The Buffalo Bills will have to wait until October to see two of their key free agent signings suit up, and the NFL is facing backlash for how it handled the situation.
General manager Brandon Beane revealed that edge rusher Michael Hoecht and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi will each serve six-game suspensions for violating the league’s PED policy. While Hoecht had disclosed the suspension to the team in advance, Ogunjobi’s punishment came unexpectedly, catching the Bills off guard and sparking criticism of the NFL for not notifying teams sooner about players facing discipline—an issue that complicated Buffalo’s free agency plans.
Bills Face Difficult Position
Both Hoecht and Ogunjobi will participate in training camp but must stay away from the team during the first six weeks of the regular season, returning ahead of Week 7. The Bills will then decide whether to add them to the active roster or move on, leaving Buffalo in a precarious spot regarding their defensive line depth.
Both players were expected to be key contributors to the rotation, forcing the team to now consider additional moves in free agency or the NFL draft to address the gaps.
According to ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg, Ogunjobi’s positive test caused immediate complications. The Bills had reached an agreement with him, but the suspension delayed finalizing his contract, though it is still expected to be completed. In contrast, the Bills were aware of Hoecht’s suspension when they made their deal.
The NFL has come under fire for its lack of transparency. WGR 550’s Sal Capaccio noted that there is no league-wide system to alert teams of pending PED suspensions. Only the player and their current team are informed, leaving prospective suitors in the dark unless the player voluntarily discloses the situation.
This opaque system has led to frustration from fans and criticism directed at the league, with many questioning how such critical information could be kept from teams before the start of free agency.
Bills Could Have Another Option Looming
While the suspensions could leave the Bills thin up front, Beane pointed out a potential fallback option. The team parted ways with veteran edge rusher Von Miller earlier this offseason, but Beane made it clear that the door remains open for a possible reunion, depending on the financial terms.
“We just decided where the salary was to take a step back,” Beane said on March 14. “We never closed the door, whether it’s now, later in the spring, or even in-season.”
Miller, who brought a veteran presence and a championship pedigree to the Bills, could be a valuable midseason addition if the need arises and if the two sides can come to an agreement.