GASabresIUFan

Diggs' deal doesn't really give us an out in 2025. His cap hit will be 27.3. I agree this is excessive for any receiver, much less a potentially declining veteran. However: 1) We are already on the positive side of the ledger for next season (about 30 million) and therefore some have room to work. 2) His dead cap hit will still be 22.2 million. The cap savings is only 5 million. I doubt Beane wants to basically have an approx 9% of the cap dead before he makes other decisions. I also doubt you get a quality receiver to replace Diggs' production for $5 million. 3) A June 1 designation would save 18.5 million, but would push 18.5 to 2026 and I don't think Beane will want to that either with only 11 players current under contract for 2026. 4) What happens if he excels under Brady's new system with another 90 catch 1000 yard season. How do you replace that output? 2026 makes much for sense 1) His cap number grows to 28.5 2) His dead cap would only be 13.4 (and 15 in 2027). Cap Savings 15.1 3) June 1 - 8.8 with 19.5 in 2027 If you move say 8 million of his 18.5 base to a bonus, you can save 6 this season, while only adding 2 to 2025 and 4 to 2026 assuming he is cut after the 2025 season.

https://theathletic.com/5238669/2024/02/02/buffalo-bills-offseason-salary-cap/ According to my calculations (& spotrac), the Bills still needs to do about 30+ million is cap reduction to get roster complete. I checked what Beane has done and compared it to the 15 point plan in the Athletic 1. Restructure Josh's deal - Not yet announced. Apprx 23 million in potential cap savings 2. Don't restructure Diggs' deal (Cover 1 says re-structure the deal) - I agree with Cover1. Potential $8 million in savings 3. Don't restructure Miller - The Bills worked with Miller on a pay reduction and saved over $8.5 million 4. Restructure White - The Bills are cutting him 6/1 saving $10 million 5. Restructure Douglas - Done 6. Restructure Knox - Not yet done. Potential savings 5.86 million 7. Add void years to Morse - Nope, the Bills cut him instead. 8. Restructure McGovern - Done 9. Pay cut for Hines - Nope, released instead. 10. Restructure Milano - Not done yet 11. Restructure Bates - Nope, traded instead. 12. Restructure Poyer - Nope, released instead. 13. Pay cut for Harty - Nope, released instead. 14. Extend Taron Johnson - Not done yet 15. Extend Dawkins - Not Done yet other - Cover1 suggested extending Oliver and the Bills also cut Neal Looking at this list, there is a ton of moves still available to Beane to get some cash to spend on FAs.

Saw this from Tim Graham. It confirms the reports others have mentioned from Ian Rappaport. If Edwards is moving to guard, I suspect we'll now see a higher draft pick than we expected on another O Lineman. Beane hit a HR with Torrence. Can he do it again?

I fully agree! I've updated the OP with the contract info, but cap hit still not clear.

Wow, Jax took an over $9 million cap hit to cut him. He signed a $30 million deal 2 years ago.

Did you Travolta his name?

Given Hamlin's contract, there is a good chance he comes to camp to fight for a roster spot. Any replacement will cost about the same cap wise and it's only 40k of dead money if he doesn't make the team. Whether he stays or goes now really depends on how McBeane feel about his future. Gilliam may have just survived special teams ace roulette. With Neal and Matakevich gone, Gilliam is our only returning special teams ace. That said, he still has to be on thin ice. It's now Martin vs Haack. Martin is the better punter, maybe, but clearly there was something off between him and Bass. Maybe management thinks Haack is the better holder. Let the camp battle ensue. PS: the only move that was a surprise so far was the re-signing of Rapp. He did not grade our very good last season (either did Poyer) and to lock him up for possibly the next 3 years was a bit shocking, especially at the reported price tag. I guess we are just going to have to trust McD on how to coach up a DB.

I don’t think Beane likes them either, that’s partially why Morse, Poker and White were all cut rather then extended with void years.

Current starters OFFENSE (10/11) QB - Allen RB - Cook WR1 - Diggs Slot - Shakir WR2 - ???? TE - Kincaid/Knox OT - Brown & Dawkins OG - Torrence & Edwards C - McGovern DEFENSE (9/11) DT - Oliver & ???? EDGE - Rousseau & Miller LBs - Benard & Milano Hybrid - T. Johnson CBs - Benford & Douglas S - Rapp & ???? After today’s craziness, it looks like we have 18 of our 22 starters for next season now under contract. On offense Beane created a hole at center when he cut Morse and traded Bates. How he fixes it will be interesting to watch between now and the season’s opening game. Do they re-sign Morse to a smaller contract or sign some other FA? Do they like Anderson enough to give him a shot at the job? What about using a premium pick on a center like Van Pran in the draft? The other big question mark is who will replace Davis at the WR 2. IMHO the emergence of Shakir and Kincaid lessened the importance of a Davis type receiver in this scheme, but we definitely need someone who can stretch the field better than the departed Harty and Sherfield and even better than the returning pass catchers. There is a huge debate on the board about adding a vet to replace Davis or giving the job over to a rookie. I’m all in on drafting at least one talented WR. On defense we still need another starter at safety, another starter at DT and someone to challenge Miller for a starting edge role. Deep safety class in the draft and some very nice players at both DT and Edge. That said, I believe Beane will sign some FAs to pencil into the starters jobs, but won’t mind if a kid or two beat them out. I know they like Jonathan upfront and I think they’d love to bring back Jones if they could. That said a youth movement is clearly underway in Buffalo and not a moment to soon. Edit: There is allegedly a report from Ian Rappaport claiming the Bills plan to move McGovern to center. Does this mean Edwards get a shot a starting guard spot or did OG become a big draft priority. Report confirmed by Tim Graham and posted below. Updated the starting lineups to reflect the change.

Thanks for pointing out whom I was missing them. Groups updated to reflect both free agents.

Not exactly. Because we cut players like White, Morse, Neal, and Harty you have to add back the contract of a players that replaced them on the Rule 51 roster. The current deficit is just over $7 million without Rapp's and Trubisky's contracts, and without the full benefit of White 6/1 release.

Matakevich is a FA and is not on the team.

@SoonerBillsFan Are things moving fast enough now. 11 moves so far today. In/Return - Haack, Trubisky, Rapp & Edwards Out - Morse, Poyer, White, Harty and Neal Contract restructure - Miller, and Douglas

This maybe the busiest day in Buffalo sports history. Kevyn Adams pulls off a blockbuster hockey trade and kind of gets over shadowed by at least 10 moves by the Bills.

By the way it's "re-signing" not resigning. Resigning is something Sabres GM Kevyn Adams should do.

Not a fan of this move, but with Poyer cut and Hyde gone, he was the only S around that knows the system and can arguably called a starter.

Group 2 and group 4 are having a tough couple of days. Of the 10 players in those groups, 6 have been releases and one traded. It also looks like Martin is going to be released as well. I also don't see how Gilliam can survive Beane chopping block given he is the O version of Neal. Group 1 has been edited to 27 players to reflect the re-signing of Haack and Edwards.

Spotrac estimates we'll need 11,570,141 to sign our picks and it will cost cap wise 9,185,141.https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/cap/

Yep, out with the old and in with the draft picks and other kids. Time to get back to better cap management and more youth with upside vs aging and slowing vets.

That's what a 5th rd pick in the draft is for.

Sherfield is a FA. No cut needed.

Morse, White, Neal, and Poyer out. Douglas restructured Haack signed Busy day for Beane and the Bills. I updated the original post to reflect all the moves so far.

8 moves today - Cap savings up to a net of just over $33 million. Moves coming so fast it's hard to keep up. A Josh restructure will put us on the positive side of the ledger, but who is going to play center with Morse and Bates cut or traded? I suspect they'll re-sign Morse once the FA period starts. With Haack's return, how soon until Martin is released.

Cap hit?

Bates out. Edwards returns.