The Buffalo Bills are rapidly becoming a team to keep an eye on as they gear up for a potentially electrifying 2025 season. Having made significant strides during the offseason, the Bills are working to secure both new talent and vital contract extensions, setting the stage for what fans hope could be a Super Bowl run.
General Manager Brandon Beane has been particularly busy. The franchise made headlines with a splash signing of pass rusher Joey Bosa, who is expected to add another level of ferocity to the Bills' defense. As of March 2025, the Bills have also locked in key extensions for several homegrown stars, including quarterback Josh Allen, who received a record-breaking six-year, $330 million contract, with a staggering $250 million fully guaranteed. This makes Allen one of the highest-paid players in NFL history.
Notably, several other contributors such as linebackers Terrel Bernard and Greg Rousseau, alongside wide receiver Khalil Shakir, were also rewarded with multi-year contracts, indicating the team's commitment to maintaining a strong core squad. The Bills are looking to build on last season's successes, and analysts like Nate Davis from USA Today suggest that, "All things considered, the Mafia can definitively expect another AFC East crown in 2025 … and maybe a whole lot more" if the team continues on this path.
Moreover, as the front office looks to fortify its roster, the addition of Joshua Palmer and Laviska Shenault Jr. further adds depth to the receiving unit, providing quarterback Allen with additional weapons. The strategic decision to release Von Miller also facilitated Bosa's signing while allowing the organization to offload costs without severely sacrificing performance.
While the offseason has been productive, two crucial moves remain before the NFL Draft: the extensions of running back James Cook and cornerback Christian Benford. Cook, who has emerged as a prolific running back, having tallied up 19 rushing touchdowns—16 during the regular season and three in the playoffs—has expressed a desire to be among the highest-paid backs in football. His 1,000-yard season strengthens the argument for a lucrative contract extension.
On the defensive side, Benford's crucial role cannot be overstated. Holding an impressive PFF ranking of five out of 222 corners with an overall grade of 82.6, his impact is expected to be significant moving forward. Both Cook and Benford’s contracts represent necessary conversations that coach Sean McDermott and Beane face to improve overall team morale and performance heading into next season.
This offseason marks a pivotal moment in the Bills' history, with Terry Pegula at the helm since 2014. While he appears to have made effective strides to upgrade the franchise, the true test comes when one considers six consecutive seasons of postseason exits without a single Super Bowl appearance. The urgency surrounding this offseason can’t be understated, given how critical it is for long-term success and legitimacy in a highly competitive league.
The recent report from The Athletic places the Bills under the top "Contention Mode," affirming fans' hopes that the organization is serious about breaking through the playoff hurdles that have plagued them in recent years. The report notes, "The Bills made Josh Allen one of the highest-paid players in league history earlier this month with a new six-year, $330 million contract. Then they had a busy free agency, meeting needs at pass rusher, defensive back, wide receiver, running back and more while trying to finally get over that Kansas City hump that has slowed Terry Pegula’s team in the playoffs for years now."
While the Bills have assembled a sound roster through their aggressive approach in free agency, the impending draft will be less about immediate star power and more about depth in defensive line and secondary positions, which are crucial if they hope to contend with the league's elite. They have put significant resources into long-time contributors and are betting that finding value in free agents will help them build a championship-caliber team.
As the April draft approaches and offseason activities intensify, Bills fans feel a wave of optimism surrounding their team. Buffalo's front-office decisions show the commitment to winning now, and the Bills Mafia has every reason to be excited heading into the new season. However, with big contracts still on the table for Cook and Benford, how the team navigates these final hurdles will be telling. There’s a palpable sense of determination; after all, the NFL landscape is as competitive as ever, and the Bills are well-positioned to carve their names in the annals of league history if they complete their offseason agenda with success.
