Bills May Be Wise to Trade for Chargers Star Pass Rusher
Despite having to endure losses at several key positions, the Buffalo Bills are once again expected to be stout in all three phases of the game. Boasting Pro Bowl-caliber players on both sides of the ball, the Bills should remain among the top teams in the AFC this season.
However, one prominent NFL analyst believes that the Bills may be primed to make a surprising splash by landing one of the AFC’s top pass rushers via trade.
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Buffalo, per Bleacher Report, may be wise to consider dealing a 2025 Round 3 NFL Draft selection for Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Joey Bosa.
“Some members of Bills Mafia may be wincing a bit at the idea of sacrificing a Day 2 pick in 2025 to obtain a star edge-rusher with an injury history,” wrote analyst Gary Davenport. “The Bills went down a similar road in 2022, signing Von Miller to a six-year, $120 million pact that has produced very little in the way of results.
“But Joey Bosa is significantly younger than Miller was when the team acquired him, and he has participated in voluntary workouts—a good sign that the foot injury that wrecked his 2023 campaign is behind him.”
Bosa originally joined the Chargers as their No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. After winning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors that season, he went on to become one of the league’s most fearsome pass rushers — earning four Pro Bowl selections as well as making regular appearances on the NFL’s Top 100 players list. Unfortunately, injuries would force him to miss significant time on the field. Last season, he appeared in nine games and started five, finishing with 6.5 sacks, one pass-defended, and one forced fumble.
Having combined for 11.5 sacks last season, the trio of Greg Rousseau, A.J. Epenesa and Von Miller will need to significantly raise their production if Buffalo hopes to maintain its defensive prowess in 2024. The addition of Casey Toohill from Washington should add some added pop when pursuing the quarterback, having logged a career-high five sacks in 2023. Fifth-round (No. 168 overall) draft choice Javon Solomon has the potential to be an intriguing prospect, having converted from outside linebacker to defensive end during his final season at Troy. The 23-year-old has a solid season at the position, as he was named an All-American for his efforts.
Bosa currently has two years left on his contract. He renegotiated his deal with the Chargers earlier this offseason, reducing his salary by $7 million in return for a $15 million guarantee. The move resulted in a gain of $10.5 million in cap space for 2024. Still, they could save an additional $8 million in cap space by trading Bosa after June 1.
While Bills’ GM Brandon Beane may find it difficult to accommodate the expense of Bosa’s remaining contract, the chance to add such a generational talent should remain intriguing for the Bills in the coming weeks.