The Bills have some holes to fill and some positions they’ll look to improve to continue their ascension in the AFC. With the Bills making plenty of roster moves to free up cap space, including the massive contract extension for Josh Allen, the Bills are preparing to make some moves in Free Agency. For each position, we’ll look at the High End option, a mid level affordable option, and a value/upside option at what I view are the 4 most important positions to retool in.

Today we will examine our options at Defensive End.

  • Identify Who We Were
  • Discover our Needs
  • Spring Cleaning (Roster Moves)
  • Retooling (Free Agency Prediction) <—- We are Here
  • Investing for the Future (Draft Prep)
  • Coaching Adjustments

Defensive End

At Defensive End, the Bills find themselves once again of needing to find more answers in the pass rush department. Greg Rousseau has established himself as the leading threat to the opposing offense, but after him, the answer is unclear. Von Miller has been released, and while he may return at a less expensive price point, The Bills would be wise to consider option at this premium position in both Free Agency and the draft.

High End Option: Josh Sweat

Spotrac.com has his market value at a projected 3 years 56 million dollars for an Average Salary of 18.8 Million per year. Last year he was able to stack up 8 sacks, 27 solo tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 15 QB Hits, and 40 QB hurries. He would add yet another 6’5″ player to the team, fitting the mold as a speed edge rusher in the mold of Brian Burns. He is represented by Drew Rosenhaus and would be the high ticket option for the Buffalo Bills.

Mid Option : Charles Omenihu

The former Kansas City Chief is hitting the market with an expected value of 4 years 47 million dollars with an average value of 11 million dollars per year. Only playing in 6 games last year due to his ACL injury that held him out until week 13, his season was underwhelming only achieving 4 solo tackles, 1 sack. During the 2023 season, he played in 11 games, racking up 7 sacks, 28 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss and 11 QB hits. Further removed from the ACL tear that limited him last year, the 28 year old will look to improve his performance after recovering fully.

Value Option: Clelin Ferrell

His last contract was a 1 year deal at 3.5 million dollars with the Washington Commanders. He achieved 4 sacks in only 14 games played, only playing 369 snaps, while amassing 26 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 9 QB hits, and 9 hurries. The former Top 5 pick, hasn’t lived up to his draft stock, but still young at 27 years old, he could be a reclamation project and could have upside in joining the Bills defensive line.

Final Prediction: Charles Omenihu

The Bills find value once again in free agency, allowing them to bring in someone with both a track record of production and the ability to have upside as he continues to recover fully from that ACL tear. While Josh Sweat has the big name recognition, Omenihu brings the similar production when healthy, but at a significantly more friendly cap number that fits with Brandon Beane’s style. Beane loves to sign guys that he scouted before and players that we have played against and Omenihu checks all of these boxes.