The Bills have 17 players that are set to be free agents this offseason.

A year ago, General Manager Brandon Beane's to-do list really revolved around retaining their own, re-signing guys like Matt Milano, Daryl Williams, Jon Feliciano, Levi Wallace and Isaiah McKenzie.

After running it back didn't get the Bills even back to where their season ended in 2020, will Beane's philosophy change this offseason in regards to trying to bring back as many FA's as he can?

"I'm going to look everywhere," Beane said during his end of season press conference a few weeks ago. "I'm going to look inside this building. The cap matters here too. So there may be some guys on this team that I want to keep that I can't keep them all."

Let's look at who is set to hit the open market and dive into whether or not they should be in the Bills plans moving forward.

**Order is based on 2021 average annual value according to Spotrac.com**

DE Jerry Hughes

2021 stats: 18 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles

​Hughes is coming off his least productive season in a decade, having registered 4+ sacks the nine previous years. He also was playing less than he ever has, seeing the field for 52% of the Bills defensive snaps. This was a clear sign of the Bills shift towards getting younger on the defensive line, including on the edge with Greg Rousseau and even A.J. Epenesa and Boogie Basham. Beane didn't close the door on a Hughes return, but it will certainly come down to money and whether or not Hughes is willing to get paid like a 34-year-old back-up. While his leadership has been fantastic, production trumps all and getting more off the edge might mark the end of Hughes 9 years with the Bills.

DE Mario Addison

2021 stats: 29 tackles, 8 TFL, 7 sacks, 2 forced fumbles

​Addison is the opposite of the conversation of Hughes. He turned less playing time into more production, leading the Bills with those 7 sacks in just 45% of the team's defensive snaps. Addison made it clear late in the season that he was fine taking a reduced role to help with the younger DL talent, but felt the writing was on the wall that 2021 would be his final season with the Bills. Even with turning 35 before next season, Addison wants to play two more years in hopes of winning a Super Bowl. The price would have to be much lower than the near $10 million he made this past season for him to do so with the Bills.

DT Vernon Butler

2021 stats: 11 tackles, 0 sacks

​A year ago the Bills chose to keep Butler over Quinton Jefferson. In hindsight, that decision was not the right one. Butler was certainly on a cut line at the end of training camp, but made the team. Beyond that, he played in only 10 games and produced just about nothing when seeing the field. Being a healthy scratch more than a handful of times is the clearest indication that he is not in the Bills plans and all but certainly won't be brought back.

WR Emmanuel Sanders

2021 stats: 42 receptions for 626 yards and 4 touchdowns

Sanders was a big part of the Bills offense the first half of the season, catching 28 receptions for 478 yards and 4 TDs in the first 8 games. But the rest of the way his production decreased, in part because of injury and also the reemergence of Gabriel Davis. Sanders also admitted after the season that he "hit a wall" following the sudden death of best friend and former teammate Demaryius Thomas in early December. He was non-committal about his future, with retirement certainly a possibility for the soon-to-be 35 year old. With Davis showing he can be the 2nd outside option with Stefon Diggs, I don't foresee Sanders in the Bills plans even if he does intend on continuing his playing career.

QB Mitchell Trubisky

2021 stats: 6/8 for 75% completion, 43 passing yards and an interception

It wasn't about the numbers for Trubisky. He was exactly what the Bills hoped for when signing the former 2nd overall pick a year ago to a one-year deal. Trubisky showed enough in the preseason that if forced into duty he could keep the Bills afloat during a Josh Allen absence. That obviously never happened. However, there is enough film from the preseason that Trubisky might get another shot at at least competing for a starting job elsewhere. Beane made it clear he would love to have Trubisky back if those opportunities don't present themselves, but odds are at least one team will.

G Ike Boettger

2021 stats: 15 games with 10 starts, 2 total penalties

​For a 2nd straight season, Boettger was inserted into the line-up and brought stability to a guard spot that lacked it. Unfortunately his season ended the day after Christmas, suffering a ruptured achilles. That is an injury that almost certainly will carry rehab into next season, adding another layer to a decision on a guy who will turn 28 in October. He made about $2.1 million last season and would likely need to come back for less off an injury in order for the Bills to make it work.

CB Levi Wallace

2021 stats: 58 tackles, 2 interceptions, 10 passes defended, fumble recovery

This was the best season of Wallace's career. He allowed 47 receptions on 81 targets, a 58% completion. The opposing QB rating with throws targeted his way was 72.6, lowest of his career. This coming as he started all 17 games, including remaining steady after the season-ending injury to Tre'Davious White. It's no secret how Wallace has had to fend of competition to keep his starting job, but has held firm and started 52 games over the last four seasons. After making about $4.1 million total over that time, this is where Wallace looks to cash in as a UFA. Spotrac estimates his annual value around $9.6 million. While that seems high to me, he definitely is going to get paid on the open market. This is one of the tougher cases for the Bills, but might be exactly what Beane was referencing when admitting the team can't pay everyone they'd like to.

​RB Taiwan Jones

2021 stats: 6 special teams tackles

Special teams ace held true to his role this season. However, with Bills cap restrictions and Jones turning 34, bringing him back strictly as a gunner and special teamer seems like a stretch. Never say never, but might be a role fit for younger and cheaper options.

DL Efe Obada

2021 stats: 12 tackles, 3 TFL, 3.5 sacks

Obada's role was exactly what many expected, seeing time both on the edge as well as the interior of the defensive line. Only playing in 10 games is where people might have been surprised. He was fairly effective when seeing the field, adding 11 pressures to his stat line while playing 35% of the defensive snaps. He turns 30 in April, and while only having played four seasons in the NFL, might not completely be in the plans for the Bills. Could be a nice depth piece for the DL at a minimum salary.

WR Isaiah McKenzie

2021 stats: 20 receptions for 178 yards and a TD, 9 carries for 47 yards and TD, 24.3 yards per KR, 7.7 yards per PR

What an interesting season for McKenzie. It began with him taking the return duties and producing well. However, he was barely used offensively. Then McKenzie lost his job returning around Thanksgiving and found himself a healthy scratch for a few games. Then there was the game at New England, where McKenzie had a career game with 11 grabs for 125 yards and a TD. He took less money last offseason to return to the Bills, roughly $1.1 million. There's no doubt McKenzie will be looking for more money as well as term after earning just about $4.2 million in his career to this point. If Bills view him as their new slot guy should they move on from Cole Beasley, maybe it's worth it. Otherwise, I think McKenzie's tenure with the team is over.

RB Matt Breida

2021 stats: 26 carries for 125 rushing yards and a TD, 7 receptions for 72 yards and 2 TDs

​Breida played in only 9 games this season, a healthy scratch for the rest. When inserted into the line-up around the midway point, his speed added a spark. However, Breida's involvement didn't last and eventually he found himself back inactive. While the Bills likely hope to add a speed element to their backfield, Breida won't be that guy.

T Bobby Hart

2021 stats: 1 game with Bills

Hart was a punching bag of criticism for his play during the Bills preseason and was let go by the team. As injuries piled up, they brought him back to the practice squad and eventually found his way back on the active roster. I'd imagine the team looking elsewhere for tackle depth.

WR Jake Kumerow

2021 stats: 2 receptions for 28 yards

Kumerow definitely deserved his spot on the 53 man roster out of training camp, far and away the best of the back end competition. However, he rarely saw the field come the regular season, contributing more on special teams. He turns 30 in a few days and with someone like Isaiah Hodgins waiting in the wings, I'd assume the Bills will be moving on from the wide out with great hair.

DT Harrison Phillips

2021 stats: 51 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovered

Phillips just might have been the Bills best defensive lineman down the stretch. His snap count certainly reflected that, starting 10 of the final 11 games of the season and leading the DL in snap count seven of those. His interior tandem with Ed Oliver worked incredibly well and showed what type of young core the Bills could have on the inside. Phillips play resembled that of what we started to see right before he suffered a torn ACL early in the 2019 season. As you typically hear, it takes 2 years for a player to fully recover from that injury. Spotrac estimates his value around $5.4 million a year. For the type of production Phillips had as well as his incredible value as a leader (2x Bills nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award), I think this should be the Bills top priority to bring back.

DT Justin Zimmer

2021 stats: 8 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack in 6 games

Zimmer earned his spot on the roster out of training camp and was seeing 43% of the defensive snaps before suffering a season-ending knee injury in mid-November. He seems to have found a home with the Bills and I think as a restricted free agent, he's a candidate to return on a small deal and provide solid depth on the IDL.

DB Siran Neal

2021 stats: 23 tackles, forced fumble, fumble recovery

Neal is a special teams ace who the Bills believe could be one of the better gunners in the NFL. He also was used at times, including the divisional round game against the Chiefs, as a plug-in piece in the secondary for certain defensive packages. The 2018 5th round pick seems like a good candidate to return to the team, especially if they choose to move on from Taiwan Jones. 

OL Ryan Bates

2021 stats: 17 games, 4 starts

​Bates biggest value was thought to be his versatility, able to play every spot on the offensive line. Then he actually was set at left guard at the end of this season and showed what he can do when asked to play just one position. Bates filled in for Boettger and the Bills OL seemed to play its best ball with him in the line-up. I think he is certainly someone Beane would like to bring back, especially as an RFA. I'd assume if Bates is brought back that he'd be in the mix to return to the starting line-up at guard, but would be potentially like to find a clearer path on another team? That really is the only question for me.