Bills defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi could be on the chopping block when 53-man roster cuts roll around in less than two weeks.
There are a number of reasons Buffalo may want to part ways with the eight-year veteran despite adding him earlier this offseason. The first is a PED suspension the team did not know about when upon signing Ogunjobi. Both Ogunjobi and defensive end signing Michael Hoecht were given PED bans shortly after their Bills deals, but the team was aware of Hoecht’s beforehand.
Ogunjobi will be sidelined for the first six games of the season, during which time he can be placed on the reserve/suspended list to open up a roster spot. Ogunjobi has also had a quiet training camp, according to The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia, mixing in with the Bills’ second- and third-team defenses. If the ninth-year veteran doesn’t have a clear role waiting for him when he comes off suspension, it might not be worth carrying him on the 53-man in the first place.
Releasing Ogunjobi would also clear $1.25MM in 2025 cap space, per OverTheCap, not an insignificant amount this close to the season. At barely $1.3MM, the Bills rank last in available funds. Ogunjobi, 31, has not been especially productive as an interior pass rusher in recent years. He posted 1.5 sacks in 2022 and ’24 and has not cleared 10 QB hits since that ’22 Pittsburgh debut. Still, the Steelers gave him a three-year, $40.5MM deal after the 2022 slate. They cut bait early this offseason, leading to the Buffalo landing.
A younger Bills option make be changing Ogunjobi’s outlook, opening the door for a second 2025 release. The team also has a fairly crowded D-tackle group, with recent third- and fourth-round picks (DeWayne Carter, Deone Walker) behind starters Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones. Buffalo also drafted T.J. Sanders in this year’s second round.
Chosen 41st overall out of South Carolina (after the Bills traded up 15 spots in Round 2), Sanders has enjoyed a strong camp, Buscaglia adds. The Bills have used him as a three-technique option regularly; such a role would eat into Ogunjobi’s playing time when his suspension ends. While Sanders resides as Oliver’s top backup, Buscaglia notes situations could call for the two interior rushers playing alongside each other. Passing downs would seemingly present opportunities for the duo to work together. And it will now be interesting to see if the Bills merely drop Ogunjobi rather than keep both he and Hoecht on their reserve/suspended list.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
C ya
No brainer, doesn’t start off with honesty, hasn’t made an impact!
He doesn’t fit the character of this team
He actually did tell Beane before the contract was final.
Beane decided to do it anyway, because by that time it was pretty deep in free agency and his other targets were gone.
Its not a great look for Beane especially when you consider that there is also dead money in 2026. But I respect his ability to go into a draft with minimal holes. I don’t think his intention was to draft 2 Dts. It just fell that way for him.
And its tight at that position after the draft. There are probably 4 DTs ahead of him, plus Walker, then Zion Logue on the ps who costs nothing.
I completely forgot Dwayne Carter too – but I think he is a cut candidate despite being a third rd pick last year.
Carter isn’t getting cut.
You might be right – but I think its a conversation.
He couldn’t get on the field last year, had an underwhelming camp, and now he is being tried at 1dt. So he is a underperforming player, without a position.
Yes, Beane picked him rd3, and that is usually hard for a GM to do. His contract is also cheap, for multiple years as opposed to 1.
But I’m not sure its a sure thing either. He may be safe, but to me he is in a conversation.
Beane has busts all over the place. He has some notable homeruns of course, but a lot of critical whiffs. Elam, maybe Kincaid, Carter, bishop, basham, Cody ford, Landon Jackson looks awful… All 1-3rd round picks.
Only Allen and Benford were knock it out of the park amazing. Milano too before the injuries. Taron. Thats about it though. Cook was fine. Bernard is fine not great. Same with shakir. Dorian is average at best. No wr gems found. You gotta have it.
Ogunjobi has never really been good, despite having a ton of experience with different teams.The deeper you look, the less impressive the resume is. I don’t think that the Bills lose much by having Sanders take that spot, personally.
And, more importantly, it allows Ogunjobi to accomplish his true calling-to sign with Baltimore and complete the AFC North cycle that the people desperately need to see.