The frenzy of free agency is just beginning, offering NFL franchises a chance to acquire top talent. Amid this excitement, Buffalo Bills General Manager Brandon Beane secured contract extensions for four players on the roster, including star quarterback Josh Allen. However, other teammates remain in free agency, eager to see what the future holds for them.
While last season was bittersweet for Buffalo, highlighted by Allen’s MVP performance but ultimately falling short of a Super Bowl appearance, the Bills are determined to improve in 2025. With key additions and contract extensions for pivotal players like Khalil Shakir, Buffalo is setting its sights on securing a Super Bowl championship for the first time in franchise history.
Motivated by this ambition, Beane spoke with the Pat McAfee Show about Allen’s contract extension, delivering a message to players with uncertain futures. “Josh and I have a great relationship, and we keep an open dialogue,” Beane said. “We had a good conversation, and like any good deal, there’s a little give and take. We significantly improved his cash flow and were able to add a couple more years to his contract.”
Beane also addressed the situation for players still in free agency, acknowledging the difficult decisions ahead. “Sometimes we’ve had to let good players we’ve drafted move on for bigger contracts elsewhere. But this sends a message to the locker room: come in, do everything right, make plays at your position, and the Bills will try to re-sign you if they can make it work,” he explained. “At the end of the day, it’s a business. Some guys want the most money, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”
Beane discusses Allen’s impact on the Bills
As the Bills’ quarterback has made it clear that Buffalo is where he wants to be, he has done everything in his power to bring a championship to the city. Beane praised Allen’s commitment and his character, noting that Allen embodies the spirit of the Buffalo Bills.
“From the day we drafted him, we knew we liked this guy. People had questions about his talent level, and as I said at my opening press conference, when you get to meet this young man, you realize he is a Buffalo guy through and through. He’s a lunch-pail kind of guy, grew up on a farm, and he’s just the kind of person we want here,” Beane said.
Beane also mentioned Allen’s humility and leadership: “I don’t know if you saw at the honors, but he was referencing various people in the building, including Slick Rick, our mailman, just all the people he interacts with. For an MVP-caliber player to give credit not just to teammates and coaches, but to staff members—it really blew Slick Rick away.”
Other Bills players sign contract extensions
Josh Allen wasn’t the only player to secure a contract extension this week. Three other key players have also signed long-term deals, which will be crucial for the team’s goals heading into 2025.
Receiver Khalil Shakir agreed to a four-year extension worth $53 million. Defensive end Gregory Rousseau will remain with the Bills for the next four years in a deal worth $80 million. Finally, linebacker Terrell Bernard also signed a four-year extension, valued at $50 million.