Buffalo Bills face key offseason decisions after AFC loss

Buffalo looks to improve roster with key moves in secondary, wide receiver, and salary cap management.

Spencer Brown #79 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates with Josh Allen #17 after a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

By Randy Ahmad and Hayu Andini

The Buffalo Bills are once again facing an offseason of tough decisions after falling short in the playoffs. Their 32-29 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game ended a promising season and extended their Super Bowl drought to 32 years. Despite finishing with a 13-4 record and defying lower preseason expectations, the Bills remain short of their ultimate goal.

“Ultimately, the further you go, the worse it stings,” general manager Brandon Beane said. “It’s a kick in the face when it ends like that.”

Head coach Sean McDermott echoed the sentiment, stressing that the team is not satisfied with another near miss. “No one in this building, myself included, is comfortable or content with where we’re at,” McDermott said. “If you keep doing things the right way, eventually that door will open.”

With Beane and McDermott addressing the team’s future for over two hours in their end-of-season press conference, several key areas emerged as focal points for Buffalo’s offseason.

Cornerback remains a priority for Buffalo

One of the biggest concerns coming out of the AFC Championship loss was the Bills’ secondary. When top cornerback Christian Benford exited the game with an injury just 12 snaps in, Buffalo struggled in man coverage. Kaiir Elam, thrust into a critical role, was targeted heavily by Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs quarterback completed 11 of 12 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown against man coverage with Elam on the field.

Elam, entering the final year of his rookie contract, did little to solidify himself as a reliable option moving forward. Veteran Rasul Douglas also struggled, raising questions about whether he will return next season. Douglas is a free agent and turns 31 in August, making his future in Buffalo uncertain.

While Benford has emerged as a key player in Buffalo’s defense, the Bills need to find a long-term solution at the other boundary cornerback spot. Whether through free agency or the draft, Beane acknowledged that cornerback will be a priority this offseason.

Wide receiver room could see major changes

Buffalo’s wide receiver group also faces uncertainty heading into 2025. The team emphasized its “everybody eats” philosophy throughout the season, preferring a balanced passing attack rather than force-feeding a true No. 1 target. However, comments from Beane and McDermott suggest that the Bills could look to add a playmaker who can create separation and make life easier for quarterback Josh Allen.

Amari Cooper, acquired in a midseason trade from the Browns, had an inconsistent impact. While the Bills averaged 33.7 points per game with him in the lineup compared to 26.8 without him, Cooper was on the field for only 43.6 percent of available snaps. Now set to hit free agency at age 31, his future in Buffalo is uncertain.

Rookie Keon Coleman also drew scrutiny from Beane, who noted that his production dipped as the season progressed. A wrist injury played a role in his struggles, but questions remain about whether he can develop into a go-to target. With both Cooper and Mack Hollins hitting free agency, Buffalo could pursue a receiver who offers better separation skills.

“We’re going to look for the best players we can get,” Beane said. “It doesn’t mean, okay, we didn’t have a true number one, so we don’t want that. No, we still want good players, but we’ll always want it to be as selfless of a group as possible.”

Finding a receiver who can consistently win one-on-one matchups, particularly in short and intermediate routes, could be a key focus this offseason.

Salary cap situation and potential contract moves

The Bills are in a better cap situation than they were a year ago but still need to navigate financial constraints. The NFL has not yet set the 2025 salary cap, but projections suggest it could be around $272.5 million. According to OverTheCap.com, Buffalo is currently $7.5 million over that projected cap figure, meaning they must make moves to become compliant before the March 12 deadline.

One of the biggest cap-related decisions involves veteran pass rusher Von Miller. When asked about Miller’s future, Beane acknowledged that discussions would take place. Cutting Miller would save the Bills $8.4 million in cap space, which could be tempting given his reduced role in 2024. The 35-year-old played fewer than 50 percent of defensive snaps in every game this season and struggled to generate consistent pressure.

However, Miller has no guaranteed money left on his contract, which opens the door for a potential pay cut rather than an outright release. Given his limited market value at this stage of his career, the Bills may negotiate a reduced salary to keep him as a rotational player.

Another option for creating cap relief is extending quarterback Josh Allen’s contract. Allen’s current deal runs through 2028, but his $43.2 million cap hit in 2025 could be lowered with an extension that pushes money into future years. Despite being one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks, Allen’s $43 million annual salary ranks just 14th in the league.

Beane acknowledged that extending Allen is on the table but emphasized that the team will give him time to process the season-ending loss before engaging in negotiations.

“We have a great relationship,” Beane said. “We’ll eventually discuss how we move forward, but it’s something we’ll handle at the right time.”

What’s next for Buffalo?

The Bills are entering an offseason filled with both opportunities and challenges. Addressing the secondary, finding a reliable receiving option, and managing the salary cap will be key factors in shaping Buffalo’s 2025 roster.

Despite another disappointing playoff exit, the team remains confident that with the right moves, they can break through and compete for a championship. McDermott believes that continuing to build the right roster mix will eventually pay off.

“If you keep doing things the right way, eventually that door will open,” he said.

With the offseason officially underway, the Bills now have to find the right combination of moves to make that happen.