5 Key Offseason Moves for the Bills After Playoff Defeat to Chiefs

5 Key Changes the Bills Must Make in NFL Offseason After Playoff Loss vs. Chiefs

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Bills head coach Sean McDermottPerry Knotts/Getty Images
The Buffalo Bills lost another postseason heartbreaker on Sunday, falling 27-24 to the Kansas City Chiefs. Once again, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs got the better of Buffalo in the playoffs. Once again, the game was lost by the narrowest of margins.

The Bills had a chance to tie it inside the two-minute warning, but in a cruel twist for Buffalo fans, kicker Tyler Bass missed it wide right.

It was a disheartening end to a season that had its fair share of ups and downs but was looking very positive entering the playoffs. Buffalo managed to overcome numerous defensive injuries—plus the in-season firing of offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey—to win its final five games and claim the AFC’s No. 2 seed.

That meant in the third-ever postseason matchup between Mahomes and Josh Allen, the Bills had home-field advantage. Ultimately, though, that wasn’t enough.

Now, Buffalo heads into the 2024 offseason facing some difficult decisions and perhaps in need of a few changes.

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Bills C Mitch MorseBryan Bennett/Getty Images
A year ago, Bills general manager Brandon Beane largely focused on keeping the proverbial band together.

Buffalo’s big moves in 2023 included restructuring the contracts of Allen, Stefon Diggs and Von Miller. That allowed the Bills to re-sign players like safety Jordan Poyer, edge-rusher Shaq Lawson, guard David Quessenberry and punter Sam Martin.

This offseason, though, Beane and the Bills have to change their approach. The Bills are looking at a $43.6 million projected cap deficit, and they have key contributors like safety Micah Hyde, defensive tackle DaQuan Jones, pass-rusher A.J. Epenesa and wideout Gabe Davis slated to hit the market.

The Bills might have to let many of their impending free agents walk and consider cutting a few veterans to create cap space.

Releasing 31-year-old center Mitch Morse, for example, would save $8.5 million in cap space. Releasing the 32-year-old Poyer would save $5.5 million in cap room. Parting with running back Nyheim Hines—who missed the entire year with a torn ACL—would save $5 million in cap space.

The Bills should want to keep the core of their playoff-caliber roster intact, but it’s time to get younger and cheaper at certain positions. The salary cap makes it necessary, and Buffalo has needs to address.

Invest in a Quality No. 2 Receiver

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Bills WR Gabe DavisRyan Kang/Getty Images
Many of Buffalo’s roster needs can be addressed by getting healthy.

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