of all of the 2026 season.

7. Starting-caliber cornerback depth

If Dorian Strong can come back form his surgery, he fits this. But that is no guarantee. The Bills have two starters in Christian Benford and Maxwell Hairston. After that, the cupboard is bare.

8: Interior offensive line depth or a starting guard

If and when David Edwards signs a fat deal elsewhere, the Bills have Alec Anderson to put into the starting lineup. (Anderson is a restricted free agent.) But they will need to replace Anderson as the top depth lineman in that case. It's an important role the Bills have used for a several years.

9: Linebacker depth

We talked about it above. The Bills need linebackers for this transition to the 3-4 scheme even if they keep Bernard for 2026. Dorian Williams, Terrel Bernard, Joe Andreesen... then who?

10. Backup quarterback

Mitch Trubisky is a free agent. He needs to leave in order to get a chance to be a starter again. Maybe he stays and is just Josh's backup. Shane Buechele is also a free agent. They need to sign someone.

11. Punter

Mitch Wishnowsky did well for the Bills and could be re-signed, but Buffalo has a new special teams coordinator, so it's still up in the air what he is looking for.

12. Safety depth

Jordan Poyer, Damar Hamlin, Cam Lewis, Sam Franklin, and Darnell Savage are all free agents, leaving only Cole Bishop and Taylor Rapp along with Jordan Hancock. That's two starting-caliber guys alongside a young player. Buffalo needs a fourth safety that can be versatile, especially if they move Hancock into more of a nickel DB role with Taron Johnson potentially aging out (or a cap casualty).

13. Cornerback depth

The Bills don't have a developmental depth cornerback right now with Ja'Marcus Ingram gone. They need a fourth CB that is capable of playing special teams and hopefully developing.

14. Special teams wide receiver

Tyrell Shavers is out for the season, most likely, based on the timing of his injury. You need another guy that can give you special teams gunner snaps and potentially contribute in the passing game. Mecole Hardman is a free agent. Mecole Hardman signed a futures deal but doesn't exactly fit the role I am looking for.

15. Another pass rusher

Yeah, this is three pass rushers. I think they are going to have Rousseau at DE and not standing up as a pass rusher. Michael Hoecht is the only pass rushing OLB I see as an option on the current roster. I want waves, so this guy is the fourth.

16. A Taron Johnson replacement

I don't think Johnson fits well in the Jim Leonhard defense, to be honest. Add in the injury concerns, and Johnson is a sneaky cap casualty candidate. They could just add a safety/nickel hybrid player or use Jordan Hancock here, so I didn't list it as a slot cornerback", but they need some sort of versatile defensive back depth, especially with Cam Lewis hitting free agency.

16. Fullback

Reggie Gilliam is a free agent. I think it's pretty likely he gets re-signed for his special teams ability and his utilization on offense.

17. Defensive line depth

I think the switch to the 3-4 leaves them with solid depth here. Rousseau/Walker/Oliver as your first three up, T.J. Sanders and Michael Hoecht mixing in with maybe Landon Jackson and DeWayne Carter. Zion Logue is on a future contract, too. Theses guys were all picked with a 40-3 in mind, so churning the depth to get better-suited personnel is the only thing I would prioritize for now.

I know that's a lot, so maybe give your top five or re-rank what I wrote. Either way, drop into the comments and let us know how you're prioritizing the offseason needs.