The Buffalo Bills made a big move to boost their offense when they traded for wide receiver DJ Moore, but watched several other potential targets slip away on the first day of the legal tampering period of NFL free agency.
The Bills watched their wide receiving corps struggle throughout the 2025 season, with general manager Brandon Beane coming up short in his bid to add more talent at the trade deadline that season. The position was expected to be a priority for upgrades this offseason, with several veteran receivers identified as potential targets.
That list got shorter after Monday, with several of those players landing with new teams.
Two Potential Upgrades off the Board
The Bills were relatively quiet on Monday, passing on making additions on offense and adding just one player — cornerback Dee Alford — to the defense.
In the weeks and months leading up to the start of free agency, many analysts believed the Bills would take an aggressive approach to adding wide receivers. In laying quiet instead, the Bills saw two potential targets go off the board — Michael Pittman, who was traded from the Indianapolis Colts to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Mike Evans, who signed with the San Francisco 49ers.
Bleacher Reportâs Gary Davenport had suggested the Bills could target Pittman in a trade that would also rid them of wayward receiver Keon Coleman.
âPittman hasnât been as productive the past two seasons as he was earlier in his career, but the seventh-year veteran has a pair of 1,000-yard seasons on his NFL resume,â Davenport wrote. âEven if heâs not the true âalphaâ wideout the Buffalo Bills so badly need, heâd be a sizable upgrade to the teamâs passing-game weapons. Heâd also likely be amenable to an extension that would drop his cap hit in 2026.â
PFFâs Mason Cameron also saw the Bills as the best landing spot for Evans, who he saw as a much-needed addition in Buffalo.
âThe Billsâ lack of quality depth at outside receiver limited their offensive output, particularly when injuries mounted late in the year,” Cameron wrote. “Add in their limited capability to stretch the field vertically â recording the sixth fewest receptions on throws of 20 or more yards â and Evans profiles as a strong upgrade to Josh Allenâs core of weapons.â
Bills Still Have More Chances to Add
The Bills could still look to other targets in free agency, or wait to make a younger addition in the upcoming NFL draft. Buffalo is seen as a strong fit for Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion in the first round of the draft, with Mike Renner of CBS Sports predicting the Bills will land him with the No. 26 overall pick.
Renner suggested that Concepcion could fill the role that Branding Cooks capably played at the end of last season.
âConcepcion is the separator Buffalo lacks,â Renner wrote. âWe saw how much an older Brandin Cooks opened up the offense in his limited stint, and Concepcion would bring even more juice. You may have to live with some drops, though, after he posted a drop rate north of 10% last year.â
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