Bills dealt a brutal blow in their attempt to acquire another difference-maker just days before free agency begins
It might be over for the Bills and one free agent.
The Buffalo Bills are going to be active once free agency begins, or at least that’s what Bills Mafia is hoping for — and they’ve already shown that by agreeing to acquire DJ Moore from the Chicago Bears. From linebacker to pass rush help to wide receiver, there are plenty of areas of need for Buffalo to target in the coming days as the NFL free agency period is set to begin.
One of the names that Buffalo has been linked to is none other than Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans. Unfortunately for Bills fans, a national analyst threw some cold water on a potential Evans to Buffalo decision. In his eyes, Buffalo needs to make a bigger swing, not for Evans. Louis Riddick from ESPN thinks that Buffalo should be pounding the table for A.J. Brown instead.
“I just don’t think Mike [Evans] is truly a one at this point,” Riddick said. “I think he’s a guy who is more like a 1b or a really, really good two. Buffalo needs a one. Buffalo needs A.J. Brown. They need that kind of guy.”
Mike Evans to Buffalo would help, but not solve the issue at hand
That’s not to say Riddick doesn’t believe Evans could slot in and compete with Buffalo; it’s just that the Bills need a true No. 1 wide receiver. Evans just isn’t that in his career right now. He had a down year in 2025 after battling through injury despite putting up over 1,000 yards in every single season before. For Riddick, the Bills just need more weapons. Perhaps his opinion will change after the news of the D.J. Moore trade broke, but that’s yet to be reported on from Riddick.
“Mike could still fit in there perfectly,” Riddick said. “I’ll tell you what, you get someone like Mike Evans, and you can add a one or a guy who is a true X or Z who has a ton of speed on the outside, now you’re cooking up there in Buffalo. If I’m Brandon Beane, I don’t know how Brandon doesn’t feel a lot of pressure, quite honestly. Regardless of what happened with Keon Coleman, they need some more weapons on the perimeter; they just do. And Mike would be a start.”
Keon Coleman keeps catching strays during the offseason
Riddick mentioned Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman by name, discussing that whatever has happened with Coleman, it remains that Buffalo needs some help at the receiver position. Coleman has had a busy offseason, being called out during Sean McDermott’s firing announcement, with the team doubling down over the past few weeks, saying that Coleman is part of the long-term plans.
It’s just yet another chapter for the soon-to-be third-year receiver. Outside of Buffalo needing to get help in that room, Coleman also desperately needs to take an important step next season, if he’s still with the team at all when 2026 rolls around.
At the end of the day, Riddick’s point isn’t really about Evans versus Brown; it’s about urgency. The Bills have leaned on Allen to mask roster shortcomings for years, and it’s finally catching up to them in the biggest moments. That may have all changed with the trade of D.J. Moore, but you can always add more weapons to the mix if you ask me.
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