The Bills have agreed to sign free agent linebacker Michael Hoecht, per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Hoecht, who had spent his entire career with the Rams after signing with the club as a UDFA in 2020, will move across the country to continue his career.
He is also getting a nice raise, especially considering his undrafted status. According to Pelissero, Buffalo has authorized a three-year deal for the Ivy Leaguer, a deal that can max out at $24MM.
Now 27, Hoecht spent the entirety of his rookie campaign on the Rams’ taxi squad, finally getting his first taste of regular season action in 2021. By 2022, he had established himself as a regular part of Los Angeles’ defensive rotation, and he was also shifted from defensive tackle to outside linebacker to take advantage of his unique athleticism. The 6-4, 267-pound defender has frequently been asked to drop into coverage and has even lined up at slot corner from time to time.
In 2023, Hoecht became a full-time starter, starting all 17 of the Rams’ regular season games and its lone playoff contest, racking up an 85% snap share and a career-high six sacks. Pro Football Focus did not think highly of his work that season, however, grading him as the 90th-best edge defender out of 112 qualifiers. Perhaps realizing that the Brown product was better suited to a complementary role, the Rams cut his snap share to 57% in 2024 (although he did appear in all 17 games again).
The Bills, who have been busy extending their own players (including several core defenders) did release Von Miller yesterday and could use additional depth on the edge. Hoecht will provide that while also offering some schematic versatility (as detailed by The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue back in November (subscription required)).
Bills fan and I’ve never heard of this guy, is he decent?
Useful guy, especially as a run defender. He’s f you ever watched the Rams drop a really, really big guy into coverage and wondered why, that was him.
Seeing now that autocorrect turned “If” to “He’s f.”
Same.
Also: why?
Who?
Wtf? 8 per year? I don’t know what to make of this.
This feels like one if McDermott’s position flexibility pet projects. He probably plays ST???
We dont need a LB imo. Especially at that price.
Bernard, Milano and D. Williams are solid.
Buffalo Joe looks great every time he gets a peek too.
If you remember how shorthanded the LB crew was with injuries the last two years, there is a need for more rotation. Can’t say he’s worth that paycheck, but today is the day everyone overspends
He’s also a very different sort of profile than the linebackers they have. He’s much, much bigger and can even line up on the line. Think more like Leo Chenal from the Chiefs, but even bigger.