Bills' Team Needs to Fill in 2023 NFL Free Agency

The Buffalo Bills could lose two of their best defenders in NFL free agency.

Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and safety Jordan Poyer are two of the top available free agents at their respective positions, and they should generate interest from multiple teams across the league.

Buffalo will try to bring back two important parts of its defensive spine, but it needs to be on the lookout for replacements as well in case they both depart.

Sean McDermott's team comes into free agency with an $18 million deficit against the salary cap, per Spotrac.

The reigning AFC East champion must restructure some contracts, or release players, to get within the cap and free up space to bring in free agents.

If they can't afford both key free agents, the Bills could look to sign other free agents to cheaper deals, or go the NFL draft route to pick up replacements for Edmunds and Poyer.

The two key spots on defense will get the primary focus when free agency begins in two weeks, but the Bills should also look for some improvements on offense to help Josh Allen in the fight at the top of the AFC with the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals.

Safety

Bryan Bennett/Getty Images

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 08: Jordan Poyer #21 of the Buffalo Bills runs to the field prior to a game against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium on January 08, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)

Poyer has been a vital part of the Buffalo defense during the team's rise up the AFC standings.

The 31-year-old has been with the franchise since 2017. He has three 100-tackle seasons and 22 total interceptions since joining the Bills.

Poyer has been the heart of the Buffalo defense, but he may not be around in 2023 if he receives a better offer in free agency.

He could be searching for his final big payday in the NFL, and that may be something the Bills can't afford depending on where they make cuts to get compliant with the salary cap.

If Poyer leaves, the Bills will need to replace him with an experienced body in the secondary.

Eric Rowe and Terrell Edmunds are among the safeties who could be available in the salary bracket below what Poyer demands.

Poyer may not receive the same contract that 26-year-old Jessie Bates will get in free agency, but he should get one of the better safety deals in free agency.

One angle the Bills could play is reuniting the Edmunds brothers on the same team. Terrell has been with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he could be paired with his brother Tremaine—like they were in college at Virginia Tech.

Linebacker

Cooper Neill/Getty Images

ORCHARD PARK, NY - JANUARY 22: Tremaine Edmunds #49 of the Buffalo Bills defends against the Cincinnati Bengals at Highmark Stadium on January 22, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Buffalo's smartest move in the free-agent market could be to re-sign Edmunds and let Poyer walk.

Edmunds is six years younger than Poyer, and he could continue to be a foundational piece of the defense for multiple years.

The Virginia Tech product has had over 100 tackles in each of his five seasons. He earned two Pro Bowl appearances in his first three years in Buffalo.

If Edmunds re-signs, the Bills would have a significant amount of money tied to him and Matt Milano at linebacker, but the investment would be worth it for a team that can't afford to lose all of its top defensive pieces.

Buffalo kept Milano around on a four-year deal worth $41.5 million, and a similar deal could be handed out to Edmunds if he stays in western New York.

There will be plenty of interest in the 25-year-old, and if he does not come back, the Bills could go after players like Devin Bush, Azeez Al-Shaair, T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White, who are all in their mid 20s and can be the foundation of a defense for the next three or four years.

Wide Receiver

Bryan Bennett/Getty Images

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 08: Isaiah McKenzie #6 of the Buffalo Bills runs the ball as Ja'Whaun Bentley #8 of the New England Patriots misses a tackle during the fourth quarter at Highmark Stadium on January 08, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)

The Bills should always be looking to upgrade the offensive skill positions.

The arms race with Cincinnati, Kansas City and the other AFC powers will continue this offseason.

It is better for Buffalo to have too many options than be lacking help behind Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis when the 2023 season rolls around.

Buffalo can go after a role player at wide receiver, like Greg Dortch, Demarcus Robinson or Marvin Jones to provide more help for Diggs and Co.

Juwan Johnson could fill that extra receiver role and also double as a tight end. He caught 42 balls and scored seven touchdowns for the New Orleans Saints last year. He may be a perfect across-the-middle option to complement Dawson Knox.

The Bills are likely willing to go the draft route to find Devin Singletary's replacement because of the success they had with James Cook from the 2022 draft. A backup tight end to Knox could also be found in the draft, which has an abundance of top-tier tight ends.

That makes wide receiver the most logical spot to attack during free agency. A veteran slot receiver or a threat across the middle would be perfect to add to Allen's arsenal.