Four free agents Bills should consider targeting with newfound cap space

On Wednesday, the Buffalo Bills carried out several cost-cutting measures to alleviate their dreadful cap-space situation while mixing in the signing of QB Mitchell Trubisky and an extension of safety Taylor Rapp.

As part of the team's effort to increase its offseason budget, Buffalo cut ties with several longtime starters and reworked OLB Von Miller's deal. For now, the moves set the Bills up nicely to make a splash in the 2025 offseason. Even so, GM Brandon Beane should be able to spend a little more when free agency opens next week by making a few more cuts and contract restructurings. 

Here are four impending free agents Buffalo should consider spending its additional funds on this offseason: 

Safety Xavier McKinney

Despite re-signing Rapp, Buffalo should be in the market for another safety, as former first-team All-Pro selection Jordan Poyer became a cap casualty Wednesday and Micah Hyde is an unrestricted free agent. 

McKinney, 24, is set for a massive payday after the New York Giants decided not to place the franchise or transition tag on him ahead of Tuesday's deadline. Based on past comparable free-agent signings, Spotrac's calculated market value projects McKinney to sign a five-year, $52.4M deal. It's unclear whether Buffalo would be willing to pay a premium for a safety immediately after clearing as much cap space as it did. However, McKinney has the potential to be worth the investment. 

The 2020 second-round pick turned in the most productive season of his career in 2023, setting career highs in tackles (116) and pass breakups (11) while playing every defensive snap for the Giants. New York used McKinney in a variety of roles and relied heavily on him as a leader, both qualities that could make him a perfect cornerstone for Buffalo's revamped unit. 

Wide receiver Darnell Mooney

Considering there's no guarantee Gabe Davis will re-sign in free agency and the possibility Stefon Diggs may not play out the remainder of his contract with the team, Buffalo should bolster its receiving corps this offseason. While the Bills could address this need early in the NFL Draft on April 25-27, signing Mooney wouldn't deter them from doing so and should compensate for a potential Davis exit. 

An above-average route runner with blazing speed, Mooney has taken a back seat to TE Cole Kmet and WR D.J. Moore in a Chicago passing attack since his 1,000-yard 2021 season. Mooney has caught just 71 passes for 907 yards and three touchdowns over the past two seasons, but Chicago hasn't had the most accurate passers at quarterback, which is most likely a factor in his decline. 

By giving him an upgrade at quarterback in two-time Pro Bowler Josh Allen, Mooney could finally develop into the premier deep threat he appeared capable of becoming. 

Center Aaron Brewer

Although Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Connor McGovern is expected to replace the recently released Mitch Morse as Buffalo's starting center, the team would benefit from adding depth to the offensive line.

On the surface, Brewer's six sacks allowed in 2023 raise concerns, but he still managed to be Pro Football Focus' 11th-highest-graded center in just his first season as a full-time starter at the position (71.6). The former undrafted free agent also graded out significantly higher as a run blocker than a pass blocker, making him a solid fit for OC Joe Brady's run-heavy scheme. 

Edge-rusher Leonard Floyd

Floyd returning to Buffalo seemed like an unlikely scenario before Wednesday's slew of transactions, but in light of its newfound cap space, Buffalo shouldn't hesitate to bring back the team's 2023 sack leader. Floyd, who signed a one-year deal with the Bills last offseason, proved to be one of the best free-agent pickups in the NFL. 

The 31-year-old collected nine tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks and 19 QB hits during the regular season while playing just 54 percent of Buffalo's defensive snaps. With his former Rams teammate Miller sticking around, perhaps Floyd can be persuaded to accept a deal worth more than what Buffalo could've offered previously yet would still be team-friendly.