The Buffalo Bills opened organized team activities on a sour note as defensive end Joey Bosa, the team’s top offseason addition, was sidelined by a calf injury. It could force the front office to reconsider the remaining edge-rushing options on the NFL free-agent market ahead of the 2025 season.
Sean McDermott confirmed Bosa “more than likely” won’t participate in any of the offseason OTA workouts. Although the five-time Pro Bowler is expected to recover in time for training camp, the Bills’ head coach called the situation “concerning.”
“Durability, availability are key ties to our roster,” McDermott told reporters Tuesday. “And so, we basically look ahead in terms of what he’s doing now, which is getting himself the treatment that he needs and he’s working hard at it, and that’s all that he can control right now, and we get him back when we get him back, probably at this point [for] training camp. So, we’re going to do the best job we can, and I know he is as well, and just take it one day at a time.”
Bosa appeared in just 28 games over the past three seasons combined with the Los Angeles Chargers because of various injuries. Finding some insurance via free agency may be necessary, given the 29-year-old Ohio State product’s expected importance to the Buffalo pass rush.
Mar 31, 2025; Palm Beach, FL, USA; Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott answers questions from the media during the NFL Annual League Meeting at The Breakers.
Buffalo Bills Free-Agent Targets After Joey Bosa Injury
1. Matthew Judon
Judon is coming off a disappointing campaign with the Atlanta Falcons. The Michigan native recorded a modest 5.5 sacks in 17 games, but it’s worth noting he was returning from a torn bicep that limited him to four appearances with the New England Patriots in 2023.
His time with the Pats was highly productive before the injury, though. He tallied 32 sacks in 38 appearances from 2021 through 2023. He earned four straight Pro Bowl selections starting in 2019 as a member of the Baltimore Ravens.
Former Falcons’ OLB Matthew Judon on his 1 season with Atlanta:
“Hell naw (it wasn’t bad luck). If you go look at the film, I dropped (into coverage) on 60 percent of the plays. It’s hard to get a pick and a sack on the same play.” pic.twitter.com/8xJtVwywow
— Not Bijan (@InBijanWeTrust) May 13, 2025
The question with Judon and the Bills isn’t the on-field fit but rather the financial side. Buffalo has a league-low $1.7 million in available salary-cap space, per OverTheCap. So, general manager Brandon Beane will have to lean on an incentive-laden deal if he does dip back into free agency.
Judon is coming off a four-year, $54.5 million contract. Dropping down toward the veteran’s minimum to play for the Bills may not be appealing. He may instead prefer to wait until camp gets underway to see if an injury arises impacting a team that can offer him more money.
2. Carl Lawson
Lawson has established himself as a reliable complementary edge-rusher. He’s racked up 32 sacks in 89 career games, though he’s never been able to match the 8.5 sacks he posted as a rookie with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2017. He finished with five sacks in 15 games for the Dallas Cowboys last year.
Carl Lawson strip sack! The Cowboys defense recovers.
📺: #DALvsATL on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/9KFLzS2z0u
— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2024
The former Auburn standout can’t match Bosa’s upside for Buffalo. He’d be a solid rotational piece alongside Greg Rousseau, A.J. Epenesa, Javon Solomon, and rookie Landon Jackson if Bosa’s injury lingers, though. The Bills tend to split snaps along the defensive line anyway.
Like Judon, Lawson could wait until late summer to sign, as he has been a free agent for this long. That said, joining the Bills now would give him a chance to fight for the extra roster spot available due to Michael Hoecht’s suspension.
3. Jerry Hughes
Hughes may not have a ton left in the tank at age 36. He recorded just three sacks in 24 games over the past two years with the Houston Texans. That’s a far cry from his nine-year stint with the Bills from 2013 through 2021. He had 53 sacks in 144 appearances for Buffalo.
Buffalo Bills AV/Game Played All-Time for Defensive End
Bruce Smith .926
Mario Williams .730
Ron McDole .651
Greg Rousseau .548 🔥
Aaron Schobel .549
Phil Hansen .519
Jerry Hughes .493
Tom Day .469
Ben Williams .463
*Min 60 games#BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/x4YsyLHmmd
— Put Steve Tasker in the Hall of Fame (@HOFSteveTasker) February 7, 2025
Yet, it’s been a reunion-filled offseason for the Bills defense. The unit has already witnessed the return of cornerbacks Tre’Davious White and Dane Jackson. Safety Jordan Poyer has also expressed interest in rejoining the Buffalo secondary.
Hughes would likely rejoin the organization on a one-year, team-friendly contract. He’d provide terrific mentorship for the likes of Rousseau, Solomon, and Jackson. He could even opt to retire as a member of the Bills at the end of camp. That’d be contingent on Bosa being ready to roll for the start of the regular season.
Main Photo: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images