Bills general manager Brandon Beane has publicly presented a sensible solution if the NFL expands to an 18-game regular season: rosters must expand with it.
Speaking Monday from the annual league meetings in Arizona, Beane laid out a clear vision for protecting players and preserving the integrity of the postseason. Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, the Buffalo GM argued that any move to an 18th game must be accompanied by an increase to both the 53-man roster and gameday active list.
“I think you would have to talk about expanding rosters if we’re going to eighteen games,” Beane said. “You do wanna make sure that your best players are playing in the playoffs.”
The NFL’s current model allows teams to only dress 48 players on gameday.
“From 48, I think we need to talk about getting 50, north of 50 to be able to accommodate another game,” Beane explained. “How do you get through a season so that the rosters aren’t depleted?”
The league last expanded its schedule in 2021, moving from 16 to 17 games while simultaneously trimming the preseason from four games to three. The hypothetical 18-game format, which could be on the table as early as 2027, would likely see the preseason cut further to just two contests. Beane acknowledged the financial incentive driving the conversation but stressed the need for a practical approach to player availability.
“You would go to 18 games for the revenue piece of it and cut one out of preseason, it’s going to be more revenue,” the GM added. “You do want to make sure that teams that make the playoffs have the best players playing, so how do you get through a season so that the rosters aren’t depleted.”
The discussion is gaining traction in ownership circles. New England Patriots owner and massage enthusiast Robert Kraft has also voiced his support for the concept, as has Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in February that there have been “no formal talks” yet, but the NFLPA and its executive director, J.C. Tretter, are anticipating negotiations.
A team like the Bills, built on depth and a “next man up” mentality, would directly benefit from carrying more players. The war of attrition is real, and Buffalo has seen firsthand how injuries can derail Super Bowl aspirations. Seeing a quarterback like Bo Nix go down with a broken ankle in the Divisional Round last year is a sobering reminder of how quickly a season can change.
At the end of the day, Beane’s philosophy is about building a roster that can withstand the marathon of an NFL season, and his proposal does align with that process.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Bills’ Brandon Beane gives intriguing idea on to 18-game NFL season
Reporting by David Benjamin De Cristofaro, Bills Wire / Bills Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
