The Buffalo Bills have made some big signings in recent years to boost their pass rush, adding veterans Von Miller in 2022 and Joey Bosa in 2025.
The latest addition came this year, when the Bills landed fellow veteran Bradley Chubb in free agency. While the Bills have hopes that he can give a boost to their often-struggling pass rush and help new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s plans of becoming more aggressive, the team is also facing some questions about the price they paid.
Bills Face Risk in Adding Bradley Chubb
In its free agency assessment of the Bills, Pro Football Focus called out the Chubb signing and noted it was a “risky” move for the team. The outlet noted that Chubb’s recent history of injury makes it difficult to know what the Bills will be getting.
“This is a potentially risky move that also carries huge upside,” the report noted. “Chubb earned an 88.8 PFF overall grade and ranked in the top 15 at the position in PFF overall grade and PFF Wins Above Replacement in 2023, before missing all of 2024 with an Achilles injury. He was not the same player in 2025. If the Bills are getting something close to the 2023 version, this is a steal. If it’s the 2025 version, it’s a big overpay.”
The Bills had one uneven season from Bosa, who did generate some pressure on opposing quarterbacks and led the league in forced fumbles but also struggled in run defense and made some critical mistakes. He had a roughing the passer penalty late in the team’s overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the divisional round of the playoffs, putting Denver in position for the game-winning field goal.
The Bills are expected to move on from Bosa, who is still a free agent, with Chubb likely taking his place on the defensive line.
Chubb could also be a strong fit for Leonhard, who said he plans to take a more aggressive approach in pressuring opposing quarterbacks.
“We’re going to be aggressive, we’re not going to be reckless,” Leonhard said. “There’s a right and a wrong way in my opinion on how to attack quarterbacks in the NFL and it changes a little bit week to week based on their skill set …You have to try to change the comfort level of that quarterback, you got to be able to speed him up, you got to be able to slow him down.”
Bills Took Another Free Agency Gamble
The PFF report — which gave the Bills an overall grade of B- for their free agency additions — added that the signing of safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson is another risk for the team.
“Playing with the Texans and Bears last season, Gardner-Johnson fared far worse than the year prior,” the report noted. “His 44.9 PFF coverage grade was the eighth-worst among qualified safeties, and his 17.9% missed tackle rate tied for seventh-lowest in that same group. However, he was fantastic with the Eagles in 2024 with an 85.7 coverage mark. Buffalo takes a gamble on the high-energy veteran needing more bodies at safety, but if he doesn’t look like 2024 form, the move seems ambitious.”
Bills Face Questions Over ‘Risky’ Addition of Veteran Edge Rusher