Buffalo Bills have tough decisions ahead in 2023 free agency
The Buffalo Bills have to make a few tough choices with the 2023 NFL free agency period looming for a few of their stars.
Entering this past season, the Buffalo Bills were the favorites of every sportsbook and almost every analyst to win the Super Bowl.
Then, on Thanksgiving, edge rusher Von Miller tore his ACL. The Bills stopped getting consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks, the offense became too dependent on signal-caller Josh Allen, and the result was an ugly 27-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Divisional round.
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Now, with the offseason upon us, the Bills have some serious questions to answer and hard decisions to make.
While NFL free agency is still a few weeks away, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane has to be weighing his options. Among his big-name free agents are running back Devin Singletary, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and safety Jordan Poyer. With the Bills sitting at $16.5 million over the cap and very few easy cuts to make room, Beane will have to extend and restructure his way to cap space.
Yet even so, what’s to become of the aforementioned names who are about to hit the open market?
It makes sense to let Singletary walk after Beane selected running back James Cook in the second round of last year’s draft. However, there are no obvious replacements on the roster for Poyer and Edmunds.
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In the case of Poyer, he’s on the wrong side of 30 and still worth a considerable contract. It’s tough to see that happening in Buffalo without an interesting structure. As for Edmunds, the Bills are already paying an off-ball linebacker serious money in Matt Milano. Would Beane pay them both, knowing it’ll come at a cost to other parts of the roster?
In short, there’s a real chance the Bills lose Singletary, Poyer and Edmunds this offseason, with only the draft to find additional talent.
For years, the Bills have been able to enjoy Allen’s cheap contract. Now with his money hitting full-stride this year, Beane has to be more judicious.
The Bills are still favorites with an elite roster, but the time for tough choices has arrived in Buffalo.
