The 2017 season was the Buffalo Bills' 58th overall, 48th in the National Football League (NFL) and third full season under the ownership of Terry and Kim Pegula. The season was the first under the leadership of general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott. On December 31, 2017, the final week of the regular season, the Bills finally ended their 18-year playoff drought (previously the longest active drought in the NFL and the longest active playoff drought among the four major professional North American sport leagues) with the Bills winning 22–16 over the Dolphins and the Cincinnati Bengals upsetting the Baltimore Ravens 31–27.
The Bills also improved on their 7–9 record from 2016 and clinched their first winning season since 2014 (when Doug Marrone was head coach). However, the #6 seed Bills lost the Wild Card game against the #3 seed Jacksonville 10–3, extending their playoff victory drought to 22 years.
Offseason Beane joined the Bills after 19 seasons with the Carolina Panthers, the last two as assistant to then-general manager Dave Gettleman. Beane, who signed an undisclosed deal on May 9, 2017, replaced Doug Whaley, who was fired by Pegula after the 2017 NFL draft. Whaley was fired, along with the team's entire scouting staff, on April 30, 2017, less than 12 hours after the conclusion of the 2017 NFL draft. Over the course of the 2016 offseason and into the 2017 season, many of Whaley's draft picks were purged from the roster in trades and cuts. Of the 28 players Whaley had drafted from 2014 to 2017, only nine were still on the roster by the end of August. The 2017 season was also the first under McDermott, who spent the previous eight seasons as defensive coordinator, the last six with the Panthers. McDermott, who signed an undisclosed deal on January 11, 2017, replaced Rex Ryan, who was fired along with his twin brother Rob on December 27, 2016.
Transactions
Coaching and front office changes
Coaching staff Position Name Reason 2017 Replacement Date Notes Head coach Rex Ryan (Weeks 1–16), Anthony Lynn (Week 17) Fired (Ryan) Sean McDermott January 11 Defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman Fired Leslie Frazier January 13 Linebackers coach Bobby April III Fired Bob Babich January 13 Offensive line coach Aaron Kromer Fired Juan Castillo January 13 Defensive line coach John Blake Fired Mike Waufle January 14 Tight ends coach Tony Sparano, Jr. Fired Rob Boras January 17 Running backs coach Anthony Lynn (Weeks 1–2), Vacant (Weeks 3–17) ResignedLynn left to pursue head coaching opportunities, accepting the position with the Los Angeles Chargers that offseason. Kelly Skipper January 18 Offensive coordinator Greg Roman (Weeks 1–2), Anthony Lynn (Weeks 3–16) Fired (Roman) Rick Dennison January 19 Assistant offensive line coach Pat Meyer Fired Andrew Dees January 20 Quarterbacks coach David Lee Fired David Culley January 24 Wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal Fired Phil McGeoghan February 2 Defensive quality control coachposition created John Egorugwu February 2 Offensive quality control coachposition created Marc Lubick February 2 Assistant special teams coach Eric Smith Fired Matthew Smiley February 2 Special teams quality control Kathryn Smithposition abolished February 2 Assistant defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich Fired Bill Teerlinck February 2 Defensive backs coach Tim McDonald Fired Gill Byrd February 7 Assistant defensive backs coach Ed Reed Fired Bobby Babich February 7 Player engagement and alumni director Paul Lancaster Fired Marlon Kerner April 3 Assistant strength and conditioning coach Hal Luther Fired Will Greenberg April 3 Assistant athletic trainer Jason Rebrovich Fired Denny Kellington April 3
Front office Position Name Reason 2017 replacement Date Notes General manager Doug Whaley Fired Brandon Beane May 9 Player personnel advisor Kelvin Fisher Fired Vacant Assistant general manager Vacant Joe Schoen May 14 Player personnel director Jim Monos Fired Malik Boyd May 17 Assistant director of college scouting Vacant Lake Dawson May 18 National scout Vacant Marvin Allen May 18 National scout Vacant Brian Adams May 18 College scouting director Vacant Terrance Gray May 25 BLESTO scout Vacant Marcus Cooper May 25 Northeast area scout Vacant Pete Harris May 25 Pro scout Vacant Chris Marrow May 25
Roster changes
Arrivals Position Player 2016 Team Date signed Notes LS Reid Ferguson None January 2, 2017 2 years/$1.02 million (Reserve/Future) RB Cedric O'Neal Philadelphia Eagles January 2, 2017 2 years/$1.02 million (Reserve/Future) CB Joe Powell New York Giants January 2, 2017 2 years/$1.02 million (Reserve/Future) CB Max Valles Buffalo Bills January 2, 2017 2 years/$1.02 million (Reserve/Future) QB Josh Woodrum Chicago Bears January 2, 2017 2 years/$1.02 million (Reserve/Future) SS Colt Anderson Buffalo Bills January 27, 2017 1-year extension/$900,000 LB Ramon Humber New England Patriots February 16, 2017 1 year/$900,000 FB Mike Tolbert Carolina Panthers March 8, 2017 S Micah Hyde Green Bay Packers March 9, 2017 S Jordan Poyer Cleveland Browns March 9, 2017 FB Patrick DiMarco Atlanta Falcons March 9, 2017 G Vladimir Ducasse Baltimore Ravens March 9, 2017 K Steven Hauschka Seattle Seahawks March 9, 2017 4 years WR Corey Brown Carolina Panthers March 12, 2017 DE Ryan Davis Dallas Cowboys March 13, 2017 WR Jeremy Butler San Diego Chargers March 13, 2017 RB Joe Banyard Jacksonville Jaguars March 17, 2017 CB Leonard Johnson Carolina Panthers March 17, 2017 WR Corey Washington None March 17, 2017 WR Andre Holmes Oakland Raiders March 18, 2017 3 years/$6.5 million CB Marcus Cromartie San Francisco 49ers April 7, 2017 OT Cameron Jefferson Denver Broncos April 7, 2017 LB Jacob Lindsey None April 7, 2017 DE Jake Metz Philadelphia Eagles April 7, 2017 G Jordan Mudge None April 7, 2017 CB Bradley Sylve None April 7, 2017 LB Junior Sylvestre Indianapolis Colts April 7, 2017 LB Eddie Yarbrough Denver Broncos April 7, 2017 DE Ian Seau Los Angeles Rams April 10, 2017 QB T.J. Yates Miami Dolphins April 10, 2017 S Trae Elston Cleveland Browns April 21, 2017 CB Shareece Wright Baltimore Ravens May 1, 2017 1 year CB Charles James Houston Texans/Indianapolis Colts May 2, 2017 LB Carl Bradford San Francisco 49ers May 9, 2017 TE Wes Saxton Washington Redskins May 24, 2017 WR Rod Streater San Francisco 49ers May 24, 2017 LB Gerald Hodges San Francisco 49ers May 25, 2017 CB Greg Mabin None June 1, 2017 WR Rashad Ross San Francisco 49ers June 6, 2017 S Bacarri Rambo Miami Dolphins July 25, 2017 LB Sam Barrington Kansas City Chiefs/New Orleans Saints July 25, 2017 G Karim Barton Tennessee Titans July 25, 2017 RB Taiwan Jones Oakland Raiders August 2, 2017 WR Anquan Boldin Detroit Lions August 7, 2017 1 year/$2.75 million CB Jumal Rolle Baltimore Ravens August 12, 2017 TE Rory Anderson Chicago Bears August 20, 2017 S Adrian McDonald Los Angeles Chargers August 20, 2017 QB Keith Wenning None August 28, 2017 QB Joe Webb Carolina Panthers September 4, 2017 DT Cedric Thornton Dallas Cowboys September 5, 2017 S Shamarko Thomas Pittsburgh Steelers October 3, 2017
Departures Position Player 2017 Team Date signed Notes Source CB Nickell Robey-Coleman Los Angeles Rams March 7, 2017 CB Stephon Gilmore New England Patriots March 9, 2017 5 years/$65 million WR Robert Woods Los Angeles Rams March 9, 2017 5 years/$39 million LS Garrison Sanborn Tampa Bay Buccaneers March 14, 2017 1 year/$950,000 QB E.J. Manuel Oakland Raiders March 20, 2017 1 year/$800,000 RB Mike Gillislee New England Patriots April 24, 2017 2 years/$6.4 million S Corey Graham Philadelphia Eagles August 3, 2017 1 year
Trades Player/picks acquired From Date traded Player/picks traded Conditional 7th-round pick Los Angeles Chargers July 26, 2017 Cardale Jones E. J. Gaines2nd-round pick Los Angeles Rams August 11, 2017 Sammy Watkins6th-round pick Jordan Matthews3rd-round pick Philadelphia Eagles August 11, 2017 Ronald Darby 2019 4th-round pick Kansas City Chiefs August 28, 2017 Reggie Ragland Kaelin Clay2019 7th-round pick Carolina Panthers September 2, 2017 Kevon Seymour Conditional 6th-round pick Jacksonville Jaguars October 27, 2017 Marcell Dareus Kelvin Benjamin Carolina Panthers October 31, 2017 3rd-round pick 7th-round pick
Cuts Position Player Date Notes / Source TE Gerald Christian March 6, 2017 K Dan Carpenter March 6, 2017 S Phillip Thomas March 6, 2017 WR Marcus Easley March 8, 2017 S Aaron Williams March 9, 2017 CB Marcus Cromartie May 11, 2017 CB Marcus Roberson May 11, 2017 WR Corey Washington May 11, 2017 LB Junior Sylvestre May 15, 2017 WR Jeremy Butler May 15, 2017 OT Cyrus Kouandjio May 24, 2017 QB Josh Woodrum May 24, 2017 CB Charles Gaines May 25, 2017 S Jonathan Dowling June 1, 2017 LB Anthony Harrell July 25, 2017 C Patrick Lewis July 25, 2017 CB Charles James August 12, 2017 K Austin Rehkow August 20, 2017 S Bacarri Rambo August 29, 2017 G Karim Barton August 29, 2017 DE Jake Metz August 29, 2017 RB Cedric O'Neal August 29, 2017 CB Jumal Rolle August 29, 2017 WR Rashad Ross August 29, 2017 QB Keith Wenning September 2, 2017 RB Jordan Johnson September 2, 2017 WR Jeremy Butler September 2, 2017 WR Dezmin Lewis September 2, 2017 WR Brandon Reilly September 2, 2017 WR Daikiel Shorts September 2, 2017 TE Rory Anderson September 2, 2017 TE Wes Saxton September 2, 2017 OT Cameron Jefferson September 2, 2017 G Jordan Mudge September 2, 2017 OT Michael Ola September 2, 2017 OG Greg Pyke September 2, 2017 OG Zach Voytek September 2, 2017 DE Marquavius Lewis September 2, 2017 DT Nigel Williams September 2, 2017 DE Ian Seau September 2, 2017 DE Max Valles September 2, 2017 LB Sam Harrington September 2, 2017 LB Carl Bradford September 2, 2017 LB Jacob Lindsey September 2, 2017 CB Marcus Sayles September 2, 2017 CB Bradley Sylve September 2, 2017 S Shamiel Gary September 2, 2017 S Adrian McDonald September 2, 2017 S Joe Powell September 2, 2017 S B.T. Sanders September 2, 2017 RB Jonathan Williams September 3, 2017 LB Gerald Hodges September 3, 2017 CB Marcus Sayles September 5, 2017 S B.T. Sanders September 5, 2017 CB Greg Mabin September 12, 2017 WR Daikiel Shorts September 12, 2017 LB Jelani Jenkins September 19, 2017 S Robert Blanton October 3, 2017 DE Eric Lee October 3, 2017
Retirements Position Player Date Source WR Percy Harvin March 17, 2017 WR Anquan Boldin August 20, 2017
Draft
Notes The Bills sent their 2017 first-round pick (10th overall), later revealed to be Patrick Mahomes, to the Kansas City Chiefs in order to trade down during the 2017 draft and select Tre'Davious White 27th overall. The Bills acquired an additional third-round selection (91st overall), later revealed to be John Johnson—who was traded, along with their original second-round selection (44th overall), later revealed to be Gerald Everett, to the Los Angeles Rams in order to trade up and select Zay Jones 37th overall—an additional fifth-round selection (149th overall), later revealed to be Damontae Kazee—who was traded to the Atlanta Falcons along with the Bills third round pick and another fifth rounder for the Falcons second-round selection (63rd overall), later revealed to be Dion Dawkins. The Bills sent their 2016 second-round pick (49th overall), fourth-round pick and 2017 fourth-round pick (both 117th overall), later revealed to be Jarran Reed, Pharoh Cooper and Josh Reynolds, respectively, to the Chicago Bears in order to trade up during the 2016 draft and select Reggie Ragland 41st overall (Reynolds was later traded to the Rams). The Bills acquired a fifth-round selection (163rd overall), later revealed to be Matt Milano, as part of a trade that sent Mike Gillislee to the New England Patriots. The Bills acquired a fifth-round selection (171st overall), later revealed to be Nathan Peterman, as part of a trade that sent their seventh-round pick (228th overall), later revealed to be Joey Ivie, along with Matt Cassel, to the Dallas Cowboys.
Undrafted free agents