The Buffalo Bills have gotten the Pro Football Focus for one of their offseason decisions: Re-signing AJ Epenesa.
Epenesa’s rookie contract expired this offseason and the Bills had a decision with a tight budget. Bring Epenesa back or let him walk in free agency?
In the end, Epenesa is back on a two-year extension and the likes of Leonard Floyd left. He signed with the San Francisco 49ers.
Epenesa finished 2023 with 6.5 sacks and was up-and-down, however, the football analytics outlet believes it was the right decision to re-sign him. PFF named a favorite move in free agency for every NFL team. Buffalo bringing back Epenesa was their choice for the Bills.
Here’s why PFF was a fan of the move:
2023 PFF Grade: 75.8 (31st/112)
2023 PFF WAR: 0.06 (49th)
Fit/need grade: A
Value grade: AContract: Two years, $12 million ($6 million per year), $10.06 million total guaranteed
PFF projected contract: Three years, $22.5 million ($7.5 million per year), $14.5 million total guaranteed
Epenesa has two straight seasons with strong pass-rush production, notching pressure rates above 10% and pass-rush grades above 70.0. He’s a big edge who has gotten faster off the ball as he’s developed, and he’ll still be just 25 in Week 1 of 2024, so there could be more improvement ahead.
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