Best remaining free agent targets for the Bills to help fill some major roster holes ahead of the NFL Draft

There’s still plenty of viable options left for Buffalo.

Adam Zientek — NFL News Writer
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Nov 9, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) leaves the field after losing to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.
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Free agency is here, and Buffalo still has some pressing needs on the roster with the NFL Draft just weeks away. Buffalo holds seven picks in the upcoming draft, but should look to free agency to fill several roster holes still prevalent on the roster.

Buffalo kicked off free agency with the acquisitions of cornerback Dee Alford, EDGE Bradley Chubb, and safeties C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Geno Stone. Still, some of the biggest questions remaining are what the Bills are going to do at defensive tackle and linebacker, along with, of course, getting quarterback Josh Allen some more weapons in the offense.

Luckily, there are a few free agents that could come in and give Buffalo exactly what they’ve been looking for. Without further ado, let’s take a look at four guys I think Buffalo should take a swing on.

LB Germaine Pratt

Pratt is one of two linebackers that we are pounding the table for after the entire linebacker market went dry. We’d be lying if we said that Pratt was our first option. During the first frenzy of the free agency period, the player that we were really looking out for was that of now Washington Commanders linebacker Leo Chenal, but it just didn’t work out for Buffalo to get a deal done.

Despite Chenal being off the table, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t good options available, and Pratt would be a dream in defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s new system. He’s a monster that is capable of stepping on the line as a Sam linebacker as well. He doesn’t solely rely on his athleticism to tear through blocks, instead using his size and positional leverage to stay clean during the rush. He’s played in 16 games with 10 passes defensed, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, and 126 combined tackles during the 2025 season.

WR Brandin Cooks

I am a huge fan of bringing back Brandin Cooks on a cheap one-year deal. With plenty of wide receivers off the board, the team needs to prioritize bringing him back. He was one of the best targets and most reliable for quarterback Josh Allen after joining the team late in 2025. Buffalo could get the deal done relatively cheaply and allow a full offseason program to work with Allen and the offense. He wouldn’t be a No. 1 or No. 2 option by any means, but as a No. 3 or No. 4, he’d be great.

Cooks finished his 2025 campaign with five receptions for 114 yards and, during the offseason, continued to shine with five catches for 78 yards. Let’s be honest, he should have another registered catch in there, but the refs don’t know what a catch is and screwed Buffalo in the divisional round.

DT DJ Reader

Reader, at one point in his career, was arguably the best nose tackle in the entire league when he was a member of the Cincinnati Bengals. Unfortunately, that didn’t transfer over during his time with the Detroit Lions, and the Bills most likely won’t be getting the same player the Bengals once had if he does sign with the organization. However, they would be getting a starting-caliber nose tackle who can dominate in the run game and be a space eater in the pass rush game.

I don’t have to remind Bills Mafia just how poor Buffalo was at stopping the run in 2025. They ranked near the bottom of the entire league in that department, and it’s something the organization and fans are hoping gets fixed heading into 2026. Reader could be the missing piece to get over the hump and be productive in helping Buffalo finally stop the run. He has efficient movement off the snap and still possesses power and low pad level to tear through double teams.

LB Bobby Okereke

Perhaps the best free agent linebacker remaining, Okereke, would make an immediate impact on the defense. He’s been one of the better inside linebackers in the league for a long while and is still sitting on the right side of 30 years old. His market hit is estimated at over $12 million per year, so Buffalo would need to complete some salary cap gymnastics to make a deal work.

In 2025, Okereke recorded nearly 150 tackles and tied a career high in interceptions with two while playing and starting in all 17 games for the New York Giants. He’s missed just five games in five seasons and is as reliable as they come as a linebacker. Throughout his seven-year career, splitting time with the Indianapolis Colts and New York Giants, he has played in 110 games with seven interceptions, 36 passes defensed, 11 forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries, seven and a half sacks, and 805 combined tackles.

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