If you’re the Buffalo Bills, what is your top option for pass rush?
Welcome back to our weekend chat, Buffalo Bills fans. Head to the comments to share your thoughts.
We are back with a hot-button topic in Bills Mafia: What is your preferred path forward at pass rusher? We know Greg Rousseau is going to be one starter and A.J. Epenesa will be here. Javon Solomon is a depth option, but the Bills need reinforcements. Here are some options in order of when we’d find out, but feel free to share any others in the comments. PUT YOUR NAME ON IT.
Buffalo Bills DE Von Miller
Von Miller is on the roster and under contract. The Bills could save about $8.5 million in cap space if they release him and they don’t owe him any more money. If Miller agreed to a pay cut like he did last offseason, there is definitely a path for Miller to remain on the Bills roster in 2025.
Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett
It could cost up to two first-round picks and a contract at the absolute top of the market, but Garrett is probably the best defensive player in the league and has asked for a trade. In isolation, he’s probably at the top of most lists but I know some folks are worried about his age. (The dude just turned 29, though.)
Los Angeles Chargers DE Joey Bosa
Set to make more than $25 million in 2024, the Chargers could cut Bosa prior to free agency. He hasn’t played a full season since 2021, only hitting the field in 14 games in 2024, nine in 2023, and five in 2022. He turns 30 this July, so this would be more boom or bust than some of the other options and his contract structure would be a big question.
Los Angeles Chargers DE Khalil Mack
The number of University at Buffalo fans that want Mack to come back to Western New York are large. He was the consensus top pass rusher in SB Nation’s rankings despite being 33. He played in 2024 on a one-year, $20 million deal and wouldn’t cost a draft pick.
An upper-tier free agent DE
If we say Mack is in the elite tier of free agents, there are multiple starting-caliber edge rushers you could add. Guys like DeMarcus Lawrence, Haason Reddick, and Josh Sweat could make an impact.
A mid-tier free agent DE
Take a chance on a pass rusher like Malcom Koonce, Chase Young, Brandon Graham, or Baron Browning to come to Buffalo and have a good season.
Las Vegas Raiders DE Maxx Crosby
The Raiders don’t need to make a decision on Crosby until the end of the preseason as none of the typical contract leverage points are built into his deal. There is no date triggering guaranteed money or a roster bonus. He’s going to make just under $23 million in 2025 and he’ll be looking for a new deal either right when he gets here of after the season. The Bills had him on a pre-draft visit back in 2019 and he recently talked up Josh Allen as the best QB in the league, so let’s do this!
2025 NFL Draft first-round pick
The Bills have a few holes on the roster like defensive tackle and cornerback, so using their first-round pick on a defensive end would obviously hinder their ability to address those needs. Abdul Carter will be gone by the time the Bills would even trade up, but eight or nine pass rushers could be taken in the first round; Abdul Carter, Mykel Williams, Jalon Walker, James Pearce Jr, Shemar Stewart, Mike Green, Nic Scoutron, Jack Sawyer, and Donovan Ezeiruaku. On the NFL Mock Draft Database Consensus Big Board, there are 12 that will likely be gone by the time Buffalo picks in the second round.
2025 NFL Draft Day 2 pick
The Bills have two picks on Day 2, and as we’ve seen in the past, they don’t expect these players to come in and play significant snaps right away. This would be a depth option in all likelihood with the hopes they could grow into a solid player more lik A.J. Epenesa than Boogie Basham.
What am I missing folks? Which option is your favorite? Sound off in the comments.
Welcome to the weekend, Buffalo Bills fans. After a long week, it’s time to blow off a little steam. Use this thread to talk about… well, whatever it is you’d like to talk about. Maybe you’d like to share a cool story from your week.