Joe Andreessen

Career StatsC-

Year	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT
Career		30	61	—	—
2025		17	35	0.0	0
2024		13	26	0.0	0

Updated Jun 17, 2026

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Buffalo Bills got a C Contract Value Index out of the Joe Andreessen signing because the guaranteed money matches the production tier. At $944K AAV over three years, Andreessen's deal reflects exactly what he is: a depth linebacker on his second year in the league who has accumulated modest counting stats—35 tackles across 17 games in the 2025 season—without the sack production or splash plays typically required to elevate linebacker value in today's market. The contract itself carries minimal cap risk given its modest AAV, which is appropriate for a 26-year-old former undrafted player still establishing himself defensively; there's no overpayment here, but neither is there upside embedded in the structure. What works against the deal's value proposition is the performance grade (C-) and sentiment assessment (C-) that align with mediaFraming positioning Andreessen as a character-driven, community-minded depth piece whose on-field impact remains constrained by zero sacks and zero forced fumbles through two seasons. The Bills appear to be evaluating roster options selectively—recent moves show active cuts and additions—which suggests Andreessen's role remains contingent on special-teams contribution and depth availability rather than any expectation of defensive ascendancy heading into 2026. The three-year term is reasonable for a fringe rotational linebacker, but it also locks in a player whose ceiling appears to be solid backup utility rather than an impact starter.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Joe's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Joe Andreessen delivers production that earns a C- performance grade against LB comps. His 2025 season registered 35 tackles across 17 games, a respectable volume that reflects consistent availability and a willingness to be in position—the kind of snap-count floor you'd expect from a rotational linebacker tasked with defending the run and cleaning up gaps. However, the complete absence of splash plays—zero sacks and zero forced fumbles through two career seasons—exposes the core problem: he is a tackling machine without disruptive impact, which in today's pass-heavy NFL limits his ceiling as anything more than a third-level defender. At 26 years old and only two seasons into his career, Andreessen has carved out a low-cost depth role ($0.9M contract) with the Bills, and the recent signings of Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and Kaleb Elarms-Orr suggest the organization is actively evaluating alternatives at the position rather than banking on his development. His genuine investment in the Buffalo community and fan-friendly presence earn goodwill locally, but that character cannot offset the measurable production gap—he remains a fringe roster contributor whose path to starter snaps depends entirely on injury or a dramatic shift in defensive efficiency metrics heading into 2026.

How Joe Compares at the Position

Joe Andreessen ranks 203rd of 338 graded linebackers by performance. That slots Joe between Kaimon Rucker (C-) just ahead and Baylon Spector (C-) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Joe Andreessen's C- sentiment grade reflects the perception of a well-liked but unproven depth linebacker who has carved out a niche through character rather than performance. Despite his positive community engagement and fan-friendly approach in Buffalo, the former undrafted player's modest statistical output—zero sacks and zero forced fumbles through two seasons—limits any meaningful excitement about his on-field contributions. Media coverage positions him as a committed, community-minded player genuinely invested in the Bills organization, but this goodwill hasn't translated into elevated recognition beyond Buffalo's local fanbase. At just two years into his career on a modest $0.9M contract, Andreessen is viewed as a fringe roster piece whose value stems primarily from intangibles rather than measurable defensive impact. The overall sentiment remains cautiously neutral-to-positive locally, with observers acknowledging his work ethic while recognizing the lack of breakthrough performances needed to establish himself as more than a special teams contributor heading into 2026.