The Buffalo Bills have a strong roster, with a few stars and solid depth. But that doesn’t mean general manager Brandon Beane is not exploring opportunities to improve the group. Curiously enough, several players who are still available in free agency have already played for the Bills at some point of their NFL careers, making a potential return more feasible. And intriguing.

So, let’s discuss 10 former Bills who could return to Buffalo.

WR Stefon Diggs

Nobody on this list would have more impact on the team than Diggs. The problem is that there was some bad blood when he left Buffalo after the 2023 season. But after tearing his ACL for the Houston Texans in 2024, Diggs returned and played at a very high level for the New England Patriots last season, reaching 1,014 yards with 85 receptions. The Bills are limited in terms of talent at wide receivers, and Diggs has an obvious on-field connection with quarterback Josh Allen. Diggs is 32, so it’s a short-term proposition, but it’s certainly one that could work.

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CB Rasul Douglas

Douglas was acquired by the Bills at the 2023 trade deadline and played some solid football for Buffalo for one and a half seasons. He’s 30, which is a little dangerous for cornerbacks, but he played pretty well for the Miami Dolphins last season. Buffalo is probably comfortable with Christian Benford and Maxwell Hairston starting as boundary corners, but Douglas would offer some depth and character to mentor the young players.

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EDGE Joey Bosa

Bosa played last year for the Bills after spending his entire NFL career to that point on the Chargers. He had 47 pressures and five sacks, a pretty decent production for a relatively cheap, rotational pass rusher. Injury history is a concern, but a limited role could mitigate that risk.

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EDGE Leonard Floyd

Floyd played for the Bills back in 2023. Since, he’s been with the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers. A designated pass rusher, Floyd had 41 pressures and 10.5 sacks in his season in Buffalo, then 8.5 for the Niners in 2024. Last year, even though his sack numbers weren’t impressive (3.5), he still managed to produce 36 pressures in 287 pass rush snaps.

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WR Curtis Samuel

Samuel played the past two years in Buffalo and is still available after being released by the Bills back in March. If the move was made because of the $6 million created in cap space, a return shouldn’t be out of the equation for the versatile offensive weapon. 

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LB Matt Milano

Milano is a leader and a fan favorite. While he’s not in his prime anymore, the off-ball linebacker can still offer competent play, especially in blitz situations.

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EDGE Von Miller

Injuries limited what Miller could do for the Bills between 2022 and 2024, but the veteran was able to play 17 games last year for the Washington Commanders as a rotational edge. He generated 36 pressures in 289 pass-rush snaps, with nine sacks.

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OL Ryan Bates

Bates played five seasons for the Bills, between 2019 and 2023, before the team traded him to the Chicago Bears for a fifth-rounder two offseasons ago. Injuries prevented him from making an impact in Chicago, and that’s ultimately why he’s still available. The 29-year-old player isn’t necessarily old, though, and has the versatility to play all five positions across the offensive line, especially along the interior.

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DT Jordan Phillips

The interior defensive lineman has already had three stints with the Bills, including one over the past two seasons. At 33, he’s far removed from his prime, but was still able to eat some snaps at defensive tackle. Last year, he played 202 defensive snaps, with five pressures, six tackles, and four stops. 

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WR Gabe Davis

Davis has had a weird career arc since signing a free agent deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars two years ago. Since, he returned to the Bills’ practice squad but has barely played. Last year, he had six appearances and 129 yards for Buffalo, with one touchdown. A big-bodied receiver, he once was one of Josh Allen’s favorite targets, but knee injuries affected him. The big problem is that Davis tore his ACL in January, so he won’t return until at least the middle of the regular season.