As the Buffalo Bills enter the offseason with their head coach and coordinators in place, attention will turn to the state of the roster.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane spoke off to the side following the introductory press conference for new head coach Joe Brady, elaborating on injury updates, the salary cap and more.
Here's what we learned.
1 — Updates on the health of Josh Allen and Dalton Kincaid
Bills quarterback Josh Allen was in attendance for Brady's press conference, though he was in a walking boot and crutches.
Allen confirmed to the media that he broke a bone in his right foot, his fifth metatarsal, during the 2025 season and needed a procedure done.
Beane shared that Allen flew to Birmingham to have surgery on his right foot on Jan. 26. The recovery timeline should not interfere with the start of the team's offseason workouts, barring setbacks.
"He should be ready to roll this spring," Beane said.
While one key offensive player underwent surgery, another was advised to not have a procedure after seeking "second and third opinions."
Tight end Dalton Kincaid will not need surgery for a knee injury that bothered him the last two seasons.
"Multiple doctors that our physicians believe in gave him the word that they didn't think surgery was the best answer for him," Beane said.
Instead, Kincaid and the Bills were given instructions for "rehab, recovery and a plan" to manage the injury.
"It's something that we think we can do things to help him put strength in other areas, to help the knee. Then we'll always have a plan when we get into training camp to make sure that — as long as nothing new happens — we don't overwork it or something that would cause it to flare up the way it did this season," Beane explained.
Additionally, Beane said he "doesn't see any reason" why the team wouldn't pick up Kincaid's fifth year option for 2027.
2 — Dialogue with Keon Coleman
Following the press conference in which Beane and owner Terry Pegula shared insight into the decision process to draft wide receiver Keon Coleman in 2024, both Beane and Brady have since talked with the Bills wide receiver.
Beane believes the relationship with Coleman is in a "very good" place going into the offseason..
"A couple great talks with his agent, Keon and I have traded multiple messages. His head is down and ready to go. And that's our plan," Beane said.
Beane added that the team felt Coleman's production on the field has been "good" the first two seasons. It's his decision making off the field — including being late to team meetings — that led to the disruption of his playing time during the 2025 season.
"When you have some of the immaturity things that came up, that costs trust, which costs opportunities. And so he is going to need to continue this offseason, he needs to do what he did last off season. Have the same training camp all of us here witnessed and the first game, and not let anything get in the way," Beane said.
Brady also expressed how excited he is to continue working with Coleman in 2026.
"Keon Coleman is going to be on our football team," Brady said.
3 — A salary cap update for 2026
When Beane spoke to the media Thursday, he did so without having learned the final salary cap number for the 2026 season.
A day later, the league informed clubs it is projecting a salary cap in the range of $301.2 million to $305.7 million. That range represents an increase of over $20 million in cap space from 2025 and potentially as much as $25 million. The salary cap was $279.2 million for the 2025 season.
Prior to that announcement, Beane projected Buffalo to be somewhere from $15 million to $20 million over the projection cap. Still, the front office anticipates moves it will need to make.
"We've already started thinking about moves. I was honestly before this head coaching change already thinking about certain things we'll do. I'll have to circle back to some of that," Beane said.
Now that the Bills hired their head coach and three coordinators, the priority shifts to roster discussions and moves to get under the salary cap.
"Get them in, let's talk about our personnel, and let's make sure we're making the right decision — not to move on from someone too soon, but also not too late," Beane said.
4 — Looming decisions at interior offensive line
The Bills were fortunate having continuity on the offensive line the last two seasons. In 2024, the unit allowed the fewest sacks in the league; in 2025, it helped paved the way for running back James Cook III to lead the NFL in rushing yards.
For the first time in a couple offseasons, Buffalo has decisions to make up front as left guard David Edwards and center Connor McGovern are set to be free agents. Right guard O'Cyrus Torrence is eligible for a contract extension as well.
Beane commented on the offensive line as a whole without mentioning specific players.
"You're looking at it like 'Gosh I'm not sure if we'll be able to trot out the same five next year.' But we do have some guys that we do believe in. Some of the guys you're talking about have earned the right to go to free agency," Beane said. "But we'll keep the dialogue going and I'd love to trot out the same five next year."
If Buffalo cannot retain every piece, the priority is to still build up front.
"If not, we'll make sure we fill those holes the way we did before. Because winning up front does not change," Beane added. "So many games are won and lost up front in the trenches. And I would be an idiot to try and let our O-line fall apart — because we gotta project No. 17."
5 — Wanting the defensive line to "take the next step"
Speaking of the trenches, the Bills poured resources into retooling the defensive line last offseason, signing DE Joey Bosa, DE Michael Hoecht and DT Larry Ogunjobi in free agency. They then drafted DT Deone Walker, DT T.J. Sanders and DE Landon Jackson in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Unfortunately for Buffalo, not all of those pieces provided the impact the team hoped for, primarily due to injuries.
Hoecht and Jackson suffered season-ending leg injuries, Bosa fought through "wear and tear" the second half of the year and Sanders had a knee procedure during that middle of the season. Sanders returned late in the year.
That's all without mentioning DT Ed Oliver, who had an ankle injury early in the season, then tore his bicep midseason and didn't return until the Divisional game at Denver.
"We lost a lot of pieces, maybe some of them we could've controlled, maybe some of them you couldn't," Beane said.
Beane shared that he is excited about all the young pieces added from the 2025 draft and could look to add more impact players.
"We are going to need Greg Rousseau, Ed Oliver and all the young guys to help us take the next step. I am always going to look for pieces up front on both sides. So if there's any opportunity to add somebody in the draft or free agency or a trade … I wouldn't shy away," Beane said.
