The Buffalo Bills are headed to some significant changes on defense after dumping head coach Sean McDermott and bringing in a new defensive coordinator, with one veteran edge rusher potentially on the chopping block.
The Bills made a drastic change in direction after firing McDermott and installing offensive coordinator Joe Brady as head coach. He brought on former Bills defensive back Jim Leonhard as defensive coordinator, marking a likely change in the team’s base defense.
Amid the potential overhaul, SI.com’s Alex Brasky predicts the Bills will cut ties with veteran Joey Bosa after a season that brought only mixed results.
Bills Should Only Consider Joey Bosa on ‘Bargain’ Deal
Brasky noted that Bosa was one of the most productive edge rushers for the Bills last season, when he joined the team on a one-year, $12.6 million deal. But the SI.com reporter added that there were no stars among Buffalo’s pass-rushing group, which would allow the Bills to let Bosa leave in free agency without losing much.
“Bosa’s five sacks were second on the team this season, while his quarterback pressure rate was third among Bills defensive linemen,” Brasky wrote. “But that’s not saying much, as the Bills struggled to get opposing quarterbacks on the ground all year. He didn’t record a single sack over the past five weeks of the regular season and playoffs and was also a liability against the run.”
Despite Bosa’s production during the season, he also had some clear deficiencies, especially on run defense. He also had some costly mistakes, including a roughing the passer penalty late in overtime of the team’s divisional-round loss to the Denver Broncos.
Brasky conceded that there could be a place for Bosa to return to Buffalo, but only if the veteran is willing to take an even lesser deal than before.
“The 10-year-pro is set to enter his age-31 season and appears to be just about finished as a top-tier pass rusher. If you can get him back on a bargain, it would be a consideration. But otherwise, one year was enough of Bosa in Buffalo,” Brasky wrote.
