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Bills linebacker Matt Milano has been labeled the team’s top Defensive Player of the Year candidate in 2025
The Buffalo Bills are one of the few NFL teams that can say they are in a position to win a Super Bowl at the end of the season.
Being a Super Bowl contender isn’t something a team gets to experience every year, and for the last five seasons, the Bills have been knocking on that door.
Buffalo is trying as hard as possible to win it all this season, but even though the team is looking toward 2025, it’s never too early to look at moves for 2026.
A few moves the Bills will have to consider next season is what to do with players on expiring contracts.
Buffalo Has A Lot Of Decisions To Make In 2026
One player that has gotten a lot of buzz lately is running back James Cook.
Cook is not under contract for next season and, as of right now, will be hitting the open market next season.
It doesn’t seem like the Bills have any interest in giving Cook a new contract, which means this will likely be his last year in Buffalo.
Another name to watch for next offseason is linebacker Matt Milano. The 30-year-old linebacker is in the final year of a one-year,$6 million contract and could also be playing his last season with the Bills.
If Cook and Milano aren’t back next season, the team will need to find replacements for them.
The Bills could sign a cheap running back option in free agency, but Buffalo might try to find their new linebacker in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Bills Could Draft Texas Linebacker Anthony Hill
Enzo Flojo from ClutchPoints thinks the Bills should keep an eye on Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr.
“Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr could be the ideal answer, whether as insurance or a future defensive centerpiece,” Flojo wrote. “Hill is a defensive coordinator’s dream. He is rangy, versatile, and disruptive. In 2024, he posted 113 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and 8 sacks en route to All-American honors. What makes Hill particularly appealing for Buffalo is how Texas used him. He wasn’t just a downhill thumper. He lined up all over the field, whether it was off the edge, inside, and even in coverage. His football IQ and communication skills allowed him to serve as the Longhorns’ defensive signal-caller as a sophomore. He’ll only be 21 on draft night in 2026 and won’t turn 22 until after his rookie season. That kind of youth, paired with elite production and proven versatility, is rare. The Bills could deploy him alongside Milano if the veteran bounces back. Alternatively, they could slot Hill in as the new leader of the defense if Milano’s injury luck continues to sour.”
Hill looks to be the main defensive piece on a Texas team that could win the National Championship this season.
It will be interesting to see what direction the Bills go in next year’s draft, and if Buffalo is looking to take a linebacker high, then Hill might be the best choice.
Danny Fisher Is a football journalist covering the Buffalo Bills for Heavy.com. He has covered the NFL for Gridiron Heroics, focusing on the AFC and Penn State football for Nittany Central. More about Danny Fisher
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