Best Remaining Free Agents for the Buffalo Bills After Day 3 of NFL Free Agency

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills struck quickly on the third day of free agency, locking up Pro Bowl edge rusher Bradley Chubb for three years and $43.5 million, but general manager Brandon Beane still has a lengthy shopping list before training camp opens. With several marquee names already off the board, the front office is pivoting to a second wave of veterans who can fill specific roles without crushing a tight salary cap. Here are five realistic targets who could help the Bills patch the remaining holes on the 2026 roster.

1. Jaquan Brisker, S Buffalo needs a running mate for second-year standout Cole Bishop, and Brisker’s downhill style meshes with new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s multiple-front scheme. The 25-year-old started every game last season, recording career highs in tackles-for-loss and quarterback pressures. While his coverage numbers (101.3 passer rating allowed) are pedestrian, Leonhard has a history of masking single-high liabilities with creative blitz packages—something Brisker excelled at in Chicago. Expect a prove-it deal in the $5–6 million range.

2. Shaq Thompson, LB Reunions rarely make this much sense. Thompson, 32, signed a veteran-minimum contract last August and promptly outplayed starter Terrel Bernard in key series, logging 56 tackles, a sack, and a momentum-swinging interception of Trevor Lawrence. PFF graded his coverage at 72.2, the highest mark among all Buffalo linebackers. A second one-year pact keeps continuity in the second level without jeopardizing the compensatory-pick formula.

3. D.J. Reader, NT The Bills surrendered 4.9 yards per carry between the tackles a year ago—dead last in the AFC. Reader, once the league’s premier two-gap nose, saw his snap count dip in Detroit but still generated 20 total pressures and held opposing rushers to 1.8 yards after contact, per PFF. At 345 pounds, he immediately upgrades the 1-technique spot and frees up three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ed Oliver to rush from wider alignments. A two-year, $12 million offer could get it done before the market dries up.

4. Christian Kirk, WR Depth behind Stefon Diggs and Khalil Shakir is perilously thin. Kirk, who posted 57 catches for 787 yards as recently as 2023, missed four games last season with a high-ankle sprain but flashed chemistry with Josh Allen during offseason workouts in California. Slot experience, plus the ability to motion into bunch sets, gives offensive coordinator Joe Brady the flexibility he lacked in January’s playoff loss. A modest $3 million base with incentives keeps the cap sheet clean.

5. Haason Reddick, Edge Chubb and Greg Rousseff headline the pass-rush room, but Buffalo rotated eight different edge players last season. Reddick, who tallied 34 pressures in 13 games after returning from a knee scope, would slide into the “rush” linebacker role on third down. His 2.5 sacks were down, yet the burst that produced 39.5 sacks from 2020-24 still shows up on tape. A incentive-laden $2.5 million contract limits risk while preserving upside if the 30-year-old regains pre-injury form.

Bottom line: Beane has already checked the biggest box by landing Chubb. Now the Bills must mine the bargain bin for starters and situational pieces who can elevate the roster from playoff qualifier to legitimate Super Bowl contender. The five names above fit the scheme, the budget, and the timeline.