Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane announced on Friday that free-agent signings Mike Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi will face six-game suspensions for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy.
Beane said that the team was aware of Hoecht’s pending suspension but did not know about Ogunjobi’s when they agreed to terms on a contract with him earlier this week.
Beane added that Ogunjobi found out about his suspension after the two sides had reached a deal but informed the team before the suspension had been reported to the league.
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Beane explains that by the time Ogunjobi found out about his PED suspension he had already agreed to terms. Even though he was straight up about his suspension which had not even been reported to the NFL yet, several other DT options were signed elsewhere. And so sticking with…
— Chris Brown (@ChrisBrownBills) March 14, 2025
Hoecht agreed to a three-year contract worth up to $24 million on the first day of the league’s negotiating window, while Ogunjobi agreed to a one-year deal with $8 million guaranteed on Wednesday, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo reported.
Ogunjobi explained to reporters on Friday that he found out about the PED violation and agreed to his deal with the Bills around “practically the same time,” per the Buffalo News, and that he takes “full accountability.”
Hoecht told reporters on Friday that he takes responsibility for the suspension and that it was a result of him not verifying substances he was taking, per the Buffalo News.
“It was careless, it was reckless,” Hoecht said, per the Buffalo News.
Hoecht spent the first four seasons of his career with the Rams as a rotational pass rusher, recording 13.5 sacks in 68 games (31 starts).
Ogunjobi, an eight-year veteran defensive lineman, was released by the Steelers earlier this month after three seasons in Pittsburgh. Ogunjobi appeared in 15 games in 2024 with 12 starts and finished with 1.5 sacks and five tackles for loss.