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FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 14: Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots scrambles under pressure from Daquan Jones #92 of the Buffalo Bills during the third quarter at Gillette Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
The Buffalo Bills are heading into a critical offseason, and there’s a chance they may lose several key free agents following a coaching change in January.
Buffalo parted ways with head coach Sean McDermott after nine seasons and promoted offensive coordinator Joe Brady to take the helm. With Brady now as head coach, it’s likely there won’t be substantial changes to the offense, but the defense could see some significant shifts.
Brady hired Jim Leonhard to be the defensive coordinator, and there’s a chance he might want to part ways with a few players and bring in some of his own. One player to watch is soon-to-be free agent defensive tackle DaQuan Jones.
DaQuan Jones Might Leave Buffalo
ESPN’s Bills reporter Alaina Getzenberg named Jones as the Bills’ free agentwho will likely move on this offseason.
“DT DaQuan Jones,” Getzenberg wrote on Friday. “The veteran started for four seasons under former Bills coach Sean McDermott. New defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard will bring in a revamped scheme, and younger talent will be emphasized. Jones, 34, has dealt with injuries and hinted on social media in January that he might not return to the Bills.”
Jones has been with the Bills since 2022, participating in 51 games and recording a total of 99 combined tackles, 10 sacks and 15 tackles for loss. He is nearing the end of his two-year, $16 million contract, which he signed in March 2024.
It would be wise for the Bills to consider parting ways with Jones this offseason, especially since he played only 12 games last season due to injury and will be turning 35 soon.
One positive aspect of bringing Jones back is that he’s not expected to command a high salary on the open market. Spotrac recently estimated his market value at $1.8 million, making him a cost-effective option.
Jones likely won’t sign with any team when free agency opens up on Wednesday, and he might still be sitting on the sidelines when summer arrives. This could present a good opportunity for the Bills to re-sign him if they’re not satisfied with their defensive tackle depth.
The Bills Could Be Losing David Edwards
It seems that Jones may not be the only free agent departing Buffalo this offseason, as the Bills might have hinted that they are planning to move on from guard David Edwards.
The Bills agreed to a four-year, $52 million deal with center Connor McGovern on Saturday. This likely means Edwards will be leaving, as it would be tough to keep both players on high-contract deals.
Buffalo probably thought that McGovern held greater value on the roster and for the team, since he is a center. Good ones are hard to find in free agency, especially with so many talented guards on the market, so the Bills could find it easier to replace Edwards with a cheaper option.
It will be interesting to see who the Bills bring in this offseason and which players may have played their final game in Buffalo when they faced the Denver Broncos in the playoffs in January.