Buffalo Bills, Defensive End
Age: 25-287d (Sep 15, 1998)
Exp: 5 Years
Country: US
College: Iowa
Drafted: Round 2 (#54 overall), 2020
Agent(s): Patrick Collins, Jimmy Sexton (CAA Football)
- Contract Details
- Career Earnings
- Injuries
- Transactions
- Statistics
- Market Value
2024 Cap Hit
$3,960,000
2024 Cash
$7,000,000
Career Earnings
$6,051,950
2024-2025 Free Agent (CURRENT)
A.J. Epenesa signed a 2 year , $12,000,000 contract with the Buffalo Bills, including $4,000,000 signing bonus, $10,060,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $6,000,000. In 2024, Epenesa will earn a base salary of $2,560,000, a signing bonus of $4,000,000 and a workout bonus of $100,000, while carrying a cap hit of $3,960,000 and a dead cap value of $6,560,000.
Contract Terms:
2 yr(s) / $12,000,000
Average Salary:
$6,000,000
Signing Bonus:
$4,000,000
GTD at Sign:
$6,560,000
Total GTD:
$10,060,000
Free Agent:
2026 / UFA
| Year | Age | Status | Cap HitAnnual | Cap % League Cap | Cash Annual | Cash Cumulative | Dead Cap Annual | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 |  | 26 | $3,960,000 | 1.55% | $7,000,000 | $7,000,000 | $6,560,000 | ||||
| POTENTIAL OUT: 2025, 1 YR, $7,000,000; $3,000,000 DEAD CAP | |||||||||||
| 2025 | | 27 | $6,000,000 | 2.20% | $5,000,000 | $12,000,000 | $3,000,000 | ||||
| 2026 | | 28 | Void UFA | $2,000,000 | 0.68% | - | - | $2,000,000 | |||
| 2027 | | Void | $1,000,000 | 0.32% | - | - | - | ||||
| Year | Age | Status | Base P5 Salary | Signing Proration | Roster/Gm Bonus | Workout Bonus | Cap Hit | Cap % League Cap | Dead Cap | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | | 26 | $2,560,000 | $1,000,000 | $300,000 | $100,000 | $3,960,000 | 1.55% | $6,560,000 |
PRE-6/1 RELEASE2024 Dead Cap: $6,560,000 2024 Savings: $-2,600,000
PRE-6/1 TRADE2024 Dead Cap: $4,000,000 2024 Savings: $-40,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade?
POST-6/1 RELEASE2024 Dead Cap: $3,560,000 2025 Dead Cap: $3,000,000 2024 Savings: $400,000
POST-6/1 TRADE2024 Dead Cap: $1,000,000 2025 Dead Cap: $3,000,000 2024 Savings: $2,960,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? | |
| POTENTIAL OUT: 2025, 1 YR, $7,000,000; $3,000,000 DEAD CAP | |||||||||||
| 2025 | | 27 | $4,560,000 | $1,000,000 | $340,000 | $100,000 | $6,000,000 | 2.20% | $3,000,000 |
PRE-6/1 RELEASE2025 Dead Cap: $3,000,000 2025 Savings: $3,000,000
PRE-6/1 TRADE2025 Dead Cap: $3,000,000 2025 Savings: $3,000,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade?
POST-6/1 RELEASE2025 Dead Cap: $1,000,000 2026 Dead Cap: $2,000,000 2025 Savings: $5,000,000
POST-6/1 TRADE2025 Dead Cap: $1,000,000 2026 Dead Cap: $2,000,000 2025 Savings: $5,000,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? | |
| 2026 | | 28 | Void UFA | - | $1,000,000 | - | - | $2,000,000 | 0.68% | $2,000,000 |
PRE-6/1 RELEASE2026 Dead Cap: $2,000,000 2026 Savings: $0
PRE-6/1 TRADE2026 Dead Cap: $2,000,000 2026 Savings: $0 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade?
POST-6/1 RELEASE2026 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Dead Cap: $2,000,000 2026 Savings: $2,000,000
POST-6/1 TRADE2026 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Dead Cap: $2,000,000 2026 Savings: $2,000,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? |
| 2027 | | Void | - | $1,000,000 | - | - | $1,000,000 | 0.32% | - |
PRE-6/1 RELEASE2027 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Savings: $1,000,000
PRE-6/1 TRADE2027 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Savings: $1,000,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade?
POST-6/1 RELEASE2027 Dead Cap: $0 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Savings: $1,000,000
POST-6/1 TRADE2027 Dead Cap: $0 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Savings: $1,000,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? | |
| Year | Age | Status | Base P5 Salary | Signing Bonus | Workout Bonus | Cash Total | Cash Cumulative | AYC Cumulative | AYC Remaining | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | | 26 | $2,560,000 | $4,000,000 | $100,000 | $7,000,000 | $7,000,000 | $7,000,000 | $6,000,000 | |
| 2025 | | 27 | $4,560,000 | - | $100,000 | $5,000,000 | $12,000,000 | $6,000,000 | $5,000,000 | |
| 2026 | | 28 | Void | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2027 | | 29 | Void | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Contract Notes
- $6.56M guaranteed at signing (signing bonus + 2024 salary)
- $3.5M of 2025 salary fully guarantees the 5th league day of 2025 ($2M injury guaranteed at sign)
- Per Game Active Bonus: $20,000 ($340,000)
- 2026-2027 years automatically void 23 days before the 2026 league year
Source: NFL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.
2020-2023 Rookie
A.J. Epenesa signed a 4 year , $5,877,299 contract with the Buffalo Bills, including $1,834,399 signing bonus, $2,711,550 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $1,469,325.
Contract Terms:
4 yr(s) / $5,877,299
Average Salary:
$1,469,325
Signing Bonus:
$1,834,399
GTD at Sign:
$2,711,550
Total GTD:
$2,711,550
Free Agent:
2024 / UFA
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Career Earnings thru 2024
$6,051,950
Career Earnings w/ Different Teams
1 team
Earnings Per Year
| Year | Age | Team(s) | Status | Cash Total | Cash Cumulative | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 22 |
| Active | $2,619,050 | $2,619,050 | |
| 2021 | 23 |
| Active | $877,150 | $3,496,200 | |
| 2022 | 24 |
| Active | $1,144,300 | $4,640,500 | |
| 2023 | 25 |
| Active | $1,411,450 | $6,051,950 | |
| Total | $6,051,950 | $6,051,950 | ||||
| 2024 | 26 |
| Active | $7,000,000 | ||
| 2025 | 27 |
| Active | $5,000,000 | ||
| Total | $18,051,950 |
| Year | Team(s) | Age | Base | Signing | Roster | Restructure | Option | Workout | Incentives | Cash Total | Cash Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 |
| 22 | $610,000 | $1,834,400 | $174,650 | $2,619,050 | $2,619,050 | ||||
| 2021 |
| 23 | $877,150 | $877,150 | $3,496,200 | ||||||
| 2022 |
| 24 | $1,144,300 | $1,144,300 | $4,640,500 | ||||||
| 2023 |
| 25 | $1,411,450 | $1,411,450 | $6,051,950 | ||||||
| Total | $4,042,900 | $1,834,400 | $174,650 | $6,051,950 | $6,051,950 | ||||||
| 2024 |
| 26 | $2,560,000 | $4,000,000 | $100,000 | $7,000,000 | |||||
| 2025 |
| 27 | $4,560,000 | $100,000 | $5,000,000 | ||||||
| Total | $11,162,900 | $5,834,400 | $200,000 | $174,650 | $18,051,950 |
Earnings Per Team
| Years | Team | Base | Signing | Roster | Restructure | Option | Incentives | Cash Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | | $4,042,900 | $1,834,400 | - | - | - | $174,650 | $6,051,950 |
Injuries
| Year | Weeks | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | BUF | 15 - 16 | COVID-19 |
- Mar 11, 2024 Signed a 2 year $12 million contract with Buffalo (BUF)
- Oct 13, 2023 Fined $21,855 Roughing the Passer against Jacksonville (JAC)
- May 08, 2020 Signed a 4 year $5.87 million contract with Buffalo (BUF)
- Apr 24, 2020 Drafted by Buffalo (BUF): Round 2 (#54 overall)
Fines
| Date | Reason | Fine Amount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 13, 2023 | | Roughing the Passer against Jacksonville (JAC) | $21,855 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Snaps | Snaps% | Sack | Tackles Total | Tackles Solo | Tackles Assisted | FFum | Int |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | BUF | 14 | 1 | 370 | 36.30 | 7 | 20 | 9 | 11 | 1 | 2 |
| 2022 | BUF | 15 | 2 | 375 | 35.90 | 7 | 16 | 13 | 3 | 2 | |
| 2021 | BUF | 14 | 330 | 31.20 | 2 | 14 | 8 | 6 | |||
| 2020 | BUF | 14 | 1 | 291 | 27.70 | 1 | 14 | 11 | 3 |
Calculated Market Value
Market Value
- 2 years, $11,963,812
- Avg. Salary: $5,981,906
- NFL Rank: 369
- DE Rank: 37
Current Contract
- Free Agent: 2026
- Avg. Salary: $6,000,000
- NFL Rank: 347
- DE Rank: 36
Comparable Players
We've selected the following players based on their age, contract status, and statistical production to compare A.J. Epenesa to.
| Player | Length | Value | Avg. Salary | Age When Signed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marquis Haynes | 2 | $5,500,000 | $2,750,000 | 28 |
| Charles Omenihu | 2 | $16,000,000 | $8,000,000 | 25 |
| Carl Lawson | 3 | $45,000,000 | $15,000,000 | 25 |
| John Cominsky | 2 | $8,500,000 | $4,250,000 | 27 |
| Averages | 2 | $18,750,000 | $7,500,000 | 26.3 |
Base Calculated Value
After adjusting the above contracts as if signed at Epenesa's current age (25), a linear regression is performed, providing us with the following initial value.
| Length | Value | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | $22,500,000 | $5,625,000 |
Statistical Comparisons
Now we'll compare our variables and Epenesa statistically over the two seasons prior to their signing. In this case we're analyzing: GP%, Tackles/Gm, Sacks/Gm, Stops/Gm, QB Hurries/Gm, Rating
| Player | GP% | Tackles/Gm | Sacks/Gm | Stops/Gm | QB Hurries/Gm | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marquis Haynes 2020-2021 | 96.97 | 0.75 | 0.22 | 0.66 | 0.44 | 61.90 |
| Charles Omenihu 2021-2022 | 94.12 | 0.66 | 0.14 | 0.59 | 1.84 | 67.60 |
| Carl Lawson 2019-2020 | 87.50 | 1.25 | 0.38 | 1.04 | 1.71 | 65.90 |
| John Cominsky 2021-2022 | 52.94 | 1.11 | 0.22 | 1.06 | 1.88 | 48.00 |
| Average | 82.88 | 0.94 | 0.24 | 0.84 | 1.47 | 60.85 |
| A.J. Epenesa 2022-2023 | 90.62 | 0.76 | 0.45 | 0.80 | 1.13 | 68.50 |
| Pct Change | 9.34 | -19.15 | 87.50 | -4.76 | -23.13 | 12.57 |
| Median Prime % Change | 2.29% | |||||
| Average Prime % Change | 10.40% | |||||
Calculated Market Value: A.J. Epenesa
After applying our Prime % figures into our base calculated value, we're given two values. The average of these values becomes our current calculated market value.
| Terms | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|
| 2 years, $11,963,812 | $5,981,906 |
