Joey Bosa has been everything the Buffalo Bills could've hoped for when they added him this past offseason and then some. He's (mostly) stayed healthy and enjoyed a strong bounce-back campaign following an injury-riddled three-year stretch to conclude his illustrious tenure with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Bosa's efforts have been critical to the Bills' clinching their seventh straight playoff berth. He's patched up some of the gaping holes of a banged-up defense that has gradually improved as we get deeper into the calendar. However, now seems like a good time to point out that Buffalo only signed the veteran defensive end to a one-year "prove-it" deal.
This isn't going out on a limb, but it feels safe to say that Bosa has certainly proven himself. He's a legitimate difference-maker for a Super Bowl LX contender. The Bills have gotten a great return on their low-risk, high-reward investment, which they'll presumably learn the hard way in the coming months.
Bills fans may want to brace for losing Joey Bosa in free agency
The luxury of having Bosa on a $12.61 million annual salary won't be afforded to the Bills come season's end. He's slated for unrestricted free agency and figures to have no shortage of suitors. Buffalo will have to pony up to retain him beyond 2025 -- if that's even in their budget.
As of this writing, the Bills are 27th in 2026 cap space. With that in mind, they'll ostensibly have to move some funds around to make room for his upcoming payday, which complicates matters.
A cash-strapped club like the Bills will either have to make sacrifices elsewhere to keep Bosa or let him walk. Yet, cutting costs at other spots on the roster is easier said than done, especially for them. They already have several areas of need that must be addressed to maximize their championship window with reigning MVP quarterback Josh Allen, including wide receiver.
Through Week 16, Bosa has produced 27 tackles (eight for loss), five sacks and two pass deflections, and his five forced fumbles lead the NFL. He's been one of football's most disruptive edge defenders, illustrated by the following metrics (h/t Pro Football Focus):
- Seventh out of 112 in PFF pass-rushing grade (88.9)
- 15th in quarterback hits (12)
- 30th in hurries (28)
Moreover, Bosa hasn't just impacted opposing aerial attacks; he's also been a factor in the ground game. The five-time Pro Bowler is tied for seventh in ESPN's run stop win rate among his positional peers (29 percent). This isn't a one-dimensional, situation-based player we're talking about, which only drives up the price for him.
For whatever it's worth, Spotrac's calculated market value projects Bosa to earn roughly $14.1 million per year in his next deal. That may be doable for the Bills, though it also might be a conservative appraisal,