Bills' Free Agency Activity Creates Competition for 2 Key Position Battles

New additions and returning players will compete for starting roles at left guard and safety.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 8:50pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the chaotic action of a football game, with players and the field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in shades of blue and white, conveying the intensity of the upcoming position battles for the Bills.The Bills' offseason moves have set the stage for intense competition at key positions as the team prepares for the 2026 season.New Orleans Today

The Buffalo Bills' free agency activity has set the stage for two position battles - one on offense at left guard and one on defense at safety. The Bills have added new free agent signings and will also have returning players competing for the starting roles.

Why it matters

The Bills are looking to fill key starting positions on both sides of the ball after losing a starter at left guard and needing to identify the best option to start alongside star safety Cole Bishop. These position battles will be important to watch as the Bills prepare for the 2026 NFL season.

The details

On offense, the Bills will have Alec Anderson and Austin Corbett competing to replace departed left guard David Edwards. Anderson has shown versatility as a backup offensive lineman, while Corbett is a veteran with 78 career starts. On defense, the Bills added Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Geno Stone, and re-signed Damar Hamlin to compete alongside Cole Bishop at the safety positions. Gardner-Johnson projects as the starting free safety, but the Bills have options with the versatile skillsets of Stone and Hamlin.

  • The Bills re-signed Alec Anderson to a one-year contract in February 2026.
  • The Bills signed veteran guard Austin Corbett to a one-year contract in free agency.
  • The Bills added Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Geno Stone in free agency.
  • The Bills re-signed Damar Hamlin to a one-year contract two weeks into free agency.

The players

Alec Anderson

A versatile offensive lineman who has played both guard and tackle for the Bills, and will compete to replace David Edwards as the starting left guard.

Austin Corbett

A veteran guard with 78 career starts, including 33 starts for the Rams in 2020-2021. He will also compete for the starting left guard job.

Chauncey Gardner-Johnson

A Super Bowl champion safety who the Bills signed in free agency, and is expected to be the starting free safety.

Geno Stone

A six-year veteran safety who led all NFL safeties with 7 interceptions in 2023, and will compete for a starting role alongside Cole Bishop.

Damar Hamlin

A former sixth-round pick of the Bills who has 27 career starts, and will also compete for a starting safety job.

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What they’re saying

“I think I've proven to do that with my years in the league, being able to stick around and kind of play whatever role that the offense or the special teams coach needs me to play. I think I'll fulfill that this year in the offensive line.”

— Alec Anderson, Bills Offensive Lineman

“I'd love to find another Cole Bishop and pair him right there where you can do both. If we find a traditional box safety, then he'll probably end up in more free opportunities. If we find more of a free, rangy post guy, then Cole's gonna find himself closer to the box.”

— Brandon Beane, Bills General Manager

What’s next

The Bills will continue to evaluate the left guard and safety competitions throughout the offseason program and training camp, with the goal of identifying the best starting lineups for the 2026 season.

The takeaway

The Bills have created healthy competition at two key positions this offseason, with new free agent additions and returning players all vying for starting roles. These battles will be important to watch as the team looks to build on its success and make another deep playoff run.