The Buffalo Bills‘ newest defensive lineman is well-rounded. Michael Hoecht is a former 310-pound Ivy League graduate, a Super Bowl champion and a multimillionaire.

He’s also locked up Pro Bowl wide receiver DK Metcalf in the slot. Sort of.

A video of Hoecht covering Metcalf in the Los Angeles Rams’ 2023 season opener against the Seattle Seahawks began circulating on X, formerly Twitter, after Hoecht and the Bills agreed to a three-year, $21 million contract in free agency.

Hoecht lines up one-on-one against Metcalf in the clip. The defensive tackle doesn’t bite off the line of scrimmage, drapes him on a slant, extends his right arm to knock the ball away, throws Metcalf to the ground, and celebrates. The play looks like a clean highlight.

The problem? Despite an admirable effort, Hoecht was flagged for a 3-yard pass interference penalty for having his left arm around Metcalf’s hip. Hoecht lined up across from Metcalf again in the game and the ball went elsewhere in zone coverage.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

That doesn’t take away from Hoecht’s freakish athleticism and high motor. The 6-foot-4 Hoecht ran a 4.65-second 40-yard dash at his virtual self-produced pro day in 2020, along with posting a 33.5-inch vertical jump, 7.05 seconds in the 3-cone drill and a 4.21-second shuttle. All of the performances, though unofficial, were better than any defensive tackle at the NFL Combine in 2020, including one-tenth of a second faster than the next best 40-yard dash time.

Hoecht led the NFL with three blocked three kicks – two extra points and a field goal – in 2024. He can play defensive tackle, defensive end and outside linebacker.

Hoecht’s contract with the Bills includes $13.43 million guaranteed with two void years, according to Spotrac. The capt hits are $4.4 million in 2025, $7.5 million in 2026, $7.2 million in 2027 and $1.7 million in 2028.

“Bills Mafia!!! I’m coming home,” Hoecht posted on X on Monday.

Hoecht, 27, was born about an hour – longer if the border crossing is backed up – from Buffalo in Oakville, Ontario. He grew up in Canada and Ohio at played at Brown University for four years.

The two-year captain and second-team All-Ivy selection in 2019. He graduated from Brown, where he worked as a calculus tutor, with a degree in business and managerial economics. Hoecht’s supply and demand have each increased in the NFL. So did his equilibrium price.

Hoecht was drafted in the second round of the 2020 Canadian Football League draft but signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He spent a year on the practice squad before making the 53-man roster in 2021, playing in all 21 games spanning the regular season and playoffs as the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl 56.

Hoecht converted from defensive tackle to outside linebacker late in 2022, was asked to drop into coverage more frequently, and shed more than 30 pounds. He was listed at 267 pounds by the Rams in 2024. He has played in 17 games in each of his four seasons. Hoecht could take some of the snaps vacated by his former Los Angeles teammate Von Miller in Buffalo.

The Bills have signed a flurry of players from the Rams over the last three years, including edge rushers Miller and Leonard Floyd, safety Taylor Rapp, guard David Edwards and linebacker Travin Howard.

How do you pronounce Michael Hoecht’s last name?

It’s pronounced “Hoyt.”

Michael Hoecht stats

Hoecht has 180 tackles and 13.5 sacks in 68 NFL games with 31 starts.

• 2021: 17 games (3 starts); 7 tackles
• 2022: 17 games (6 starts); 36 tackles; 4.5 sacks; 1 forced fumble; 4 tackles for loss; 9 quarterback hits
• 2023: 17 games (17 starts); 81 tackles; 6 sacks; 1 forced fumble; 7 tackles for loss; 11 quarterback hits; 2 passes defended
• 2024: 17 games (5 starts); 56 tackles; 3 sacks; 4 tackles for loss; 6 quarterback hits; 2 passes defended
• Career: 68 games (31 starts); 180 tackles; 13.5 sacks; 15 tackles for loss; 26 quarterback hits; 4 passes defended

Michael Hoecht contract and career earnings

Hoecht will sign a three-year, $21 million contract with the Buffalo Bills.

He made $5,564,800 over five years with the Rams, including a year on the practice squad. Los Angeles assigned Hoecht a $2.985 million tender as an exclusive rights free agent for the 2024 season.

Ryan Miller can be reached at [email protected].