The Buffalo Bills' top three edge defenders are obvious with Von Miller, Gregory Rousseau, and A.J. Epenesa. After that, it's anyone's guess. Buffalo has added a few names to the list this offseason, such as Casey Toohill and DaWuane Smoot, along with returning players Kameron Cline and Kingsley Jonathan. Via the draft, they added Javon Solomon, who fans are excited to see on the field.
This depth chart has some potential, but Buffalo could stand to add at least one more to the mix. The issue is that the remaining list of free agents is not particularly extensive, consisting of either relatively obscure individuals or veteran players who are beyond their peak performance years. Jerry Hughes is one such vet, whose best days are behind him, and while for sentimental reasons, I wouldn't mind seeing him back in Buffalo, I did not include him on this list.
Last season, the Bills' front four was solid, and one of the top teams in the league in terms of total sacks but seem to disappear in the playoffs when they were needed. Some of that could be due to injuries, but it's anyone's guess what happened. Leonard Floyd was a great free agent addition last year, but he recorded no sacks over the final five games of the year, including the playoffs. Von Miller struggled to find his way and provide any impact once he returned to the field and we don't know what we will get from him in 2024. It makes sense for the Bills, similar to the receivers, to throw as many darts as possible, and hope a couple of them hit the bullseye.
Four free agent edge rushers the Buffalo Bills could sign for depth
Yannick Ngakoue
Yannick Ngakoue's name frequently emerges as a potential free agent during every offseason. Maybe that's because that is exactly what is happening. Ngakoue spent his first four seasons with the Jaguars and totaled 38 sacks. In the last four years, he's played for four teams and tallied 32 sacks, including two seasons with ten sacks. Ngakoue has recorded at least eight sacks in seven of his eight seasons in the league. Last year with the Bears, he managed only four, but he also played the fewest snaps in his career due to injury.
He's also not quite 30 yet, and should still have plenty left in the tank, especially as a rotational piece, and we all know how much the Bills love to rotate their defensive linemen. Ngakoue made $10.5 million in 2023 with the Bears, but as a late-season free agent signing, I think the Bills could get him on a one-year deal for less. He would be a great addition to the team, with his experience and production. The Bills may require a contingency plan should Von Miller not completely recover from his ACL injury.
Charles Harris
Charles Harris is the definition of a dart throw. I added him to the list for a few reasons though, one is that he isn't in his 30s yet (he turns 30 during the 2024 season), he would come at a cheap cost, and he is a former first-round pick (22nd overall). Over his seven-year career, he has accumulated a total of 18 sacks and has started in more than five games in a single season only once. Not amazing numbers; however, his best season came in 2021, when he earned a starting role with the Detroit Lions.
In that season, he started 14 games and played 872 snaps. He produced eight sacks and an impressive 65 total tackles. In 2022, he followed that up by starting four of six games; however, he missed the majority of the season due to injury, and when he returned in 2023, he struggled to find that 2021 magic, playing only 292 snaps while starting only three games. If he's fully healthy, could he be a productive player for the Bills in 2024?
Tyus Bowser
Tyus Bowser is a similar dart throw to Charles Harris. Bowser has spent his entire career with the Baltimore Ravens since they made him a second-round pick in 2017 (47th overall). He wouldn't get his first start until the 2020 season, starting two games that year. However, he followed that up in 2021 with his best season, starting all 17 games and recording seven sacks, with 59 total tackles. Things quickly went downhill for Bowser after that. In the Ravens season finale of that season, Bowser tore his Achilles.
The injury suffered in 2021, delayed the start of this 2022 season, and he started only four games of the nine he played. He managed only two sacks that season, as he continued to try to get back to full strength before the Achilles injury. However, in 2023, he suffered a knee injury and was never able to get on the field last year, instead missing the entire season due to the injury. Given his two injuries in the past two years, he could be signed for a minimal cost and potentially serve as a valuable rotational player, provided he has fully recovered.
Calais Campbell
Calais Campbell is the outlier of this group in terms of age. It feels like he's been playing in the league for two decades, but not quite, only 15. He's still a productive player even at 37, having recorded seven sacks and 56 tackles last year with the Atlanta Falcons. He wasn't just a situational player either. He started 16 games and played 671 snaps, over 62 percent. In Buffalo, it's unlikely he would log that much time on the field, but he brings a ton of experience and would be a great addition from a mentor and leadership aspect.
Over the last two seasons, he's recorded 13 sacks and has seven or more in nine of his 15 seasons. He is affordable too for the Bills. He earned $7 million last year, and according to Spotrac, his 2024 average annual is projected at $7.5 million. The Bills will have the money once June 1st comes around, from the Tre White deal. Any players on this list will be within Buffalo's available price range and could provide solid depth, something the Bills could use at the defensive edge position.