Buffalo Bills General Manager Brandon Beane has recently signed two defensive linemen, Larry Ogunjobi and Michael Hoecht, both of whom are facing six-game suspensions for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drugs (PED) policy.
Larry Ogunjobi
Ogunjobi, a 30-year-old defensive tackle, previously played for the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, and Pittsburgh Steelers over eight seasons. He has accumulated 361 tackles, 27.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles in 124 games. Ogunjobi signed a one-year contract with the Bills, guaranteeing him $8 million. He believes his positive test resulted from a tainted supplement and has accepted responsibility for the violation.
Michael Hoecht
Hoecht, 27, spent four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams before joining the Bills. He has recorded 180 tackles and 13.5 sacks in 68 games. Hoecht admitted to testing positive for testosterone supplied by his trainer, acknowledging it as a careless mistake. The Bills were aware of Hoecht’s pending suspension prior to signing him to a three-year, $24 million contract.
Impact on the Bills
Both players will participate in offseason programs and training camp but will be ineligible for the first six games of the regular season. They can remain at the team facility for the initial four weeks but must leave during Weeks 5 and 6. Beane acknowledged that signing two players with pending PED suspensions is not ideal and indicated that the team might have reconsidered had they known about both suspensions in advance.
This situation presents a significant challenge for the Bills, as they will start the season without two key defensive additions. The team must now adjust its defensive strategy to compensate for these absences.
