The Buffalo Bills may have found a way to fix one of their most glaring roster holes—and it comes in the form of a veteran free agent who could erase the memory of a puzzling draft decision.

After losing David Edwards in free agency, the Bills have been scrambling to shore up the left guard position. As things stand, Alec Anderson would be the starter, but his 2025 performance tells a troubling story. According to Pro Football Focus, Anderson posted a dismal 41.3 pass-blocking grade last season—hardly the kind of protection you want in front of Josh Allen.

Many expected general manager Brandon Beane to address the issue during the 2026 NFL Draft. Instead, he selected Jude Bowry, a college tackle who may eventually move inside to guard but isn't ready to step in as a day-one starter. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, neither option inspires much confidence.

Enter Joel Bitonio. Pro Football & Sports Network's Jacob Infante predicts the Bills will sign the longtime Cleveland Browns guard, and it's easy to see why. At 34 years old, Bitonio is no spring chicken, but he's still playing at a high level. In 2025, he earned a 75.7 pass-blocking grade from PFF, surrendering just two sacks and 31 pressures. His run-blocking grade of 64.4 is solid, and his durability is remarkable—having missed more than two games in a season only twice in his entire career.

2025 was the first year since 2018 that Bitonio didn't make the Pro Bowl, but that's more a reflection of Cleveland's struggles than his own decline. The fact that he's still available on the free agent market is surprising, especially given the premium placed on quality offensive linemen. It may signal that retirement is on his mind, but if the seven-time Pro Bowler wants to play in 2026, Buffalo should be first in line.

For a Bills team looking to capitalize on their championship window, adding a proven veteran like Bitonio would be the perfect way to turn a draft-day miss into a free agency win.