Which previous Bill (who’s not on another team and can still play) would you want on the 2026 team?

[BillsFan619]

Thought this would be a timely and realistic topic for discussion.

 

I’m on record as saying that I’d love to have Brandin Cooks back. I know his final play was extremely controversial, but I really do believe him and Josh had something going at the end of the year. I also believe he’d raise the wide receiver room, potentially become our WR2 and give us some insurance for potential injuries. I still want him back, even with the encouraging things we’re hearing from camp about some of our pass catchers.
 

That said, if I had to pick one previous Bill to bring back who’s not currently with another team, it’d be Matt Prater.

 

I’m typically very loyal to Bills players when they go through struggle times. But, Tyler Bass has struggled in one way or another for two seasons now. I realize there may be something going on behind closed doors that the fans wouldn’t know about, but he seems like such an unknown heading into the season.

 

Knowing the type of season we’re all hoping for, it’d be Matt Prater. Last year he kicked the GW against the Ravens and put us into OT with a clutch kick against the Broncos in the Divisional Round.

 

How about you, who’s one previous Bill that’s not currently with another team and can still play, that you’d want on the 2026 Bills?

Edited August 5 by BillsFan619

[BuffaloBillyG]

Kyle Williams. Not only because I love the way he plays and type of person he is...he would fill a major need on the DL. 

[ganesh]

Cooks on offense and Milano in defense 

 

the two veterans can still play and be starters on this team 

[Solomon Grundy]

Joey Bosa

[NoSaint]

The list of options is so short 

 

trying to go outside the obvious… did Leonard Floyd look ancient last year? A swing at von miller?

 

otherwise, it’s basically bosa or cooks

Edited August 5 by NoSaint

[H2o]

1 hour ago, ganesh said:

Cooks on offense and Milano in defense 

 

the two veterans can still play and be starters on this team 

I don't know about being starters at this point. Maybe Cooks, but they would definitely be solid depth and my choices as well. 

[Willie West]

Tre. Better than the seventh round draft pick. Maybe Shaq.

[That's No Moon]

Matt Prater. Nobody else.

[Simon]

2 hours ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

Kyle Williams. Not only because I love the way he plays and type of person he is...he would fill a major need on the DL. 

 

He's 43 years old. 

[Doc Brown]

Shaq Thompson played well last year and LB scares the crap out of me especially if there is an injury.  He'd be my vote.

[BillsFan619]

48 minutes ago, NoSaint said:

The list of options is so short 

 

trying to go outside the obvious… did Leonard Floyd look ancient last year? A swing at von miller?

 

otherwise, it’s basically bosa or cooks

This article is a little bit over a week old, but there’s 12 Bills just from last year, that are unsigned on this list.

 

https://www.si.com/nfl/bills/onsi/free-agency-12-buffalo-bills-still-unsigned-as-training-camp-begins

 

To your point, Floyd and Miller would be interesting.

[Simon]

Any or all of Shaq Thompson, DaQuan Jones and Brandin Cooks would be welcome additions to this roster.

[Fan in Chicago]

22 minutes ago, Simon said:

Shaq Thompson, DaQuan Jones and Brandin Cooks

I have been asking for Thompson and Cooks for a while here. And trust your judgment on Jones.

Those three will really solidify the team and set a solid floor for the defense while opening the ceiling for the offense. 

[dgrochester55]

Cooks, Milano and, Thompson, but all stashed on the Practice squad for those late season games where injuries cause depth issues.  I think that all of them could still contribute in small doses, but not consistently starting for an entire season.

[NewEra]

Cooks > Shaq > Prater > Steve Christie > Ryan Lindell > Daquan> Tre’davious 

1 hour ago, NoSaint said:

The list of options is so short 

 

trying to go outside the obvious… did Leonard Floyd look ancient last year? A swing at von miller?

 

otherwise, it’s basically bosa or cooks

Von Miller might actually be a great grab as a situational rusher- but there’s no room.  Soloman is likely a lock due to his ST play and I can’t see us keeping that many edges

Edited August 5 by NewEra

[Sierra Foothills]

1 hour ago, Simon said:

He's 43 years old. 

 

He's old enough to be Tremaine's great-grandfather!

 

[Victory Formation]

Matt Milano, he would be an excellent rotational piece and mentor for Elarm...

[BillsFan619]

1 hour ago, NewEra said:

Cooks > Shaq > Prater > Steve Christie > Ryan Lindell > Daquan> Tre’davious 

Von Miller might actually be a great grab as a situational rusher- but there’s no room.  Soloman is likely a lock due to his ST play and I can’t see us keeping that many edges

Cooks was my 2nd choice.

 

I still hope we sign him, but if I could only choose one, I had to go with Prater because he was really good last year and because of the Bass situation (past two years and present).

Edited August 5 by BillsFan619

[Simon]

2 hours ago, Fan in Chicago said:

I have been asking for Thompson and Cooks for a while here. And trust your judgment on Jones.

 

Jones was an absolute monster last year. He stepped up in a massive, massive way when Oliver went down and ended up arguably one of the best 2-3 players on the entire defense.

The problem is that I think the McDermott firing really pissed him off for some reason and he may have burned some bridges that he has little interest in repairing. 

[BobbyC81]

6 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

Shaq Thompson played well last year and LB scares the crap out of me especially if there is an injury.  He'd be my vote.

Shaq was obviously brought in because of the connection to McDermott.  So, even though there are some defensive coaches remaining, there may not be that connection anymore.  Plus, we don’t know what Leonhard thinks of him for his defense.