Bills Central

NFL analyst surprisingly names Bills $12 million key defender as trade candidate

One analyst thinks it's possible the Buffalo Bills could part ways with one of their key defenders in a trade on or around the 2025 NFL Draft.
Mike Moraitis|
A detailed view of the Buffalo Bills helmet.
A detailed view of the Buffalo Bills helmet. | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

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The Buffalo Bills swapped out edge rushers this offseason, with the team cutting Von Miller and signing Joey Bosa, who was cut loose by the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Bills also decided to make a long-term commitment to young edge rusher Greg Rousseau, who was awarded with a massive four-year, $80 million extension.

All of that has led one analyst, FOX Sports' Ralph Vacchiano, to believe that the Bills could trade fellow edge rusher A.J. Epenesa, who is entering the final year of his two-year, $12 million contract.

"He's in the last year of a two-year, $12 million contract extension, but he just watched as his team signed Joey Bosa (one year, $12.6 million) and gave Greg Rousseau a four-year, $80 million extension," Vacchiano wrote. "If the Bills aren't willing to commit big money to Epenesa, too, maybe one of the many teams in need of an edge rusher would be interested in his six sacks per year. It helps that there are a lot of good edge rushers in this draft, in case the Bills want an immediate replacement."

Epenesa is coming off one of his better seasons as a pro, with the former second-round pick tallying six sacks, the second-most of his career, and a career-high 39 tackles.

defensive end AJ Epenesa (57)
Jan 12, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) moves to avoid pressure from Buffalo Bills defensive end AJ Epenesa (57) in the fourth quarter of an AFC wild card game at Highmark Stadium. | Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

In a highly-competitive AFC that is loaded with good quarterbacks, including the bane of Buffalo's existence, Patrick Mahomes, the Bills can ill-afford to give up one of their better edge rushers ahead of a season in which the team looks to once again get over the hump to a Super Bowl.

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Sure, the Bills could replace Epenesa with an edge rusher in the 2025 NFL draft, but there's no guarantee said player will be able to make the kind of immediate impact the Bills will need.

Furthermore, the Bills could use all the reliable depth they can get along the edge thanks to Bosa's injury history.

Based on where the Bills are in terms of competing for a Super Bowl, we just don't see Epenesa being moved in 2025.

defensive end AJ Epenesa (57)
New York Jets offensive tackle Max Mitchell (61) misses stopping Buffalo Bills defensive end AJ Epenesa (57) who tackled New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) for a safety during first half action at the Bills home game against the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Dec. 29, 2024. | Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Mike Moraitis
MIKE MORAITIS

Mike Moraitis is a freelance writer who has covered the NFL for major outlets such as Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News. He has previously written for USA TODAY Sports Media Group and FanSided, and got his start in sports media at Bleacher Report.

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