Free Agency Additions: Defensive Line
With Von Miller’s release right before free agency, on top of the expiring contracts of Quinton Jefferson, Austin Johnson, Jordan Phillips, and Dawuane Smoot, the defensive line is a high priority this offseason. I felt the Bills could bolster this group before the draft to have more options with their early picks. After signing three free agents, two of whom are suspended for the first six games and two on one-year contracts, this position group will need more additions before the draft, on top of drafting at least one edge rusher and one tackle. Below are the new arrivals and some players still available that I wouldn’t mind seeing on the Bills.
New Arrivals
Joey Bosa - the biggest signing of the offseason and one that I wasn’t advocating for going into free agency. I like this signing more today than I did when the news broke, and before heading into the tampering period. After seeing the salaries some of the pass rushers were getting, I realized that Buffalo wouldn’t come close to matching those contracts. Getting Bosa on a 1-year/$12.6 million “prove it” deal that is structured so that he will only count $5.3 million against the cap was an excellent way for the team to protect themselves in the long term while giving the player a reason to put his best effort into this season. If healthy, Bosa pairs perfectly with Greg Rousseau opposite him. They both are strong in the run game and should give Rousseau more one-on-one matchups when pass-rushing.
Michael Hoecht - I admit I was unfamiliar with Hoecht before the Bills signed him. The highlights I have seen and the analysis I’ve heard since excite me. He reminds me a lot of Lorenzo Alexander. Both undrafted free agents, 290-pound defensive tackles in college, shed the weight to become versatile weapons on defense in the NFL. From a measurables standpoint, Hoecht is more athletic than Alexander. Like Alexander, Hoecht can be moved around in the front seven, making it difficult for offenses to block and gameplan. I am curious to see how Bobby Babich will utilize him this season. The six-game suspension is unfortunate, but he was forthcoming with the team before they signed him, so it's a moot point in my eyes. Signing him for 3-years, with a cap hit lower than 3% of the cap all three years, was another low-cost/high-reward signing by the Bills front office.
Larry Ogunjobi - I didn’t have Ogunjobi on my radar in the offseason because I was looking for DTs who were better in the run game and could help eat blocks and make Ed Oliver’s life easier versus pass-rushing DTs. I’m assuming that Buffalo has a plan for him to return to a 4-3 defense from the 3-4 style he has played in the last three seasons in Pittsburgh. His numbers significantly dropped from the first five years of his career with Cleveland and Cincinnati, where he lined up in the B-Gap more than the A-Gap. This happens to be where Oliver has predominantly lined up since coming into the league, so it's a curious signing, in my opinion. This is all without mention of the six-game suspension that he was served with between agreeing to terms and signing his contract with the team.
Still Available
Calais Campbell - At 38 years old, Campbell is still playing at a high level and can be valuable to a team like the Bills. Buffalo could keep his snap count low with the heavy rotation they utilize. He hasn’t officially retired and has stated his desire to win a Super Bowl. It will be interesting to see where he ends up and for how much. Spotrac has his market value around $7 million, which seems high for a player his age.
Folorunso Fatukasi - Fatukasi would be a big body (320 lbs) to add into the middle behind DaQuan Jones in the rotation. He’s coming off an ankle injury that limited him at the end of last season, so that could be a preventative factor in bringing him in. Spotrac has his market value just below $4 million AAV.
Preston Smith - The Packers honored Smith’s trade request last season with a deadline deal to the Steelers after switching to a 4-3 defense because Smith was more comfortable in a 3-4 system. This signing would only make sense as a rotational pass rusher, similar to how the Bills utilized Von Miller and Leonard Floyd when he was on the roster, knowing his playstyle preference.
James Houston - I’m thinking a little outside the box with Houston, who would be a low-risk, high-reward signing. This would be a veteran minimum-level contract with the hopes of seeing the flashes from his rookie season when he had eight sacks. I view this as roster competition to push A.J. Epenesa and Javon Solomon. If Houston makes the team, it would be because he earned it.
