Bills Still Have 13 Free Agents Without NFL Deals

Buffalo's offseason roster turnover raises questions about the team's talent level.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 11:38am

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The Buffalo Bills had 25 unrestricted free agents this offseason, and 13 of them still haven't signed with any NFL team. This includes several key players like Joey Bosa, A.J. Epenesa, Jordan Poyer, and Brandin Cooks. The lack of interest in these free agents suggests the Bills may not have had as much talent on their 2025 roster as they believed.

Why it matters

The Bills were considered a Super Bowl contender last season, but the free agent market hasn't validated that assessment. The high number of unsigned Bills free agents raises questions about the overall talent level of the team and whether the front office accurately evaluated the roster.

The details

Of the 25 unrestricted free agents the Bills had, six re-signed with the team, five went elsewhere, and one (Darius Slay) retired. The remaining 13 players are still without an NFL contract, including several starters and key contributors like defensive end Joey Bosa, defensive tackle A.J. Epenesa, safety Jordan Poyer, and wide receiver Brandin Cooks. Epenesa had a deal agreed to with the Cleveland Browns, but it fell through over concerns about his physical.

  • The Bills had 25 unrestricted free agents following the 2025 NFL season.

The players

Joey Bosa

A free agent defensive end who played for the Bills in 2025.

A.J. Epenesa

A free agent defensive end who had a deal with the Cleveland Browns that fell through over physical concerns.

Jordan Poyer

A free agent safety who played for the Bills in 2025.

Brandin Cooks

A free agent wide receiver who played for the Bills in 2025.

Brandon Beane

The president of football operations for the Buffalo Bills.

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What they’re saying

“The Buffalo Bills believed they had a Super Bowl-caliber roster last season. The free agent market hasn't backed that up.”

— Ryan Miller, Writer

“We could still bring [Brandin Cooks] back on board.”

— Brandon Beane, President of Football Operations

What’s next

As training camps approach, it will be worth monitoring which of the Bills' unsigned free agents end up signing with NFL teams and whether the team brings back any familiar faces like Brandin Cooks.

The takeaway

The high number of unsigned Bills free agents suggests the team may have overestimated the talent level of its 2025 roster. This offseason's free agent market has not validated the Bills' belief that they had a Super Bowl-caliber team, raising questions about the front office's player evaluation and roster management.