Grading The Signing: Buffalo beefs up the defensive trenches by snagging former AFC foe in a huge win for Jim Leonhard
Brandon Beane strikes with a killer deal for Buffalo.
The Buffalo Bills have reached an agreement to bring in former Miami Dolphins edge rusher Bradley Chubb. It had been a quiet few days for Buffalo, retaining a few players and bringing on cornerback Dee Alford to the mix, but other than that, the team was quiet.
Hours before the move was made, Buffalo freed up some much-needed cap space by restructuring quarterback Josh Allen’s contract, giving them an additional $12 million to work with during the free agency and legal tampering period. With that, Buffalo quickly got to work bringing in Chubb.
Bradley Chubb signs a deal with the Buffalo Bills
New defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard has to be thrilled, getting some more pass rushers on the team. You need to be able to win in the trenches, and this move does exactly that. There’s still more work to be done, but it’s a good first step at solidifying the defensive line.
Chubb was one of the players I included in my article talking about five free agents the Bills should target on day three, so the move really fires me up.
He’s a cheaper veteran option that is ideal for scheme fits. The former captain has a high motor and is a dominant run defender who sets a strong edge with solid leverage.
Chubb was released by the Dolphins ahead of free agency, coming off a season where he played in 17 games and had two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, 47 combined tackles, and eight and a half sacks. That kind of production is hopefully going to continue with the Buffalo Bills.
Chubb performed well after suffering a torn ACL
The talented pass rusher joined the league in the same draft class as quarterback Josh Allen, jumping around the league from the Denver Broncos to the Miami Dolphins in a blockbuster trade at the time.
There are injury concerns, as Chubb didn’t play the entire 2024 season after suffering a torn ACL, but he proved he still has gas in the tank with his performance in 2025.
Getting a legit pass rusher on the cheap was a huge win for the organization, and once again, it should provide Leonhard with plenty of ammunition heading into the 2026 season. General manager Brandon Beane waited to strike, but when he did, it was for a good one.
Chubb isn’t the biggest splash that there could be, but he’s more than a formidable starter.
A to Z Sports’ Kyle Crabbs broke down what Chubb brings to the table.
“Bradley Chubb’s best days are probably behind him, but he still has a meaningful role to play for an NFL franchise. It was great to see Chubb back in action in 2025 after missing all of 2024 due to a catastrophic knee injury. He was a productive power rusher who did well on second-effort plays to help clean up sacks, too. But Chubb’s overall twitch and explosiveness didn’t seem to match the level he played with in 2023, and any team that acquires him is going to have to project whether or not it was a byproduct of rust or aging.
“He’s best served at this stage of his career to be a part of a rotation, so if you’ve got enough depth to keep him fresh, you’re probably going to see a better version of him than Miami could field as they featured him as a high-volume player for their front.” – Kyle Crabbs
The addition of Chubb gives Buffalo another legitimate threat off the edge and immediately raises the floor of the defensive line heading into a pivotal season. Pairing him with the existing talent gives Leonhard more flexibility to generate pressure without constantly dialing up blitzes.
For a team that struggled at times to collapse the pocket, this is the exact type of calculated move the Bills needed to make. It may not be the flashiest, but if Chubb stays healthy, he could end up being one of the most important additions.
If Beane has proven anything over the years, it’s that sometimes the smartest swings are the ones that strengthen the foundation, not just grab headlines.
Overall grade for the signing: B+
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