he Buffalo Bills made some big investments in their pass rush in recent years, using high draft picks on Gregory Rousseau and Boogie Basham and landing veteran Von Miller in a big-money deal in free agency.
The efforts have not brought the desired results, but Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport suggested a “shocking” trade to help turn the tides. Davenport proposed the Bills could land edge rusher Joey Bosa in exchange for a third-round pick in 2025, one of the biggest weaknesses on defense while giving a big boost to their Super Bowl hopes.
Davenport pointed out that Buffalo’s dominance in the AFC East is starting to wane due to the emergence of the Miami Dolphins. Last season, the Bills had to secure five consecutive wins, including a crucial victory over the Dolphins, to clinch the division. With the departure of their top pass rusher Leonard Floyd, Davenport suggested that the Bills might be even more vulnerable.
The focus has largely been on the Bills’ situation at wide receiver following the departures of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. However, Davenport highlighted a potential weakness on defense as well. He noted that only one player on the Bills roster surpassed 10 sacks last season—edge-rusher Leonard Floyd, who is now with the San Francisco 49ers. The projected starting edge rushers for Buffalo, Gregory Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa, combined for just 11.5 sacks last year.
In order to compete with elite quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow and make a push for the Super Bowl, Davenport emphasized the importance of addressing their pass rush. He proposed that trading for Joey Bosa could provide a significant boost to the Bills, especially considering Bosa’s age and apparent recovery from a foot injury that affected him last season.
Although acquiring Bosa would require some strategic maneuvering with regards to the salary cap, Davenport expressed confidence in Bills’ General Manager Brandon Beane’s ability to navigate such challenges. While it’s a risky move, Davenport believes it could pay dividends if the Bills can harness the form that earned Bosa three consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 2019 to 2021.
Additionally, there’s discussion about the potential for Von Miller to bounce back after a subpar season in 2023 due to a torn ACL. Reports suggest that Miller is showing signs of returning to form during offseason practices, shedding his knee brace and displaying glimpses of his old explosiveness off the edge.
Nathan Dougherty, a sports reporter covering the NFL, particularly the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, and Miami Dolphins, provides further insight into these developments.
