This past week, we here at Buffalo Rumblings were curious to get a pulse on readers’ thoughts ahead of free-agency’s start. Specifically: should the Bills be able to make just one “splash” free-agent signing, where should the focus land?
Of course, this was prior to the news that One Bills Drive managed to get a deal done that keeps Connor McGovern starting at center in 2026 and beyond. No one knew if McGovern was bound for a new zip code via free agency, the same as it remains with starting left
guard David Edwards. Ask nearly anyone tuned into the team, and they’ll tell you the most important thing is protecting quarterback Josh Allen.
Clearly, that remains true. Still, there’s a fairly long list full of positions Buffalo’s front office could choose to prioritize this week and even later into the spring and summer. What plans do new head coach Joe Brady and new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard have for the defensive line, and at edge rusher, or even among the safety room now that the base unit will shift to a 3-4 alignment?
Then of course there’s the matter of what should be done regarding David Edwards — let him explore and return to the negotiation table, or leave altogether? Right, there’s also continued noise at wide receiver, despite the addition of DJ Moore via trade. Quite honestly, until proven otherwise, the conversation about wide receiver isn’t going to disappear any time soon.
But does that mean Bills Mafia sees wide receiver as among the most important position to target in free agency at this stage, regardless of cost? We’re talking a “splash” move here, so it’s okay to work with uncomfortable numbers… at least a bit. You might be surprised, as I was, to read the results of our latest poll.
Or, maybe not. Far and away, most of those polled (48%) want to see the Bills make edge rusher / defensive end a priority early (and, maybe… often?). Defensive end Greg Rousseau has played his entire NFL career as a 4-3 edge defender in the trenches. How will he transition to a stand-up role off the line and among the linebackers? Will defensive ends A.J. Epenesa and/or Joey Bosa return through free agency in 2026 — should they? What about defensive end Javon Solomon and the team’s only prior-listed edge rusher Landon Jackson? Will x-factor Michael Hoecht return to form off an Achilles injury?
So many questions remain among the group. I see it as the single most pressing concern on defense, and perhaps the team overall. Switching to a 3-4 doesn’t allow for a perfectly smooth transition at all positions, perhaps most of all those players who do their work in the trenches and along its edges.
A fairly distant second, 19% of respondents say that linebacker should be Buffalo’s focus if making one big move in free agency. It’s understandable, given the unknowns at the position in free agents Matt Milano and Shaq Thompson. Plus, it’s anyone’s guess how Terrel Bernard rebounds off an injury-plagued 2025 campaign, and what his role, as well Dorian Williams’, looks like moving forward.
Beyond those two position groups, just 11% see the interior defensive line as a priority need. An identical percentage (11%) believe that wide receiver is still the move above all other positions. As a reminder, wide receiver DJ Moore is heading to Orchard Park, NY and he’s being paid like a his role is WR1. Still, is it ever wrong to load up on talented players who can catch passes from Josh Allen?
Way down at the end of the list are the 7% of voters who chose interior offensive line, and then finally just 4% of those polled who picked safety. Both groups will need attention, but are premium assets required? Time will tell, regarding that and all of the other groups. Yet, did we miss any group you’d have preferred voting for in this poll?
Sound off in the comments!
