Indianapolis, Ind. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The annual NFL Scouting Combine kicks off this week with the usual head coach and general manager podium sessions, player arrivals, interviews, testing, and evaluations taking place.
But what will be much different this year is for the first time in nine years, it won't be Sean McDermott addressing the media as the head coach of the Buffalo Bills.
McDermott was fired in January after the team's AFC Divisional Round loss to the Denver Broncos, and was replaced by Joe Brady, who had been the team's offensive coordinator for parts of the last three seasons.
Brady is scheduled to address the media on Tuesday afternoon right after general manager Brandon Beane, who enters his 10th season with the Bills, and now has the added title of president of football operations.
Both men will be involved in meetings with prospects all week, as they evaluate potential 2026 draft picks and plotting a course for the offseason.
The new league year and free agency will begin on Wednesday, March 11. Teams can begin talking to players on other clubs with expiring contracts starting on March 9.
Of course, that also means 31 other teams can talk to Bills players whose contracts are set to run out, including center Connor McGovern, offensive guard David Edwards, linebacker Matt Milano, defensive end Joey Bosa, cornerback Tre'Davious White, and a handful of others.
Last year, on the day Beane spoke to the media, he announced the team had signed wide receiver Khalil Shakir to a contract extension. That was the first of several new deals that followed during the offseason, including linebacker Terrel Bernard, defensive end Greg Rousseau, cornerback Christian Benford, and eventually running back James Cook.
The Bills have already reportedly agreed to a contract extension with offensive lineman Alec Anderson, who was set to become a Restricted Free Agent next month.
Could there be more extensions on the way? Restructured deals to help the team's salary cap position?
Matt Bove and I discussed all of it on a brand new episode of the "It's Always Gameday in Buffalo" podcast:
