Buffalo, NY – June 16, 2025: The Buffalo Bills are close to signing former Chicago Bears edge rusher DeMarcus Walker, a veteran with 26.5 career sacks, sources told ESPN. The move aims to bolster Buffalo’s pass rush for a 2025 Super Bowl push.Walker, 30, was released by the Bears in February, saving $5.9 million in cap space, per. His 2024 season—3.5 sacks, 47 tackles, 39 pressures in 17 starts—shows reliability, per Pro Football Reference. His career-high 7 sacks in 2022 with Tennessee highlights his potential, per.
Buffalo’s pass defense, ranked 15th with 218.6 yards allowed per game, struggled in a 29-32 AFC Championship loss to Kansas City, managing just 39 sacks in 2024, per The Athletic. With Von Miller gone and Joey Bosa injury-prone, Walker’s durability—he hasn’t missed a game since 2021—fills a critical gap, per NFL.com.
Walker’s versatility, playing both end and interior roles, aligns with Sean McDermott’s scheme, complementing Greg Rousseau and rookie Landon Jackson, per Buffalo Rumblings. His 16 quarterback hits in 2024 could pressure elite QBs like Patrick Mahomes, per Democrat and Chronicle. Bills GM Brandon Beane, with $5.3 million in cap space, is eyeing a one-year, $7 million deal for Walker, leveraging recent cuts of Dane Jackson and Laviska Shenault, per Spotrac. The contract mirrors Buffalo’s low-risk veteran signings, per SI.com.
The signing would stabilize a D-line hit by Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi’s six-game PED suspensions, per ESPN. Walker’s run defense—25 stops in 2024—adds balance, supporting Taron Johnson’s secondary, per. Walker’s experience with four teams over eight seasons, including Denver and Houston, brings veteran leadership, per. If finalized, he’d join Josh Allen’s title chase, per Sporting News, without costing high draft picks like a Trey Hendrickson trade.
As minicamp ends, Walker’s imminent arrival strengthens Buffalo’s defense. Can he spark a Super Bowl run? Stay tuned to ESPN for updates on this pivotal signing!
