Bills had the best free agent class according to ESPN

[BILLS55]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/44363563/2025-nfl-free-agency-class-rankings-teams-improved-better-worse-signings-deals

 

I think they did a good job of addressing some holes but not sure I'd put them #1

 

B55

1. Buffalo Bills
Key acquisitions and returning players: WR Khalil Shakir, Edge Joey Bosa, LB Terrel Bernard, LB Greg Rousseau, Edge Michael Hoecht, WR Joshua Palmer

I loved: How the Bills retained their own talent before markets got set. The Shakir extension is only $15 million per year. Rousseau got $20 million per year. Bernard is at $12.5 million per year. Those are three young cornerstones of a perennial contender, and they're staying in Buffalo for remarkably less than their open market number. The Bills were right to retain the players who helped get them to the AFC Championship Game, even if they haven't yet slayed the dragon that is the Chiefs.

I didn't love: How expensive Palmer was. Palmer is going to fill the Mack Hollins role, but I'm not sure he's going to elevate it much -- certainly not for double the price tag. He is a good dirty work receiver and should be considered a glue guy on a healthy offense, but if he was a truly dangerous pass catcher, he would have already broken out in Los Angeles. Still, this is a small complaint in an otherwise great class.

 

Edited March 26 by BILLS55

[Augie]

ESPN, so……..

 

OK, I’ll like them for a day. Just one day. 

 

 

[TheyCallMeAndy]

Palmer is 100% absolutely not filling Mack Hollins role.

 

He's taking the X WR on the outside.

 

Hot take alert, but I don't think Bosa will be the biggest impact of this FA class. 

Edited March 26 by TheyCallMeAndy

[DCofNC]

  On 3/26/2025 at 2:11 PM, TheyCallMeAndy said:

Palmer is 100% absolutely not filling Mack Hollins role.

 

He's taking the X WR on the outside.

 

Hot take alert, but I don't think Bosa will be the biggest impact of this FA class. 

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I’d say it’s more of a hot take to expect Bosa to BE an impact.  If he hits double digit sacks I’ll be pleasantly surprised.

[Gregg]

  On 3/26/2025 at 2:19 PM, DCofNC said:

I’d say it’s more of a hot take to expect Bosa to BE an impact.  If he hits double digit sacks I’ll be pleasantly surprised.

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If he stays healthy (BIG IF) then I could see double digits sacks or very close to it. If healthy he will draw double teams which should allow others on the DL to take advantage of the 1 on 1 matchups specifically Rousseau.

Edited March 26 by Gregg

[Dillenger4]

Until the PED suspension news I was happy with what we did in FA.

[BILLS55]

I think Bosa will be average at best. But that might be all we need at this point. Need to see how the draft plays out.

 

M

[DabillsDaBillsDaBills]

Shakir/Rosseau/Bernard were not free agents though. They were all under contract with the Bills for the 2025-2026 season. 

 

If he's going to count those guys as 'returning' players you might as well count Allen for signing that extension.

 

 

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

  On 3/26/2025 at 2:08 PM, BILLS55 said:

https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/44363563/2025-nfl-free-agency-class-rankings-teams-improved-better-worse-signings-deals

 

I think they did a good job of addressing some holes but not sure I'd put them #1

 

B55

1. Buffalo Bills
Key acquisitions and returning players: WR Khalil Shakir, Edge Joey Bosa, LB Terrel Bernard, LB Greg Rousseau, Edge Michael Hoecht, WR Joshua Palmer

I loved: How the Bills retained their own talent before markets got set. The Shakir extension is only $15 million per year. Rousseau got $20 million per year. Bernard is at $12.5 million per year. Those are three young cornerstones of a perennial contender, and they're staying in Buffalo for remarkably less than their open market number. The Bills were right to retain the players who helped get them to the AFC Championship Game, even if they haven't yet slayed the dragon that is the Chiefs.

I didn't love: How expensive Palmer was. Palmer is going to fill the Mack Hollins role, but I'm not sure he's going to elevate it much -- certainly not for double the price tag. He is a good dirty work receiver and should be considered a glue guy on a healthy offense, but if he was a truly dangerous pass catcher, he would have already broken out in Los Angeles. Still, this is a small complaint in an otherwise great class.

 

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I think its kind of the going rate though.  He's a better route runner and wide receiver than hollins, while hollins adds contributions on special teams.  

 

If he had broken out in LA he probably gets closer to 15-20M AAV.  

[US Egg]

  On 3/26/2025 at 2:11 PM, Augie said:

ESPN, so……..

 

OK, I’ll like them for a day. Just one day. 

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Can’t imagine any dissenters in here on the matter.

[Low Positive]

This message board has taken such a drastic turn towards negative groupthink that most posters are angry at ESPN for saying something positive about their team. 

[T master]

  On 3/26/2025 at 2:19 PM, DCofNC said:

I’d say it’s more of a hot take to expect Bosa to BE an impact.  If he hits double digit sacks I’ll be pleasantly surprised.

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One would think at 29 he should be at least as good as Von was maybe not as far as experience but I'm hoping that as far as out put, and who knows maybe Von comes back on a very friendly contract as a rotational piece late in the season seeing as the Bills are paying his dead cap hit .

[chongli]

  On 3/26/2025 at 2:32 PM, DabillsDaBillsDaBills said:

Shakir/Rosseau/Bernard were not free agents though. They were all under contract with the Bills for the 2025-2026 season. 

 

If he's going to count those guys as 'returning' players you might as well count Allen for signing that extension.

 

 

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To be fair, this is what the ESPN writer said:

 

"I didn't want to just rank their incoming free agent classes, because that would simply be a ranking of which teams spent the most money. I tried to consider everything: Not just free agent acquisitions and departures, but trades and extensions and restructures"

[MJS]

Palmer won't fill the Mack Hollins role. He'll be one of the starting outside receivers.

[GASabresIUFan]

Where is the consideration of signing two suspended players and not filling their most critical need at CB? 

[DCofNC]

  On 3/26/2025 at 2:23 PM, Gregg said:

 

If he stays healthy (BIG IF) then I could see double digits sacks or very close to it. If healthy he will draw double teams which should allow others on the DL to take advantage of the 1 on 1 matchups specifically Rousseau.

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Yeah, call me nuts, but I just don’t have faith in him being healthy.

[Gregg]

  On 3/26/2025 at 2:44 PM, GASabresIUFan said:

Where is the consideration of signing two suspended players and not filling their most critical need at CB? 

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The suspensions should definitely lower the FA grade. As for CB the plan is to go get one in the draft. 

  On 3/26/2025 at 2:47 PM, DCofNC said:

Yeah, call me nuts, but I just don’t have faith in him being healthy.

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You are correct given his history with injuries. That's why I included (BIG IF) when it comes to his health. The Bills will still use the draft for DL maybe even in RD 1. CB is also another priority.

[Einstein's Dog]

  On 3/26/2025 at 2:44 PM, MJS said:

Palmer won't fill the Mack Hollins role. He'll be one of the starting outside receivers.

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Yeah, I agree, so far it looks like right now that Palmer is replacing A Cooper and Hollins is being replaced by a larger role for K Coleman.  I hope we at least add a good draft pick to the mix.

 

I do like the extensions done by Beane, using guaranteed money to extend at market rates into the future is a great way to keep good players.  Wish the deals that were probably offered to Benford and Cook had been accepted.

[DabillsDaBillsDaBills]

  On 3/26/2025 at 2:39 PM, chongli said:

 

To be fair, this is what the ESPN writer said:

 

"I didn't want to just rank their incoming free agent classes, because that would simply be a ranking of which teams spent the most money. I tried to consider everything: Not just free agent acquisitions and departures, but trades and extensions and restructures"

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My fault for only reading the ESPN title and not the actual article. 

 

I still think it's an incredibly misleading title though. Should be "which teams are having the best off-season so far" not "which teams have had the best free agent class". Those are 2 different things 

[gonzo1105]

I think on the other hand this shows just how much McDermott and staff extract from their guys. Only Hollins has been signed from our class of free agents.