Three Veteran Edge Rushers Bills Will Consider as Late Free Agent Additions

The Buffalo Bills have questions about the edge position, but all the answers are probably already on the list.

Veteran defensive end Von Miller said he “feels good,” but there is no certainty he will return to his pre-injury form. The Bills picked up the fifth-year option on former first-round pick Greg Rousseau, who is expected to take another step forward in his development. Buffalo also re-signed AJ Epenesa, who showed ability while lacking consistency.

They added low-cost free agent Casey Toohill and drafted King Javon Solomon out of Division I Troy in the fifth round. The Bills also took a flyer on Dawuane Smoot while reserve player Kingsley Jonathan is also back in the mix.

It presents itself as an adequate arrangement on the defensive side, but critics will complain that it contains too many “ifs.”

Having received salary cap relief in the form of spending money starting June 1, Buffalo could opt to purchase a known commodity on what’s left of the free agent market.

Here are three options that might work, although it’s possible the bills will stick with what they have. If anything, maybe they’ll bring back free agent Shaq Lawson on a veteran minimum contract.

Yannick Ngakoué
Ngakoue, 29, has played for five different teams since 2020 after four successful first years with the Jacksonville Jaguars. In 2023, the former third-round pick had 4.0 sacks in 13 starts for the Chicago Bears.

Emmanuel Ogbah
Ogbah, 30, spent the last four seasons with the Miami Dolphins before being released last February, which reportedly saved the team nearly $14 million in cap space. The Cleveland Browns’ 2016 second-round pick recorded back-to-back 9.0 sack seasons (2020, 2021) for the Dolphins, but has totaled just 6.5 sacks in 24 games since.

Jerry Hughes
The former Buffalo Bill remains available on the market after two seasons with the Houston Texans. He didn’t miss a game in Houston, totaling 12.0 sacks, but the 2010 first-rounder is clearly in the twilight of his career. He turns 36 in August and it’s possible Hughes has played his last game in the NFL.