Many Bills defensive contributors in 2025 remain free agents

DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 17: Joey Bosa #97 of the Buffalo Bills rushes the passer during an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on January 17, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images) | Getty Images As the Joe Brady era is under way for the new head coach of the Buffalo Bills, there are plenty of questions around what the team’s defense will look like this season. With the expected shift to a 3-4 base defense, many fans have been excited to see what new defensive coordinator Jim Leonard will bring to the club.

While the new defensive scheme can be met with optimism, I can not help but look back on the 2025 squad and the debate around the talent of Buffalo’s defense. Earlier this year, Vic Carucci reported the following for WGRZ, regarding the rift between Sean Mcdermott, Brandon Beane, and Terry Pegula related to the team’s roster. “I’m told that during a meeting held five weeks ago between McDermott, Beane and Pegula, the coach pointed out what the roster lacked to win a Super Bowl.

I don’t know the specifics McDermott mentioned, but I’m told neither Beane nor Pegula was pleased with McDermott’s assessment. “ Now that the 2026 free agency period is almost two months old, the number of 2025 Bills that are still free agents may back up the report feelings that Carucci reported on. The players highlighted played a significant number of snaps last season (20% or more), and are still on the free agent market.

It should be noted that there are only defensive players from the 2025 roster that meet this criteria. At defensive end, two major contributors that still remain on the free agent market in Joey Bosa (57% of defensive snaps) and A. J.