The Buffalo Bills made some additions to their defense early in the free agency period, but two recently signed players have been suspended for the first six games of the 2025 season for violating the NFL‘s performance-enhancing drug (PED) policy.
Bills Lose Larry Ogunjobi, Michael Hoecht for 6 Games in 2025
“[Bills general manager, Brandon] Beane says Larry Ogunjobi and Michael Hoecht will face 6-game suspensions due to violating the league’s PED policy,” Maddy Glabb, a Bills team reporter posted via her X account.
“Beane says the Bills knew about Hoecht but did not know about Ogunjobi when they agreed to terms with him.”
Beane says Larry Ogunjobi and Michael Hoecht will face 6-game suspensions due to violating the league’s PED policy
Beane says the Bills knew about Hoecht but did not know about Ogunjobi when they agreed to terms with him #Bills
— Maddy Glab (@MadGlab)
The Bills went into free agency determined to improve their defensive unit heading into 2025. Josh Allen, the NFL’s reigning MVP, led a Bills offense that ranked No. 4 in the league according to PFSN’s Offense+ metric.
But while the offense soared, the defense was ranked No. 18 in the NFL per PFSN’s Defense+ metric after finishing as a top-seven defense in each of the past three seasons. Revamping the defense back to its peak form was crucial for the organization this offseason.
The Bills invested a three-year, $24 million contract into Hoecht, and a one-year, nearly fully guaranteed $8.3 million contract into Ogunjobi.
In addition to Ogunjobi and Hoecht, the team has made other investments on the defensive side of the ball this off-season that should keep them afloat, including signing Joey Bosa to a one-year deal worth $12.6 million.
Bills Aware of 1 of 2 Impending Suspensions Before Signing
According to Beane, the team was aware of Hoecht’s impending suspension before the signing, but the Bills’ front office was caught off guard by Ogunjobi’s suspension. As Joe Buscaglia, a Buffalo Bills beat reporter for The Athletic, reported on X, Hoecht admitted to lacking vigilance with the supplements he was taking, which led to the suspension.
"I trusted somebody I shouldn't have trusted."
He then said it was ultimately his responsibility, and one of the lowest moments of his life. He said he owns his mistake and feels like he's got ground to make up to everyone around him.
— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia)
“I trusted somebody I shouldn’t have trusted,” Hoecht said. “I would like to be a voice of caution to anyone within the NFL to learn from my mistake. … As much as you think you can trust people … you think they have your best interest at heart, the responsibility is always on you.”
New Bills DT Larry Ogunjobi: "We have an obligation to know what we put in our body, and I take full responsibility for that."
— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia)
Ogunjobi also took responsibility for his suspension. “We have an obligation to know what we put in our body, and I take full responsibility for that,” Ogunjobi said, as quoted by Buscaglia.
Hoecht has totaled 13.5 sacks over the last three seasons for the Los Angeles Rams, including three in 2024. Despite his unfortunate suspension, the team is ready to start with a clean slate following the suspension and is excited about adding Hoecht to the defensive unit.
At just 27 years old and on a three-year contract with Buffalo, Hoecht still has potential to become a key part of the defensive line and live up to his contract.
Ogunjobi, on the other hand, registered just 1.5 sacks last season and is already 30 years old and on just a one-year deal with the Bills.
The news is certainly disappointing for Buffalo’s front office, which made it a clear priority to overhaul the defense and put the team in position to contend for a championship in 2025.
The team will now officially be without two of their key offseason signings for the first six games of the season, but Hoecht and Ogunjobi will be back in time for a potential Bills playoff push.
