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The Buffalo Bills are getting criticized for a move they made ahead of 2026-27 that involved letting a value player walk.
The Buffalo Bills have made some high-profile moves ahead of the 2026-27 season, such as bringing on wide receiver DJ Moore to beef up the team’s offense. But, not all of the moves are getting rave reviews.
Of course, it’s impossible to make everyone happy with free agency moves. Sometimes, teams just have to let talent go in the interest of cap space or needs in other areas of the team. Plus, this is Joe Brady’s first year heading up the franchise, so he’s going to be hit with more criticism than seasoned head coaches.
But, for the Buffalo Bills, they’re being warned that one move may come back to bite them. They let go of a player who was a value pick, and that player quickly signed to another team, showing that he was a hot commodity on the market.
Buffalo Bills Get Criticized for Letting One Specific Player Go
Cornerback Cam Lewis was with the Buffalo Bills from 2019 to 2025, and he even played his college career at the University at Buffalo, so he’s a local personality.
On Wednesday, March 11, Lewis became a free agent and quickly signed a two-year deal with the Chicago Bears, according to a report from Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Lewis’ projected market value, according to research from Spotrac, is approximately $1.5 million per year, so he was a value player.
In a Saturday, March 14 feature for Buffalo Lowdown, Brandon Ray makes the case this this move may come back to bit the Bills.
During Lewis’ time with the Bills, Ray says that the player “became an under appreciated versatile defender who could line up outside, in the slot, or at safety.”
Lewis’ numbers were strong. He really blossomed during the 2024 season, when he notched, according to EPSN research, 68 total tackles, one interception and four pass deflections.”
“From a rotational point of view, Lewis provided fantastic value. Now he will bring it to Chicago,” Ray notes.
He adds that “losing a player who can essentially be put anywhere on the defense and play at a high level is hard to accept. I’m not saying that Lewis was Buffalo’s best secondary defender, but he was reliable and he made some hard crushing hits as well.”
Buffalo Bills Will Face Super Bowl Winner on a Regular Basis
In other news, in a separate feature for the Buffalo Lowdown, Ray also talked about some key players the Bills will come up against during the 2026-27 season. One is Kenneth Walker III, who just won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. Walker, of course, is now with the Kansas City Chiefs.
“Walker has been part of a committee in Seattle,” Ray notes, “but was beyond impressive with Seattle last season and now the Bills will have to gameplan for him when the Chiefs come to Buffalo.”
So, while the Buffalo Bills have been beefing up their lineup ahead of September, they’re not the only ones. The Chiefs and Bills have a long rivalry, and the new additions will make their matchups even more exciting.
Anne Erickson is an award-winning reporter for Heavy Sports covering the NFL, NBA and college football. Anne Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and additional sports, and her work has been published via ESPN, Fox Sports and more. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Erickson also hosts several podcasts and is a Detroit-based radio host. More about Anne Erickson
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