The Buffalo Bills are moving into their next major offseason phase in due time: Training camp.
The Bills kicked off off their 2025 training camp on July 23 at St. John Fisher University. As with every offseason, Bills Wire examined each position group ahead of this pivotal time on the football calendar.
Our 2025 defensive ends insight can be found below:
At the top
Greg Rousseau leads the way for Buffalo’s edge rushers. He totaled 53 tackles and a team-best eight sacks last season. Rousseau has become a complete player on the edge, acting as a menace against opposing linemen in the passing game and holding the line against running backs. Rousseau signed a four-year, $80 million deal to keep him in Buffalo through 2029.
Joey Bosa is expected to play opposite Rousseau. Buffalo took a chance on the pass rush specialist, signing Bosa to a one-year, $12 million contract. Bosa has missed significant time due to injuries over the past three seasons. Buffalo is banking on Bosa maintaining his health to be enough of a difference-maker this year.
Depth chart
Buffalo has always emphasized having depth in the trenches. AJ Epenesa returns as a core depth piece. Buffalo drafted Landon Jackson in the third round of this April’s draft. Jackson is a high-motor player who fits the McDermott model. Buffalo signed Michael Hoecht, who could see time at various positions in Buffalo’s defense. Javon Solomon looks to find a place as a depth piece on this line. Hayden Harris and Paris Shand round out the defensive end group.
In 2025…
The hope is that Rousseau can move from a very good player to the dominant sphere of NFL edge rushers for the Bills. Buffalo needs a bit more from their defensive line when it matters most, and a strong postseason would go a long way in putting Rousseau into Buffalo lore.
The big concern for the Bills will be how much production they can get from Bosa. For the Buffalo defense to be successful, they need a healthy Bosa. If Bosa can return to his double-digit sack totals, it will most likely mean that the Bills have one of the top defenses in the league. Of course, Bills fans wish to see Bosa do his most damage against Patrick Mahomes.
Buffalo has invested a lot in their edge rushers. They emphasize versatility and availability. If Epenesa can take a step forward and Hoecht can cause problems when he returns from suspension, it would mean a successful season is on the horizon for Buffalo. They need their defensive line to hold strong in the playoffs. If not, it will be another season of considering what went wrong.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: 2025 Buffalo Bills training camp insight: Defensive ends