Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane announced on March 14 that newly signed defensive end Mike Hoecht and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi will each serve a six-game suspension at the start of the 2025 season for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug (PED) policy. These suspensions come with financial consequences.
According to Spotrac, Hoecht will forfeit around $1.47 million due to the suspension, which includes:
- $1 million in base salary
- $293,000 from his signing bonus
- $180,000 in per-game active roster bonuses
Because his suspension was imposed after signing his contract, the Bills will receive salary cap relief from the forfeited money.
Ogunjobi’s situation differs since his suspension was announced before finalizing his contract. This allowed the Bills to adjust the deal, voiding his salary guarantee. Originally reported as an $8.3 million contract with incentives up to $10 million, his new deal is now worth $6,696,735. His 2025 cap hit is $4,106,684, with a 2026 dead cap of $2,570,052 due to prorated signing bonus void years.
Beane acknowledged the impact of losing players to suspension but did not specifically address the cap implications. However, the forfeited salaries and bonuses provide Buffalo with additional financial flexibility as they shape their 2025 roster.
