The Buffalo Bills are officially turning the page. After parting ways with longtime head coach Sean McDermott earlier this week, the franchise is entering a pivotal offseason-one that could reshape the direction of the team for years to come.
The coaching search is still underway, and while the Bills haven’t landed on their next leader just yet, time is of the essence. With other teams making moves, Buffalo can’t afford to drag its feet and risk missing out on their top candidate.
But the coaching hire is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. The Bills have some serious work to do when it comes to building out their roster, particularly at wide receiver. That topic came up during Wednesday’s press conference, and while there was a bit of confusion surrounding WR Keon Coleman, the bigger takeaway was clear: Buffalo needs more firepower on the outside.
This isn’t a new problem. The Bills have been patching together their receiver room with veteran additions the last couple of offseasons, but none have made a significant impact.
And with a tight salary cap and less-than-ideal draft capital, the path to landing a top-tier receiver isn’t exactly straightforward. Still, where there’s a will-and a quarterback like Josh Allen-there’s a way.
Enter Mike Evans.
According to Mason Cameron of Pro Football Focus, Buffalo is one of the best potential landing spots for the veteran wideout, should he hit the open market. Cameron points to the Bills’ lack of depth at outside receiver and their struggles to stretch the field as key reasons why Evans would be a natural fit. Buffalo ranked sixth-worst in receptions on passes of 20+ yards this past season, and that vertical threat is exactly what Evans has built his career on.
Even though Evans missed the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career this year due to injury, his résumé speaks for itself. Eleven seasons, ten of them with 1,000+ receiving yards.
Six seasons with double-digit touchdowns, including back-to-back years in 2023 and 2024. That kind of production doesn’t just grow on trees-especially not in January.
For the Bills, adding a proven playmaker like Evans could be a game-changer. He’s the kind of receiver who commands attention, opens up the field for others, and gives a quarterback like Allen a true No. 1 target on the outside.
And let’s be honest: Allen is right in the heart of his prime. Pairing him with a receiver of Evans’ caliber could elevate this offense to another level.
Of course, there are hurdles. Evans is still under contract with Tampa Bay, and a return to the Bucs hasn’t been ruled out.
But if he does hit free agency and the Bills can make the financials work, the fit makes a lot of sense. Buffalo is in transition, and a move like this would send a clear message: they’re not rebuilding-they’re reloading.
With a new coach on the horizon and a roster in flux, this offseason is shaping up to be one of the most important in recent Bills history. And if Mike Evans ends up wearing blue and red next fall, it could be the spark that helps Buffalo finally get over the hump.