Top 10 Buffalo Bills Players Going Into the 2026-27 NFL Season
The Buffalo Bills have been stuck in the same endless cycle for about a decade at this point. The mission has remained the same: Super Bowl or bust. Yet they still cannot get it done. Even in a year with no Ravens, Bengals, or Chiefs in their path, they still haven't made it to the big game itself.
It's been the same song and dance on repeat. On paper, the Bills have all the talent and all the right pieces to finally win the Super Bowl, only for something to inevitably happen that causes things to go sideways, and they fail again.
They officially have a brand-new stadium, and they fired Sean McDermott after years of playoff failures. They promoted Joe Brady to be their new head coach.
Honestly, I'd expect a strong regular season from the Bills, but they will find a way to come up short once again.
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Josh Allen
Joshua Patrick Allen (born May 21, 1996) is an American football quarterback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL).
He played college football for the Wyoming Cowboys and was selected seventh overall by the Bills in the 2018 NFL Draft. ... read more
Who else could it have been? There's no denying that Josh Allen is incredibly talented. Some will say he's the best quarterback in the league right now, and from a talent perspective, they have a valid point. He won MVP in 2024, and his 2025 season was on par with his MVP season.
Josh Allen is undeniably an elite dual-threat quarterback. However, his playoff record is a bit of a fatal flaw on his résumé. Don't just take my word for it. Watch the Bills vs. Broncos playoff game from last year, and you'll see what I mean. For whatever reason, he just can't perform in the playoffs when the lights are brightest. Maybe one day he'll finally do it, but last season was a golden opportunity wasted.
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James Cook
James Cook is an elite running back. I thought his 2024 season was solid, but he crushed it even more in 2025, with 1,621 rushing yards to lead the entire league. He also scored 12 rushing touchdowns and averaged 5.2 yards per carry.
He's a premier bell-cow running back who is easily a top-10 running back in the NFL currently. He made second-team All-Pro last season and has made three straight Pro Bowls. There are some slight fumbling concerns here and there, but if he cleans those up, he has a case for being in the top five. There have been times when he's single-handedly won them games.
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Christian Benford
Christian Benford has been one of the best and most underappreciated cornerbacks in the league. He had 2 sacks and 2 interceptions. While his numbers took a slight dip from his 2024 season, he's still very solid overall. He excels in coverage, especially zone coverage, and is a good run stopper. He has been a durable and reliable asset for the Bills' defense. They'll need him to continue performing at a high level.
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Dion Dawkins
Dawkins is about as good as it gets for an offensive tackle. PFF graded him as the seventh-best pass blocker in the league last season, and he has made five consecutive Pro Bowls. He's become one of the premier pass blockers in the league.
He's a key contributor to Josh Allen's success, consistently protecting his left side. The Bills need him to be at his best to keep the offense flowing. There may be some slight penalty issues here and there, but overall, he's a cornerstone of the Bills' offensive line.
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Ed Oliver
Ed Oliver has been a key contributor to the Bills' pass-rushing attack. Unfortunately, a series of injuries kept him sidelined for most of the 2025 season. He only played in three total games.
He did have a breakout season in 2023, with 9.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. He's still decent, but if the Bills are going to make it over the hump once and for all, they're going to need him to recapture the highs from his 2023 season.
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Greg Rousseau
Greg Rousseau is a highly talented edge rusher in the NFL. Some may say he's elite. He's one of the best in the business at stopping the run with his massive frame, and he's constantly generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
PFF gave him an 86.4 grade, ranking him eighth among all edge rushers. In 16 games played last season, he finished with seven sacks, 24 solo tackles, 46 combined tackles, and 23 quarterback hits. There's a good reason why the Bills extended his contract last year.
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D.J. Moore
The Bills have lacked a true No. 1 wide receiver since Stefon Diggs left, and D.J. Moore could be that guy. He's not going to blow anyone away like a Ja'Marr Chase or Justin Jefferson type would, but he's a consistent veteran presence. His durability has been impressive, as he has barely missed any games.
He finished with 682 yards and six touchdowns in 2025. He's one of those players who is better than his stats would suggest, and he does have multiple 1,000-plus-yard seasons. I feel like he's going to do well in the Bills' system.
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Dalton Kincaid
Dalton Kincaid has been a solid tight end for the Bills. He has proven himself to be efficient and effective, with reliable hands and decent playmaking abilities. He finished the 2025 season with 571 yards and five touchdowns and was named to the Pro Bowl.
Kincaid still has upside, but he has had some nagging injuries holding him back and limiting his availability. If he can stay healthy and take the next step, he could really rise up this list.
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Bradley Chubb
The Bills bring in an experienced linebacker in Bradley Chubb. He's an interesting case. The talent is there when he's healthy. The problem is that his career has been defined by multiple injuries up to this point, including missing the entire 2024 season. However, he bounced back in 2025 with 8.5 sacks and 48 pressures, leading the Dolphins' defense.
If not for the injuries, he'd be a lot higher on this list, but at this point, durability remains a concern. As long as he stays healthy, he'll be a great asset for the Bills' defense.
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Khalil Shakir
Shakir may not be a traditional WR1, but he's one of the most effective and efficient slot receivers in the league. He finished the 2025 season with 719 yards and 4 touchdowns. He is incredible at gaining yards after the catch and is a true home run threat. There's a good reason why Buffalo extended his contract.