Former Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Joey Bosa hasn't played a full season in years and hasn't recorded over 10 sacks in a single season since 2021.
For those numbers, it doesn't come as much of a surprise that the Buffalo Bills had some analysts perplexed as to why they paid almost $13 million this season for the 29-year-old's services.
As the contract details come out, though, the only major takeaway should be how strong a deal this is for the Bills in 2025.
Bosa's one-year, $12.61 million agreement carries a $12 million fully guaranteed part at signing. The deal includes performance-based incentives that could increase the total value to $15.61 million.
To limit the actual cap hit the Bills would have to focus on this season for Bosa, general manager Brandon Beane and Buffalo structured the contract with four void years. That means Bosa's $9 million signing bonus will be prorated over five years, at $1.8 m per year, and reduces the 2025 cap hit to just $5.32 million.
Bosa carrying a cap hit of just over $5 million is an excellent value at this stage of the offseason - especially for a Bills roster that was 18th in the league in sacks the year before.
The protection for Bosa is that if he isn't re-signed by the team next offseason, then Buffalo would over him over $7 million in dead cap for 2026, and over $5 million over the following three seasons.
That protection means Bosa will have money coming in and the Bills get a player itching to prove his worth.
Bosa's initial contract agreement may have been an overpay but it's clearly not the case as the details get announced.
Related: Bills Receive Judgment On Major 'Core' Roster Decisions
Copyright 2025 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved.
This story was originally published March 23, 2025 at 12:15 PM.