Detailing Buffalo's 12-Player Move Day

Michael Ginnitti
Michael Ginnitti, Managing Editor & NFL/MLB ExpertMarch 06, 2024
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Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane must have had an internal March 6th deadline for many of the “pre-agency” decisions on his plate. In one of the bigger Wednesday News Dumps in recent memory, Buffalo announced 5 outright releases, 1 Post June 1st Designation, a cap conversion, a renegotiated contract, 2 contract extensions, 2 free agent signings, & a partridge in a pear tree.

All told (based on the information we’ve secured right now), the Bills started March 6th with -$41M of cap space, and close up shop significantly closer to cap compliance (details on the Trubisky & Rapp contracts still pending).

A few more cap clearing moves could be in the cards for Buffalo, as we’ve made note of here.

RELEASES ($25.955M cap saved)

Mitch Morse, C

Morse has been the starting center in Buffalo for the past 5 seasons, but the almost 32-year-old was entering a contract year in 2024, set to earn $8.5M against an $11.5M cap hit. His release frees up $8.5M in cap space. League sources have announced that the Bills plan to slide Connor McGovern from guard to center for the upcoming season.

Jordan Poyer, FS

After 7 outstanding seasons in Buffalo’s defensive backfield, Poyer returns to the open market. The almost-33-year-old was set to earn $5.75M against a $7.72M cap hit in 2024, and should have interest in free agency at a slightly less price point. His release clears $5.72M of space for Buffalo.

Nyheim Hines, RB/KR

Hines suffered a season-ending injury off the field last summer, putting his future in Buffalo in peril from that point on. Factor that into a $5M salary/$5.1M cap hit for the upcoming season, and it made the Bills’ decision to take the $4.66M of space fairly easy this winter.

Deonte Harty, WR/KR

The Bills approached Harty about a pay cut to stick around, but the two sides failed to agree on a number. The barely 26-year-old weapon hits the open market with a chance to secure a larger role on his third NFL franchise. Buffalo freed up $4.195M of space per this release.

Siran Neal, S

An important special-team player in Buffalo since 2018, Neal’s $3.4M cap hit for the upcoming season became too rich to carry. The near 30-year-old’s release frees up $2.88M of cap space.

CAP CONVERSION ($2.5M cap saved)

Rasul Douglas, CB

Acquired from Green Bay at last October’s deadline, Douglas made himself an integral piece to Buffalo’s secondary in a short period of time, making him an outside extension candidate this winter. Buffalo instead opted to convert a bit of his base salary ($1.5M) plus a $2M roster bonus into a signing bonus, clearing $2.5M of space when factoring in 3 void years.

RENEGOTIATION ($8.645M cap saved)

Von Miller, DE

In maybe the biggest surprise of the winter thus far, Von Miller appears to have agreed to a significant initial pay cut. The almost-35-year-old carried a $10.71M guarantee into this offseason, & all of his $17.145M base salary for 2024 was set to become fully guaranteed by March 18th. Instead, Buffalo handed Miller a $7M roster bonus (which may be treated as a signing bonus at some point this offseason), lowered his base salary down to $1.5M, and added $11.145M of incentives, offering Miller a chance to earn some of this money back by the end of the year. A breakdown of these not likely to be earned incentives can be found here.

POST JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION

Tre'Davious White, CB

The Bills haven’t formally announced this yet (likely because they can’t formalize this until March 13th), but Buffalo appears poised to designate White a Post 6/1 release. The Bills will carry White’s $16,443,737 cap figure into June, then take on dead hits of $6,234,918 in 2024, & $4,134,918 in 2025. Buffalo will open up $10,208,819 of cap space on June 2nd, just in time to sign a class of draft picks.

FREE AGENT SIGNINGS

Mitchell Trubisky, QB

The Bills carried Trubisky through the 2021 to backup Josh Allen, and appear poised to do the same for the upcoming 2024 campaign. The former #2 overall pick earned $8M in Pittsburgh last season. It’s safe to say his deal in Buffalo won’t approach that, but financial details are still TBD at this moment.

Matt Haack, P

Like Trubisky, Haack was a member of the Bills back in 2021, but has bounced around quite a bit since. Last year punter Sam Martin is set to enter Year 2 of a 3 year, $6M contract, but an outright release this week can free up $1.35M of cap space. It seems likely that’s a move still to come from Buffalo. 

EXTENSIONS

David Edwards, G

Buffalo kept Edwards off of the open market on a 2 year, $6M contract that includes $2.95M guaranteed (all in 2024). The 27-year-old will compete for a starting guard spot on this O-Line, and can increase his 2024 pay (and 2025 salary) by $1.25M based on unspecified playing time incentives. Edwards stands to count $2.31M against the Bills' 2024 cap, which could be excellent value if he wins the starting left guard role.

Taylor Rapp, S

With much of the secondary on their way to the open market (or retirement) this winter, Buffalo secured one important piece, bringing back Rapp on a 3 year contract that can reportedly max out at $14.5M. Spotrac had him valued at $5.5M per year. Full breakdown coming soon.

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