The Buffalo Bills have some big-named players heading into a contract year this season. Players tend to play their best football in hopes of getting paid by either their current team, or cash in during free agency. Sometimes, it works out in the favor of the player and sometimes it doesn’t. That’s why we see players holding out for a new contract as they approach their potential last season with a team.
The Bills have five notable contract-year players going into 2025 that fans will want to keep an eye on from start to finish. Maybe the Bills can find a way to bring some back, while others are more than likely destined to play their last season as a member of the Bills in 2025.
Superlatives for notable Bills players heading into contract year
RB James Cook
Most likely to be traded during 2025 season
It doesn’t appear the Bills and James Cook will agree on a contract extension anytime soon, if at all. He wants to get paid like he is one of the best backs in football, within the same field as Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, and Christian McCaffrey. While I have been a big supporter of Cook getting paid, it’s hard to imagine the Bills paying him north of $15 million per year.
So, if the Bills don’t plan on spending that kind of money on him and he doesn’t lower his price, then it would make the most sense for the Bills to trade him and get some value for him. Since he is on a rookie contract year and has been productive the last two seasons, the Bills might be able to find a trade partner. It would make no sense for the Bills to keep Cook, not pay him and then eventually lose him in free agency.
DE Joey Bosa
Most likely to be one-and-done in Buffalo
The biggest splash the Bills made in free agency was signing edge rusher Joey Bosa to a one-year deal worth up to $12.6 million. Coming from the Los Angeles Chargers, Bosa was the last person that Bills fans thought would come to Buffalo as he was linked to the 49ers to join his brother up in San Francisco.
While Bosa can wreck a game, he has not been dependable whatsoever the last couple of years due to injuries (which he has already had since being signed by the Bills). There’s a reason why the Bills only gave Bosa a one-year deal and it was because of the Von Miller contract.
Whether Bosa has a great year or not, the Bills are only tied to him for one year and they drafted Landon Jackson to eventually become a starter.
LB Matt Milano
Most likely to come back to Buffalo for 2026
This is a big stretch considering the fact that Milano has had two major injuries the last two seasons, but he agreed to a paycut with the Bills making him an unrestricted free agent after the 2025 season. With this superlative, Milano would have to have a solid year of production and if he does, I can see him getting atleast one more year in Buffalo in 2026.
DE A.J. Epenesa
Most likely to lose snaps to rookie DE Landon Jackson
A.J. Epenesa has been a solid rotational edge rusher for the Bills the last few seasons which helped him earn a two-year extension going into the 2024 season. However, it was just a short team commitment from the Bills, and now they have not only signed OLD/DE Michael Hoecht to a three-year deal, they also drafted Landon Jackson in this year’s NFL Draft.
Jackson has had a strong start to the summer for the Bills and if he progresses well during the season, don’t be surprised to see him taking snaps away from Epenesa.
OL Connor McGovern
Most likely to get a contract extension before or during season
Out of the five players on this list, I believe that McGovern might be the only Bill that has a future beyond this season and next season in Buffalo. He was brought to Buffalo as a guard, but he moved to center after the Bills released Mitch Morse and McGovern shined greatly. He was the true anchor of the offensive line and his pass protection is what should earn him a contract extension sooner than later.
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