NFL Trade Rumors: Buffalo Bills could bring back former $12M defensive end amid roster reshuffle

The Buffalo Bills have been a force to be reckoned with on the field in the last few seasons, with 12 wins and just 5 losses in 2025.While the Buffalo Bills were expected to break records in the last season, the team witnessed a heartbreaking loss against the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round. Ahead of the new season, the team is focused on fixing its roster to bounce back on the field.A few hours ago, FanSided’s Buffalo Bills analyst Brandon Ray tipped that the Buffalo Bills could re-sign a deal with the popular defensive end, A. J. Epenesa, after his deal with the Cleveland Browns fell through.FanSided’s Buffalo Bills analyst Brandon Ray noted in a recent report, “Epenesa remains a free agent and now that Rousseau is moving to outside linebacker, the Bills may want to strongly consider bringing back Epenesa for a third go-around in his career…”FanSided’s Buffalo Bills analyst Brandon Ray added, “Epenesa knows Buffalo and he was a solid pass rusher who was consistently bringing pressure. The Bills have a need at edge rusher. While they should look to draft one or two in next week’s NFL Draft, bringing back Epenesa would give them a quality veteran who has had success in Buffalo.”However, the Buffalo Bills have now maintained their distance from responding to the rumors of reuniting with A. J. Epenesa.While A.J. Epenesa has impressed with his dominating performance on the field, his performance in the last season showed a slight decline since 2024.In 2025, A.J. Epenesa was moved to a “rotational role” because of Joey Bosa and ended up recording 2.5 sacks, 17 solo tackles, 4 passes defensed, and 2 interceptions across 16 games.But in the 2024 season, A.J. Epenesa recorded 6.0 sacks, 39 total tackles (23 solo), 8 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits, two forced fumbles, and two pass deflections, acorss 17 games.With Joey Bosa’s presence in the team, many fans think it is unlikely that A.J. Epenesa will return to the Buffalo Bills but nothing has been confirmed yet. The star player has maintained his silence after his deal with the Cleveland Browns was canceled.For the unversed, after A. J. Epenesa’s two year contract with the Buffalo Bills expired in March, the Cleveland Browns agreed to sign a one year deal for $5 million with him.However, in the last week of March, as per ESPN, a source reported that, “The Cleveland Browns will not be signing AJ Epenesa, with the team uncomfortable finalizing the deal after the veteran defensive end had his physical…”