A.J. Epenesa

Buffalo Bills, Defensive End
Age: 26y-3m-8d (Sep 15, 1998)
Exp: 4 Years
Country: US
College: Iowa
Drafted: Round 2 (#54 overall), 2020
Agent(s): Patrick Collins, Jimmy Sexton (CAA Football)
2024 Cap Hit

$2,812,000

2024 Cash

$7,000,000

Career Earnings

$13,051,950

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 $1,125,000, a signing bonus of $4,000,000, a restructure bonus of $1,435,000 and a workout bonus of $100,000, while carrying a cap hit of $2,812,000 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 $2,812,000 1.10% $7,000,000 $7,000,000 $6,560,000
POTENTIAL OUT: 2025, 1 YR, $7,000,000; $4,148,000 DEAD CAP
2025 27 $6,287,000 2.30% $5,000,000 $12,000,000 $4,148,000
2026 28
Void
UFA
$2,861,000 0.98% - $12,000,000 $2,861,000
2027
Void
- - - $12,000,000 -
2028
Void
$287,000 0.09% - $12,000,000 -
Year Age Status Base P5 Salary Signing Proration Restructure Proration Roster/Gm Bonus Workout Bonus Cap Hit Cap % League Cap Dead Cap
2024 26 $1,125,000 $1,000,000 $287,000 $300,000 $100,000 $2,812,000 1.10% $6,560,000
POTENTIAL OUT: 2025, 1 YR, $7,000,000; $4,148,000 DEAD CAP
2025 27 $4,560,000 $1,000,000 $287,000 $340,000 $100,000 $6,287,000 2.30% $4,148,000
2026 28
Void
UFA
- $1,000,000 $287,000 - - $2,861,000 0.98% $2,861,000
2027
Void
- $1,000,000 $287,000 - - - - -
2028
Void
- - $287,000 - - $287,000 0.09% -
Year Age Status Base P5 Salary Signing Bonus Restructure Bonus Workout Bonus Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining
2024 26 $1,125,000 $4,000,000 $1,435,000 $100,000 $7,000,000 $7,000,000 $12,000,000
POTENTIAL OUT: 2025, 1 YR, $7,000,000; $4,148,000 DEAD CAP
2025 27 $4,560,000 - - $100,000 $5,000,000 $12,000,000 $5,000,000
2026 28
Void
- - - - - $12,000,000 -
2027 29
Void
- - - - - $12,000,000 -
2028 30
Void
- - - - - $12,000,000 -
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
  • Annual Playing Time Incentives & Escalators
    (cumulative)
    40%: $250,000
    45%: $250,000
    50%: $350,000
    55%: $350,000
    60%: $350,000
  • Annual Sack Incentives & Escalators
    (cumulative)
    8: $1M
    10: $750,000
    12: $750,000
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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Seasons

4 Years

Career Earnings thru 2024

$13,051,950

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
2024 26
Active
$7,000,000
$13,051,950
Total      
$13,051,950
$13,051,950
2025 27
Active
$5,000,000
Total
$18,051,950

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
5 $5,167,900 $5,834,400 - $1,435,000 $100,000 $174,650 $13,051,950
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
2024
26
$1,125,000
$4,000,000
$1,435,000
$100,000
$7,000,000
$13,051,950
Total
$5,167,900
$5,834,400
$1,435,000
$100,000
$174,650
$13,051,950
$13,051,950
2025
27
$4,560,000
$100,000
$5,000,000
Total
$9,727,900
$5,834,400
$1,435,000
$200,000
$174,650
$18,051,950

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
5 $5,167,900 $5,834,400 - $1,435,000 $100,000 $174,650 $13,051,950

Injuries

Year Weeks Reason
2021 BUF 15 - 16 COVID-19
  • Nov 22, 2024 Fined $15,400 Hip-Drop Tackle against Kansas City (KC)
  • Sep 03, 2024 Converted $1.435M of 2024 salary into signing bonus, adding 1 additional void year, clearing $1.148M of cap with Buffalo (BUF)
  • 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
Nov 22, 2024 Hip-Drop Tackle against Kansas City (KC) $15,400
Oct 13, 2023 Roughing the Passer against Jacksonville (JAC) $21,855
Fines: 2 $37,255
Year Team GP GS Snaps Snaps% Sack Tackles Total Tackles Solo Tackles Assisted FFum Int
2024 BUF 15 11 573 59.10 5 35 19 16 2 0
2023 BUF 15 1 387 36.10 7 20 9 11 1 2
2022 BUF 15 2 375 35.90 7 16 13 3 2 0
2021 BUF 14 0 330 31.20 2 14 8 6 0 0
2020 BUF 14 1 291 27.70 1 14 11 3 0 0
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