Should Josh Allen leave the Bills?

Josh Allen is the Buffalo Bills' savior. However, the two-time All-Pro shouldn't sell himself short with blind loyalty.

Allen is currently signed through 2028, but the deal could be changed up this offseason. That's because the superstar is set to make $14.5M in 2025, which is far below his market value.

Dak Prescott's record-breaking four-year, $240M contract with the Dallas Cowboys reset the quarterback market in the fall of 2024, and his $60M average annual salary will likely be the starting point in Buffalo's negotiations with Allen. The Bills signal-caller had a league-best 77.3 quarterback rating in 2024 compared to Prescott's 45.4, which ranked 29th. 

Prescott did play just eight games in an injury-shortened season, but the point still stands. Allen's extension will probably break Prescott's record as the highest-paying in NFL history, and he deserves it. 

However, the Wyoming alum should give himself flexibility. The Bills need Allen, but he doesn't need them in the slightest. He can use that leverage to get a player option in 2026, even if the extension goes through 2029 or longer. 

This would allow Allen to keep Buffalo's front office in check, making sure that it surrounds him with the necessary talent to defeat the AFC's elite. Since NFL contracts aren't fully guaranteed, players often negotiate for guaranteed money over options, but the three-time Pro Bowler is good enough to get both.

That's not to say that the Bills will get complacent with Allen on their team, but the possible threat of him opting out will keep them on their toes. Instead of holding out and eating fines in the future, the California native could simply hit free agency on his own accord if they don't put in the effort he desires.

Buffalo does have talent outside of Allen, namely two-time Pro Bowl tailback James Cook, former First-Team All-Pro linebacker Matt Milano and future Hall of Fame edge-rusher Von Miller. However, Cook is the only upper-tier skill-position player. 

Wideout Amari Cooper, whom the Bills traded for in-season, is past his prime, while 2024 second-round pick Keon Coleman still has room to grow. Former rookie standout tight end Dalton Kincaid took a step back in 2024, and Khalil Shakir isn't a major difference-maker in the slot.

Meanwhile, Buffalo ranked 17th in total defense this past season, and Miller is 35-year-old. It's hard to imagine this team getting past the wild-card round without an elite quarterback.

Allen makes the Bills an attractive destination for good players, but the front office must use that to its advantage. If it doesn't, the electrifying signal-caller should take his talents elsewhere in 2026.