Leonard Floyd
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Leonard Floyd celebrates a play in a Buffalo Bills game.
The Buffalo Bills could see one of their former top edge rushers heading to the NFC to join a Super Bowl contender on a “mercenary” basis.
Leonard Floyd had a strong season for the Bills in 2023, making 10.5 sacks and filling a void left by the injured Von Miller. He has been something of a gun for hire since then, playing for three different teams in the last three seasons, with a return to one of his former teams possibly in the cards.
An insider predicted Floyd would sign with the Chicago Bears, joining what many consider to be a rising Super Bowl contender as they look to defend their NFC North title.
Leonard Floyd Could Return Home
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox broke down the top destination for some of the remaining NFL free agents, predicting Floyd would land with the Bears. Knox suggested that Floyd is looking to play out what could be one of his final NFL seasons on a Super Bowl contender.
“Pass-rusher Leonard Floyd has entered the ‘veteran mercenary’ stage of his career,” Knox wrot.e “However, the 33-year-old remains a disruptive defender who would make plenty of sense for a contender in need of edge help.”
Knox added that Floyd has still been playing at a high level.
“This past season, Floyd logged 19 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 19 quarterback pressures, 11 QB hits, and five tackles for loss across 15 games with the Atlanta Falcons. Two of Floyd’s former employers would make sense for him in 2026,” Knox wrote.
Knox suggested the San Francisco 49ers could be one of those team, with the Bears the other logical destination. Floyd started his NFL career as the No. 9 overall pick of the Bears in 2016, playing there four seasons before moving on to the Los Angeles Rams.
“The Bears could use an edge-rushing boost, too, after only recording 35 sacks as a team in 2025,” Knox wrote. “Chicago drafted Floyd ninth overall in 2016, and while he never played up to his draft status for the Bears, he’s carved out a very respectable career since.”
Bills Could Seek More Edge Rushing Help
Floyd was one of several veteran edge rushers the Bills have signed in recent years in hopes of shoring up their inconsistent pass rush. He played a critical role on defense as Miller was recovering from a torn ACL, but the Bills ultimately fell short that season, losing in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs.
The Bills haven’t had much luck with other recent signings, including veteran Joey Bosa. While he did help generate some pressure on opposing quarterbacks and led the league in forced fumbles, Bosa also struggled in run defense and made some critical mistakes.
The team tried again to boost the pass rush, reportedly making a trade offer for star edge rusher Maxx Crosby when the Las Vegas Raiders put him on the trade block. The Raiders passed on the deal, agreeing to send Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens before Baltimore backed out.
Some insiders believe the Bills will try again to boost their pass rush, with many predicting they will use their first-round pick on an edge rusher.