When the Buffalo Bills return to the field this week, they’ll likely have two new faces rotating in along the defensive line. Defensive end Michael Hoecht and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, each of whom
signed with Buffalo as free agents in March, are set to return from suspension this week now that their six-game bans for performance-enhancing drug use has expired.
Hoecht, in particular, looked to be a strong signing, and his work in the preseason was notable. In Buffalo’s disastrous loss to the Chicago Bears back in August, Hoecht was one of the few bright spots. The veteran totaled four tackles and a sack in the game, earning a Pro Football Focus grade of 76.1 for the effort. That was Buffalo’s top grade that week on defense. He totaled five tackles, one sack, and a pass breakup in the preseason, which is the only time he’s been able to play with the Bills as of yet.
In his time with the Los Angeles Rams, Hoecht was a valuable contributor in a multitude of ways. He played defensive end, defensive tackle, and even off-ball linebacker at times for the Rams, totaling 13.5 sacks, 180 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 26 quarterback hits over 68 regular-season games.
The Bills feel he has some untapped potential as a pass rusher, but his work setting the edge and defending the run will be a welcome addition to a unit that currently ranks 30th overall in rushing yards allowed and dead last in the NFL in yards per carry allowed. Hoecht just turned 28 earlier this month, and he’s under contract with the Bills through the 2027 season.
Ogunjobi, 31, signed a one-year deal with the Bills, and the plan was likely to have him serve as Ed Oliver’s top backup. However, thanks to the PED suspension, the Bills have used a pair of rookies in T.J. Sanders and Deone Walker, as well as a revolving door of practice-squad call-ups that includes Jordan Phillips, Zion Logue, and Phidarian Mathis at defensive tackle. Oliver was even out for four games with an ankle injury. With Sanders on Injured Reserve (IR) thanks to a knee injury and veteran DaQuan Jones suffering a calf injury last week, Ogunjobi will likely see plenty of run this week.
Ogunjobi is more of a three-tech defender than he is a one-tech run-stuffer, so I’d expect the Bills to start Oliver, who has been fantastic in the two games he’s played, and Walker, who has outperformed his fourth-round draft status, while Sanders recovers. Unless the Bills decide to sign another defensive tackle to the 53-man roster, they’ll continue to use practice-squad players to fill in the reserve spots, but Ogunjobi should see at least a 30% snap share, if not more, this week.
Before coming to Buffalo, Ogunjobi had exclusively played in the AFC North, starting his career with the Cleveland Browns before moving to the Cincinnati Bengals for one season. He played the last three years with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Over his eight-year career, Ogunjobi has 361 tackles, 56 tackles for loss, 27.5 sacks, and 79 quarterback hits. He’s another veteran presence up front who should help the Bills improve their interior pass rush.
What does adding these players mean for the current defensive line rotation? It likely spells the end of Landon Jackson on the game-day roster, as Hoecht more than fills the role of a long, strong edge player. Javon Solomon is a big part of what Buffalo does on special teams, so I’d expect him to remain active. He’s also made an impact when given opportunities on defense, notching a sack and two quarterback hits on just 83 defensive snaps. While that may not be much, that’s more than the statistical goose egg put up by Jackson in his two games and 28 defensive snaps, so I’m giving the edge (pun intended) to the guy who helps on special teams.
I also could see the Bills using Hoecht in place of Joey Bosa on early downs, especially against more run-heavy teams. Bosa has been fantastic as a pass rusher so far, but he’s made some mistakes in setting the edge on run plays. The Bills have also expressed a desire to limit his snaps a bit.
Hoecht will likely compete with A.J. Epenesa for those snaps, and he may also kick inside to provide pass rush from a defensive tackle spot, as well. Might he act as a stand-up rusher in the A-Gap on some passing downs, as well? It’s a look I’d like to see, and given his previous experience as an off-ball linebacker, it’s not entirely out of the question.
As for Ogunjobi, the state of the defensive tackle position necessitates that he’ll immediately jump into the rotation and see plenty of playing time. Zion Logue has already been called up from the practice squad three times, so the Bills would need to sign him to the 53-man roster in order to activate him again. With Jones drawing the dreaded “week-to-week” designation from head coach Sean McDermott, that might be a move that happens.
Remember, the Bills do have an extra spot on the roster right now from when they placed T.J. Sanders and Damar Hamlin on IR. While many of us would love to see a trade acquisition fill that spot, it’s much more likely that the player filling that spot is already in house.
Better defensive line play would be a tremendous boost to a Buffalo defense that has not played up to its standard this season. Both Hoecht and Ogunjobi should provide welcome reinforcement to what has been a beleaguered unit.
