Bradley Chubb Leaves Miami for Buffalo — Bills Poach Dolphins' Best Pass Rusher 25 Minutes Into Free Agency
The ink was barely dry on the new league year. Less than 30 minutes after free agency officially opened at 4 p.m. ET Wednesday, Bradley Chubb agreed to terms with the Buffalo Bills — moving from Miami to the AFC East rival that had been trying to fix its pass rush all offseason. The optics for Dolphins fans are brutal.
The Deal
Chubb is signing a three-year, $43.5 million deal with $29 million guaranteed and a maximum value of $52.5 million. His new AAV sits at $14.5 million per year. By designating Chubb's release as a post-June 1 transaction, Miami saves $20.2 million in cap space but absorbs $11 million in dead cap in 2026 and $12.9 million pushed into 2027. The Dolphins shed the contract. The Bills grabbed the player immediately.
What Chubb Brings to Buffalo
In 2025, Chubb logged 48 pressures, 47 tackles, 31 hurries, 9 QB hits, and 8.5 sacks across all 17 games — leading Miami's defense as a team captain. He won the local media's "Good Guy" award for his availability and professionalism. Coming off two torn ACLs in his career, the 2025 season was proof of concept — healthy, durable, productive.
Long deploying a 4-3 defense, the Bills are switching to a 3-4 scheme under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard. Chubb is a career-long 3-4 outside linebacker, beginning in that role with the Broncos before the blockbuster 2022 trade to Miami. The scheme fit is essentially perfect.
Joey Bosa Is Now a Free Agent — And Likely Staying That Way
Chubb serves as a direct replacement for Joey Bosa, who had five sacks and league-leading five forced fumbles for Buffalo in 2025 before his one-year deal expired. The Chubb signing may effectively close the door on a Bosa return to Buffalo.
Chubb had 11 sacks in 2023, missed all of 2024 with his second ACL tear, then posted 8.5 sacks in 2025. Bosa totaled 16.5 sacks in 38 games across the last three seasons — Chubb posted 19.5 sacks in 33 games over the same stretch despite one full year missed. The production edge belongs to Chubb. So does the age advantage — he's one year younger and now under contract for three years.
The Bills' Full Offseason Defensive Picture
Buffalo also signed cornerback Dee Alford to a three-year, $21 million deal and brought back quarterback Kyle Allen on a two-year deal. Center Connor McGovern re-signed on a four-year, $52 million extension. The Bills were also involved in early talks for Trey Hendrickson and Maxx Crosby before those paths closed — Hendrickson going to Baltimore on a four-year, $112 million deal.
With Chubb joining Gregory Rousseau on the edge and the switch to a 3-4 under Leonhard, Buffalo's defensive rebuild has its anchor. No other Bills player had four or more sacks in 2025 outside of Bosa — Chubb's 8.5 sacks would have led the entire roster had he been in Buffalo a year earlier.
