Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane waited deep into the night. But he made the splash many were anticipating.
The Bills agreed to terms with five-time Pro Bowler Joey Bosa. The 2016 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year is set to ink a one-year, $12.6 million contract, according to NFL Network.
Bosa has proved to be one of the top pass rushers in the NFL during his nine-year NFL career with the Los Angeles Chargers, with 72 career sacks and four double-digit sack seasons. But he hasn’t played a full season since 2019 and he’s only done so twice in his career.
Three times in his career Bosa has played fewer than 10 games in a season, including in 2022 and 2023. He played in 14 games, missing three with a glute strain, and recorded five sacks, plus another in the playoffs.
The former No. 3 overall pick missed nine games in 2018 with a left foot bruise, four games with two separate concussions in 2020, 12 games with a groin tear in 2022 and seven games in 2023 with a foot sprain.
But if the 6-foot-6, 280-pounder can stay healthy, he could add a much-needed boost to the pass rush. The Chargers released Bosa instead of paying $36.47 million cap hit in 2025, the last of a five-year, $135 million deal that was the richest contract ever given to a defensive player at the time.
But he likely won’t be asked to carry a heavy workload.
Greg Rousseau signed a four-year, $80 million extension Saturday, while veteran A.J. Epenesa is still on the roster and produced at least six sacks during each of the last three seasons. Buffalo also agreed to terms with Rams free agent Michael Hoecht Monday.
Bosa still has some burst, with a get-off of 0.80 seconds last season, which would have led the Bills. He also had nine quarterback pressures in under three seconds, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
Earlier in the day, Ty Johnson returned to the Bills on a two-year, $5 million deal, first reported by NFL Network and confirmed to GNN Sports by a league source. The team also announced fullback Reggie Gilliam was re-signed to a one-year deal.
Meanwhile the team is also bringing back Darrynton Evans for a third stint after spending the previous two training camps with the team.
Johnson, 27, has thrived since Joe Brady took over as offensive coordinator. He went from a seldom-used special teams player in 2023 to the team’s predominant third-down and pass-catching back last season.
His work was repeatedly praised by quarterback Josh Allen, who called Johnson “the best third-down back in the league.” Johnson caught 18 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 213 yards and a score. He also caught four passes for 34 yards and a score in the playoffs.
Thirty-five of Johnson’s 83 touches resulted in first downs last season (including the playoffs) and he gained 7.5 yards per touch as he went from playing 13% of the offensive snaps in 2023 to 29% last season. Johnson’s biggest game came against the Detroit Lions, when he caught five passes for 114 yards in a 48-42 Week 15 win.
Johnson also brings good value as a pass-blocker and a special teams player. He also played 113 special teams snaps, including five kick returns for 130 yards.
Gilliam will enter his sixth season with the Bills after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He’s also provided the Bills with depth as a part-time tight end and a key special teams player who has played more than 75% of the special teams snaps since 2021, including 83% last year.
A player who rarely touches the ball, Gilliam did not have a reception for the first time in his career last year. He did carry three times for seven yards after not receiving a rushing attempt in the previous two seasons.
Gilliam, who will turn 28 before the season begins, saw an uptick in offensive usage late in the season. After receiving 49 total offensive snaps in the first eight games, Gilliam returned from a two-week hiatus due to a hip injury and averaged 13.4 snaps the remainder of the season, getting double-digit snaps eight times, including all three playoff games.
Evans is now on his 10th stop since entering the NFL as a third-round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2020. He’s played for five teams during that span, but has only appeared in 24 games.
The Bills waived him before the 2023 season and returned before camp last year. He was on the final 53-man roster, but was immediately placed on injured reserve. He was released on Oct. 29.
Evans spent five games in his third stint with the Chicago Bears, recording three carries for three yards. He has 249 career yards and a touchdown on 65 carries, along with 12 catches for 120 yards and a score.
• The NFL also announced compensatory picks Tuesday, with the Bills adding two fifth-rounders (Nos. 169 and 173). Compensatory picks are awarded to teams who lose more or better free agents than they signed the previous season, with the highest possible pick being a third-rounder. Rounds are determined by contract compensation and performance.
• Former Bills punter Sam Martin signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Carolina Panthers.