The Buffalo Bills were just coming off the failed addition of Von Miller when they added another big-name pass-rusher with a history of injury concerns.
The Bills parted ways with Miller at the start of the offseason, moving on from the former All-Pro edge rusher after an ACL tear in 2022 blunted his athleticism and slashed his production. The Bills tried again, adding veteran pass rusher Joey Bosa on a one-year contract worth $12.6 million.
While the Bills hope Bosa can shore up an inconsistent part of the defense, one inside warns that he could be the “biggest concern” for the Bills in the 2025 season.
Bills Questioned Over Defensive Additions
ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg questioned whether the Bills did enough to boost their defense after the unit fell flat against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game last season.
Getzenberg noted that the success of the defense could depend on whether players like Bosa can stay healthy.
The Bills heavily invested in the defensive line, through the draft and free agency, and the health of DE Joey Bosa and some of the young players’ ability to develop will be key,” Getzenberg wrote.
Bosa was already sidelined through much of the offseason practices with a muscle injury, though he returned for training camp. Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox predicted that Bosa could end up as the team’s biggest bust if injuries continue to cut into his production.
“Even if the Buffalo Bills get respectable production out of pass-rusher Joey Bosa, the five-time Pro Bowler could be viewed as a bust,” Knox wrote. “This is because name recognition largely outweighs production at this point in the 30-year-old’s career.”
Bosa did show some improvement in his health last season, when he appeared in 14 games. But Bosa’s production in the field had dipped from his Pro Bowl season as he made just five total sacks.
“Bosa had solid numbers with the Los Angeles Chargers last season (5 sacks, 19 QB pressures), but he’s still an aging defender who has appeared in only 28 games over the past three years, Knox concludes. “Bosa may struggle to live up to his $12.6 million price point in 2025, and those expecting him to be the regular game-wrecker he was early in his career will likely be disappointed.”
Bills See Big Potential in Joey Bosa
Bills defensive coordinator Bobby Babich praised the Bosa signing, saying the team could use a player with his size and versatility.
“He’s a big human,” Babich said, via the team’s official website. “We definitely wanted to make sure that there was a size piece to what we were trying to do…Really when it comes down to it, just really kind of what we were looking for when you talk about the run game and the pass game and being a three-down defensive end. That’s important.”
The Bills are expected to use Bosa strategically, especially earlier in the season. The team employs a heavy rotation on its defensive line, and Bosa could be used more sparingly as the Bills aim to keep him healthy for the final stretch and playoffs.
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