Bills' Maxwell Hairston: Bills add speedy corner in first
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The Bills selected Hairston in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 30th overall.
Hairston (5-foot-11, 183 pounds) is quite a bit lighter than the corners targeted by the Bills in recent years, and as a tackler in particular the former Kentucky standout might need to improve before gaining the approval of coach Sean McDermott. It's possible that Hairston's abilities are just what the Bills have lacked at crucial points in recent history, however -- more specifically, Hairston projects as a standout downfield man coverage corner, and with 4.28 speed he can match stride with almost any receiver. If speed specialists gave the Bills trouble, then Hairston gives the team a direct counter that it previously lacked.
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Bills' Christian Benford: Gets contract extension
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Benford and the Bills have agreed upon a four-year, $76 million extension, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Benford was widely considered a Pro Bowl snub last season after putting together a standout campaign that included the sixth-highest PFF grade (79.3) among NFL cornerbacks. The Villanova product finished the regular season with a career-high 64 tackles, including his first NFL sack, 10 pass defenses (including two interceptions) and two forced fumbles over 15 contests. Benford was set to enter 2025 on the final season of his rookie contract, but with the extension he'll now be a core member of Buffalo's defense for the foreseeable future.
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Bills' Matt Milano: Restructures deal
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Milano agreed to restructure his contract with the Bills on Tuesday, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.
Milano agreed to shorten his contract with the Bills by a year, leaving him with one year remaining on his deal. It's worth noting the restructure also amounts to a pay cut, freeing up roughly $6 million in salary cap space for the team, but Milano can earn that back in incentives. The 2022 All-Pro linebacker has spent his first eight seasons in Buffalo, but he's only appeared in nine regular-season games the last two seasons due to injury.
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Cowboys' Kaiir Elam: Dealt to Dallas
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The Bills agreed Wednesday to trade Elam and a sixth-round pick to the Cowboys in exchange for future fifth- and seventh-round picks, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Elam handled a depth role across 13 regular-season appearances with Buffalo in 2024, recording 26 total tackles (17 solo) and two passes defensed. The 2022 first-round pick, now heading into the final year of his rookie contract, will work to improve his coverage skills and rebound with a new squad.
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Bills' Damar Hamlin: Staying with Buffalo
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The Bills will sign Hamlin to a one-year contract, Alec White of the team's official site reports.
After starting 14 games for Buffalo in 2024 and totaling 89 tackles (62 solo) and two interceptions, Hamlin will be back for at least one more season. He currently projects to start in 2025, but the Bills could add talent at safety either later on in free agency or in the draft in April.
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Von Miller: Set to be released
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The Bills are releasing Miller, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
After finishing 2023 with no sacks in 12 regular-season games, Miller enjoyed a bit of a bounce-back in 2024, recording 6.0 sacks over 13 regular-season contests. However, Buffalo is electing to cut ties -- at least temporarily -- with the veteran pass rusher in order to free up $8.4 million against the salary cap. That said, Rapoport notes that both the Bills and Miller are open to a reunion, so it's not yet certain that the soon-to-be 36-year-old will be with a new team next season.
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Bills' Greg Rousseau: Inks four-year extension
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Rousseau agreed to a four-year, $80 million contract extension with the Bills on Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The 2021 first-round pick has been a stalwart for the Bills' defense in his first four years in the NFL. He's coming off a 2024 campaign in which he logged 53 tackles (36 solo), including 8.0 sacks (tying a career best), three pass defenses, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery across 16 regular-season games while adding 2.0 sacks across the Bills' three playoff contests. Rousseau will continue to serve as a linchpin for Buffalo's defense alongside Terrel Bernard, A.J. Epenesa and Ed Oliver.
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Bills' Terrel Bernard: Re-signs for four years
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Bernard and the Bills have agreed to terms on a four-year, $50 million contract, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
The 2022 third-round pick had one season remaining on his rookie contract, after thriving the past two years. He wasn't as statistically dominant in 2024 as he had been in 2023, but he still topped 100 tackles and had multiple interceptions despite missing four games. In 2023, he had one of the best statistical seasons by a linebacker in recent years, recording 143 tackles (84 solo), including 6.5 sacks, five pass defenses, including three interceptions, and three fumble recoveries. Garofolo reports that Bernard's new contract includes $25.2 million guaranteed, which would put him fourth among off-ball linebackers behind Baltimore's Roquan Smith ($45 million), Chicago's Tremaine Edmunds ($41.8 million) and San Francisco's Fred Wagner ($27.5 million). The reported average annual value of $12.5 million ranks a bit lower, tying for sixth at the position.
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Bills' Christian Benford: Clears concussion protocol
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Head coach Sean McDermott told reporters Monday that Benford has cleared concussion protocol and has resumed football activities, Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News reports.
Benford suffered a concussion during the first quarter of the Bills' AFC Championship Game loss to the Chiefs, and it wasn't until about a week after the game that he cleared protocol, per Sal Capaccio of WGR Sports Radio 550 Buffalo. Benford finished the 2024 regular season with a career-high 64 tackles (50 solo), including 1.0 sacks, 10 pass defenses (including two interceptions) and two forced fumbles over 15 games.
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Bills' Jordan Phillips: Sees some action in limited role
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Phillips finished with five tackles (four solo) and an interception in seven regular-season games with the Bills in 2024.
The defensive tackle signed with Buffalo after getting cut by Dallas in November, and he assisted on one tackle in two games with the Cowboys as well. Phillips played on at least 17 percent of the defensive snaps in six of his seven regular-season games with the Bills and in all three of the team's playoff games, making three tackles (one solo), including 1.0 sacks, in the postseason. The second-round pick of the Dolphins in 2015 will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and he last signed a multiyear deal in 2020.
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Bills' Brandon Codrington: Contributes as return man
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Codrington recorded 306 kickoff return yards and 313 punt return yards over 17 regular-season games in 2024.
The rookie cornerback, who played more snaps on special teams (126) than he did on defense (64), also contributed nine tackles (eight solo) and a pass breakup. He did not suit up for any of the Bills' three playoff games. Codrington signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent last May before being traded to the Bills in late August.
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Bills' DeWayne Carter: Has quiet rookie campaign
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Carter ended the 2024 regular season with 14 tackles (11 solo) and a defensed pass over 11 games.
After being selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Carter was used primarily in a rotational role as a rookie, though he did make three starts. The Duke product also had a five-game IR stint due to a wrist injury and didn't get any snaps during the Bills' three playoff games. The wrist injury seemed to stall Carter's development to some extent, as his role had been increasing prior to the IR stint. He'll look to stay healthy and continue to adjust to the NFL game as a sophomore next season.
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Bills' Von Miller: Bounces back in 2024
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Miller recorded 17 tackles (13 solo), including 6.0 sacks, over 13 regular-season games in 2024.
Miller's playing time (13 regular-season contests, 268 defensive snaps) was nearly equal to what he logged in 2023 (12 games, 239 snaps). However, his output was significantly better -- after finishing without a sack last season, the veteran pass rusher tied for second on Buffalo in that category with 6.0 sacks this year. He did miss four games in October due to a violation of the NFL's personal conduct policy, but Miller was mostly healthy and typically logged around one-third of the Bills' defensive snaps when he was in the lineup. He has three seasons remaining on the six-year deal he signed with Buffalo in 2022, and per Tyler Dunne of Bleacher Report, the eight-time Pro Bowler intends to play at least one more season. It's not a guarantee the Bills will bring him back however, as they can save over $17.4 million in cap space by cutting him after June 1.
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Bills' Dawuane Smoot: Forces two fumbles in 2024
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Smoot recorded 16 tackles (12 solo), including 1.5 sacks, while adding a pass defensed and two forced fumbles in 11 games during the 2024 regular season.
The rotational defensive end also made one tackle across three playoff games. Toe and wrist injuries kept Smoot out of six contests in 2024, though he saw the field on at least 29 percent of the defensive snaps in every game he played. The veteran will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason after signing a one-year deal with Buffalo last May.
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Bills' Austin Johnson: Plays rotational role for Buffalo
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Johnson finished the 2024 regular season with 19 tackles (seven solo), including 0.5 sacks, and two interceptions in 15 games.
The defensive tackle also made seven stops across three postseason games, and Johnson played at least 20 percent of the defensive snaps in 15 of his 18 total appearances. The veteran will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason after signing a one-year deal with Buffalo last March.
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Bills' DaQuan Jones: Sees dip in production
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Jones recorded 23 total tackles (11 solo), including 2.5 sacks, and one pass defended over 16 regular-season games in 2024.
Jones started 16 of the Bills' regular-season games this year after missing 10 contests in 2023 due to a pectoral injury. However, the 33-year-old's production declined significantly, as he recorded 15 fewer tackles than in 2022, when he also appeared in 16 regular-season games. Despite the drop in tackles, Jones tallied 2.5 sacks, proving he can still provide some value as an interior pass rusher. The Penn State product is headed into the final year of his current contract after signing a two-year, $16 million extension with the team last offseason.
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Bills' Ja'Marcus Ingram: Sees more defensive work in 2024
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Ingram recorded 24 total tackles (16 solo), including 1.0 sack, and added four passes defended with two interceptions over 17 regular-season games in 2024.
Ingram had played just 50 defensive snaps across five regular-season games during his first two seasons in the NFL. However, the third-year pro played a career-high 202 defensive snaps in 2024, setting personal bests in tackles, sacks, passes defended and interceptions. He nabbed two picks in the Bills' Week 2 win over the Dolphins, one of which he returned for a touchdown. Ingram remains under contract through the 2025 season, so he's likely to return as the Bills' top reserve slot corner. There's also a chance he'll have the opportunity to compete for a starting role, with Rasul Douglas set to become an unrestricted free agent.
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Bills' Ed Oliver: Regresses in 2024
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Oliver recorded 29 total tackles (14 solo), including 3.0 sacks, while adding three forced fumbles over 14 regular-season games in 2024.
The 27-year-old was one of the NFL's most productive defensive linemen in 2023 after posting 51 total tackles, including 9.5 sacks, across 16 regular-season games. However, he wasn't able to repeat that performance. Despite the dip in production, Oliver still led Buffalo's defense with three forced fumbles and ranked fourth on the team in sacks. He signed a four-year, $68 million deal with the Bills last offseason, and there's been no indication the team is looking to get out from under that deal.
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Bills' A.J. Epenesa: Makes 13 starts in 2024
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Epenesa tallied 39 total tackles (23 solo) including 6.0 sacks while adding two passes defended and two forced fumbles across 17 regular-season games in 2024.
Epenesa served as a regular starter on the Bills' defense for the first time in his five-year NFL career. He played a career-high 583 defensive snaps and set a new career high in tackles. However, Epenesa's increased playing time didn't translate into more sacks, as he finished with 0.5 fewer sacks than he managed in either 2022 or 2023. He's expected to return to Buffalo in 2025 after signing a two-year, $12 million extension with the team last offseason.
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Bills' Cole Bishop: Posts solid rookie campaign
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Bishop recorded 40 total tackles (25 solo), two passed defended and one forced fumble over 16 regular-season games in 2024.
Bishop, a 2024 second-round pick out of Utah, started just four regular-season games for the Bills during his rookie season, primarily serving as a reserve safety. Despite that limited role, the 22-year-old showed flashes of brilliance, most notably when he led the team with 10 total tackles while playing 100 percent of Buffalo's defensive snaps in the AFC Championship Game loss to Kansas City while filling in for the injured Taylor Rapp (back/hip). Bishop could compete for a starting role in 2025, especially with current starter Damar Hamlin set to hit unrestricted free agency.
