Championship windows in the NFL don’t slam shut-they creak, they wobble, they warn you. And for the Buffalo Bills, the 2025 season was a loud, unmistakable creak.
They were still good-very good, in fact. But not quite good enough.
That’s the razor-thin line between contending and conquering in today’s NFL. Josh Allen remains firmly in his prime, the run game took a massive leap forward, and the roster is seasoned from years of postseason battles.
Yet, once again, Buffalo’s season ended with that all-too-familiar feeling: close, but not close enough.
Now, as the 2026 offseason gets underway, the Bills find themselves at a crossroads. This isn’t a time for tweaks. It’s a moment that may call for bold, identity-shifting moves-trades that don’t just fill holes, but redefine who the Bills are.
A Season of Progress-and Pain
The Bills wrapped up the regular season at 12-5, a record that reflects both growth and frustration. Offensively, they made a clear philosophical shift.
Gone was the one-man show that leaned too heavily on Allen’s arm. In its place?
A ground attack that led the entire league with 2,714 rushing yards. James Cook didn’t just break out-he broke through, capturing the NFL rushing title and giving Buffalo a legitimate two-dimensional offense for the first time in years.
But that evolution came with some regression elsewhere. After five straight seasons atop the AFC East, the Bills were dethroned by a resurgent New England Patriots squad.
That meant a tougher road in the playoffs, starting with a Wild Card trip to Jacksonville. Buffalo responded with grit, notching their first road playoff win since 1992.
Then came a heavyweight bout in Denver, a back-and-forth Divisional Round thriller that ended in heartbreak. A 33-30 overtime loss-another reminder that the margins are cruel, and the climb to the top is unforgiving.
Cap Crunch and Financial Flexibility
Buffalo enters the offseason about $10 million over the projected salary cap. That’s not an insurmountable number, especially with the league cap expected to rise.
But the Bills' financial structure is undeniably top-heavy. Josh Allen’s cap hit alone sits at a league-high $56.4 million.
Add in Ed Oliver and Dion Dawkins, and that’s nearly $100 million tied up in three players.
Worse yet, some of the team’s financial bets didn’t pay off in 2025. Tight end Dawson Knox and wideout Josh Palmer carry big cap numbers without the production to match. That puts GM Brandon Beane in a tough spot-he’ll need to decide who’s worth keeping and who’s a candidate for a restructure or release.
The silver lining? Buffalo has roughly $75 million in potential cap restructuring flexibility. That opens the door for aggressive moves-if the front office is willing to swing big.
Roster Needs: More Than Just Patching Holes
Despite leading the league in rushing, the Bills still have critical areas that need more than just a Band-Aid. The most glaring is at wide receiver. Without a true alpha on the boundary, Allen was often left improvising, trying to create magic when the structure broke down.
On defense, the pass rush remains a work in progress. Von Miller’s decline left a void that was never truly filled.
In the playoff loss to Denver, Buffalo’s inability to generate consistent pressure allowed the Broncos to extend plays-and ultimately, the game. The secondary, particularly at safety, also needs fresh legs and leadership.
In short: this isn’t a team that needs tweaks. It needs tone-setters.
Game-changers. And if the Bills are serious about maximizing their current window, there are a few trade targets that could change everything.
Maxx Crosby: The Edge Threat Buffalo Has Been Missing
If the Bills want to fix their pass-rushing issues in one bold stroke, Maxx Crosby is the name to circle. Even in what was considered a “down” year, he still posted 10 sacks-more than any Bill managed in 2025. He’s relentless, disruptive, and exactly the kind of presence that can tilt a playoff game.
With the Raiders reportedly heading toward a rebuild, Buffalo could be an ideal landing spot. A trade package featuring two first-rounders and a young piece like Keon Coleman would be steep-but potentially franchise-altering.
Pair Crosby with Ed Oliver and Gregory Rousseau, and suddenly the Bills have a front four that can take over games. It would be the most fearsome pass-rushing unit Buffalo’s had since the early Sean McDermott years.
This kind of move says one thing loud and clear: we’re not just trying to make the playoffs-we’re coming for quarterbacks.
A.J. Brown: The Alpha Receiver Allen Needs
The Bills’ run game was elite. The passing game?
Not so much. Buffalo lacked a true WR1 who could consistently win on the outside and demand attention.
That’s where A.J. Brown enters the picture.
Brown is a physical force-he bullies corners, wins contested catches, and forces safeties to shift. After a rocky year in Philadelphia, his future has become a topic of league-wide interest.
For Buffalo, he’d be a perfect fit. His presence would open up space for Dalton Kincaid underneath and reduce the pressure on Allen to make tight-window throws every down.
A deal built around second- and third-round picks would be aggressive, but not reckless. And the payoff?
Massive. Allen and Brown would instantly become one of the most physically dominant QB-WR duos in the AFC.
Budda Baker: The Defensive Tone-Setter
While edge rushers and wideouts grab headlines, championship defenses are built from the back end forward. That’s where Budda Baker fits in.
He’s a Swiss Army knife-he can blitz, cover, and hit. And more importantly, he brings leadership and energy to a secondary that looked worn down by the end of 2025.
With Arizona in transition, Baker could be available for a reasonable mid-round pick package. Pairing him with rookie Cole Bishop would give Buffalo a safety tandem that’s fast, physical, and opportunistic-traits that defined the Bills’ defense at its peak during the Hyde-Poyer era.
The Time Is Now
This isn’t about a rebuild. It’s not even about staying competitive. This is about chasing a legacy.
Josh Allen is in his prime. James Cook just led the league in rushing.
The defense still has veteran anchors. But the clock is ticking, and the window is narrowing.
The Bills have been knocking on the door for years. Now it’s time to kick it down.
Trading for Maxx Crosby would give them the pass-rush punch they’ve lacked. Acquiring A.J.
Brown would finally provide Allen with a dominant outside weapon. Landing Budda Baker would reestablish a hard-hitting, ball-hawking identity in the secondary.
Each move carries risk. But each move also accelerates the path to a Super Bowl. And for Brandon Beane and the Bills, the choice is clear: play it safe and stay close, or go bold and chase greatness.