The Buffalo Bills took a big swing at improving their pass rush last offseason, signing Joey Bosa with the hopes he would move beyond his injury woes and help the team contend fo a Super Bowl.

After one uneven season in Buffalo, Bosa is now headed to free agency and could be joining a Super Bowl contender in the other conference.

Joey Bosa Expected to Head West

Bosa had some strong contributions for the Bills last season, generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks and leading the NFL in forced fumbles. But he also had some struggles, especially against the run, and had a critical penalty in overtime of the team’s playoff loss to the Denver Broncos.

Bosa is now headed to free agency after the completion of his one-year, $12.6 million contract, and could be looking for a new chance to contend for a Super Bowl. Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport predicted Bosa would join his brother, Nick Bosa, on the San Francisco 49ers.

“Granted, Bosa is no longer the player who won Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2016, has been named to five Pro Bowls and logged double-digit sacks on four separate occasions. He had five sacks in 562 snaps with the Buffalo Bills in 2025,” Davenport wrote.

“But the 49ers needed to bolster the pass rush even before edge-rusher Bryce Huff abruptly retired after finishing with three fewer sacks as a team last year than Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns had by himself.”

While Nick Bosa would likely help push for the move, Davenport suggested that it would be more than sentimentality bringing Joey Bosa to San Francisco.

“The reunion with his younger brother would be a nice story, but bringing in Bosa is more about facts than feelings,” Davenport wrote.

Bills Could Try Bringing Back Joey Bosa

Bosa could still return to Buffalo, especially if the price is right. Fox Sports reporter Greg Auman predicted that Bosa would not earn a big jump in pay after his season in Buffalo.

“Bosa, 30, had only five sacks in a healthy first season in Buffalo, but he did lead the NFL with five forced fumbles,” Auman wrote. “He should get a deal similar to the $12.6 million he got a year ago.”

The Bills have already made another big move to bolster their pass rush, signing veteran edge rusher Bradley Chubb. The team has done some shifting of its personnel after firing head coach Sean McDermott and hiring former offensive coordinator Joe Brady as its new coach. Brady brought on Jim Leonhard as defensive coordinator, and the former Bills defensive back said he wants to bring a more aggressive approach.

“We’re going to be aggressive. We’re going to fly around. … We’re going to play well together,” Leonhard said, via The Buffalo News’ Lance Lysowski. “It is team defense. … We want to be a defense that’s constantly evolving and growing through a game and throughout a season.”

Leonhard already said that cornerback Christian Benford will play a more pivotal role, and has reshaped the secondary by releasing veterans Dane Jackson and Taylor Rapp and trading Taron Johnson.