Bills Cap Status - Approx $4.25 under cap 4/03/2024 (added roster change summary)

[GASabresIUFan]

Edit by BuffaloBill (moderator):

 

I thought I would create one thread and do the following:

Merge the current cap projection threads

Provide a daily update for 2024 in the first post from sportrac and over the cap as being primary sources

While not a reliable # yet, update daily, in the first post, the 2025 projections from the same sources

The remainder of the thread will contain “normal” chatter on the topic.

 

2024 projections 4/03/2024 - 3pm

Sportrac: $4,244,255

 

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Original Thread Start by GASabresIUFan :

 

BIlls' Offseason transactions:

1.  McGovern's contract restructured.  Cap Savings $3.74 Million

 

2. Bills release RB Hines.  Cap Savings $4.66 million

3. Bates traded to Chicago for a 5th.  Cap Savings $1.44 Million.

 

4. Poyer Released - cap savings $5.47 million

 

5. Neal Released - cap savings  $2.88 million

 

6. Edwards re-signs -2 years $6 million.  Cap Hit 2.31 (spotrac)

 

7. Douglas contract restructure - cap savings $5.5 million

 

8. Morse released - cap savings $8.47 million

 

9. Harty released - cap savings $4.195

 

10. White released (June 1) -  cap savings $10 million

 

11. Matt Haack signed - cap cost 985K

 

12. Von Miller restructured - cap savings $8.855 million

 

13. Rapp re-signed - 3 years for 14.5 million - cap hit 2.842 million

 

14. Trubisky signed -2 years for $5.25 - cap hit 2.0 million

15. Morris re-signed - 1 year 985K - cap hit 985K

16. Knox pay cut & restructure - cap savings $6.4 million.

 

17. Dawkins extended - 3 years 60.5 million - cap savings $5.1 Million (updated 3/15)

 

18. Cam Lewis re-signs - 2 years 4 million - cap charge $1,481,500

 

19. Epenesa re-signs - 2 years $12 million +incentives - cap charge 3.94

 

20. Allen restructure - 16.7 million in cap savings  $16.7 million

 

21. DaQuan Jones re-signs - 2 years 16 million - cap charge $4.5 million

 

22. Nick Marrow LB signs - 1 year $ 1.5 million - cap $1.5 million.

 

23. Mack Hollins WR signs - 1 year 2.6 million - cap hit $2.48 million.

 

24. Ty Johnson re-signs - 1 year 1.292 - cap hit 1.152 million.

 

25. Curtis Samuel signs - 3 yrs 24 million+, cap hit $3.405

 

26. Taron Johnson extended - 3 yrs 31 million.  Cap saving $3.968

 

27. Casey Toohill DE/Edge - signed 1 year 1.125 - cap hit 1.015 million

 

28. Mike Edwards S - 1yr deal $2.8. milliom - cap hit $2.8 million

 

29. Will Clapp OG/C - 1 year deal $1,292,500 - cap hit $1.1525

 

30. Austin Johnson DL - 1 year deal - $3.5 million - cap hit $2.277 w 2 void years.

 

31.  DeShawn Williams DT - 1 year deal - $1.155 and Cap hit - $1.015

 

32. Stefon Diggs (& 2 picks) traded for a 2nd rd pick in 2025 -Dead Cap Hit $31,096,000 

 

33. La'al Collins OL signed - Contract 1yr up to $6.25 - Cap hit TBD

 

Spotrac has us with approx 4,244,255 of cap space. Collins' new deal not account for yet!

 

Player movement & contract change summary:

New Players (10) - Trubisky, Marrow, Hillins, Samuel, Toohill, M Edwards, Clapp, A Johnson, De Williams & Collins

Returnees (8) - D Edwards, Haack, Rapp, Morris, Lewis, Epenesa, Jones, & Ty Johnson

Extensions (2) - Dawkins & Ta Johnson

Restructures (5) - McGovern, Douglas, Miller, Knox, & Allen

Releases/Trades (8) - Diggs (HOU), Bates (CHI), White (LAR), Poyer (MIA), Morse (JAC), Neal (MIA), Harty & Hines (CLE) 

 

Other roster changes from 2023:

UFAs signed elsewhere (8): Davis (Jac), Floyd (SF), D Jackson (CAR), Settle (HOU), Dodson (SEA), Ford (LAC), Sherfield (MIN), and K Allen (PIT)

UFAs unsigned (7): Hyde, Phillips, Matakevich, Harris (retired), Joseph, Murray & Lawson

 

Current depth chart (Starters in Bold)

 

Specialists - Bass (PK), Haack (P) & Ferguson (LS) - I think Haack beats out Martin

 

Offense

QB - Allen & Trubisky

RB - Cook, Ty Johnson, DRAFT PICK, Gilliam

WR -Shakir, Samuel, DRAFT PICK, Hollins, Shorter & possible 2nd draft pick

TE - Kincaid, Knox & Morris

OL - Brown, Dawkins, D. Edwards, McGovern, Torrence, Van Demark, Clapp, Anderson, Collins & DRAFT PICK

 

Defense

DL - Rousseau, Oliver, Jones, Miller, Epenesa, DS Williams, Jonathan, Toohill, A. Johnson & DRAFT PICK

LB - Milano, Benard, Do Williams, Spector, & Morrow

CB - Ta Johnson, Benford, Douglas, Elam, Lewis (S) & DRAFT PICK

S - M. Edwards, Rapp, Hamlin & DRAFT PICK

Edited April 4 by GASabresIUFan

[SoonerBillsFan]

I think 24 more will come from Allen's conversion of base salary to bonus.  That's still 12+ mill needed, which is very doable. 

[GASabresIUFan]

39 minutes ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

I think 24 more will come from Allen's conversion of base salary to bonus.  That's still 12+ mill needed, which is very doable. 

That's the absolute minimum.  He needs to create another 10+ to be able to sign his draft picks and he'll need at least another 20+ to complete the roster with FAs.  

 

As I noted above 67.5 is still to go.  Josh's 24, will leave 43.5 to go.

Edited March 3 by GASabresIUFan

[SoonerBillsFan]

3 minutes ago, GASabresIUFan said:

That's the absolute minimum.  He needs to create another 10+ to be able to sign his draft picks and he'll need at least another 20+ to complete the roster with FAs.  

 

As I noted above 66.5 is still to go.  Josh's 24, will leave 42.5 to go.

Ah sorry mis read.  Yeah thats gonna be really rough to do.  Im thinking post June 1st moves are coming

 

[BuffaloBillyG]

11 minutes ago, GASabresIUFan said:

1.  McGovern's contract restructured.  Cap Savings 3.74 Million

 

2. Bills release RB Hines.  Cap Savings 4.66 million

 

 

Total cap savings so far: 8.40 million.  (36,575,663 to go to get to the cap; 66,575,663 to create $30 million in cap space for FAs and draft picks).

Also remember, that $40M over the cap is NOT official. The sites we see on line are close guesses. Just a couple of weeks ago the NFLPA had us listed at $36M and change over the cap before either of these moves were made.

 

 

Edited March 3 by BuffaloBillyG

[Warriorspikes51]

Allen restructure

Dawkins extension (not thrilled with the idea)

Taron extension

Douglas extension or trade

possible Milano restructure? 

Diggs? 

Von?

Tre?

Poyer?

Knox?

 

[SoonerBillsFan]

Beane has 10 days ish to officially be under and he said he planned to be under this week.

[Aussie Joe]

Just now, SoonerBillsFan said:

Beane has 10 days ish to officially be under and he said he planned to be under this week.

What happened to your cap moves thread ?

 

I tried to bump it a couple a times 

 

Might have gone a little early in hindsight  …

[SoonerBillsFan]

Just now, Aussie Joe said:

What happened to your cap moves thread ?

 

I tried to bump it a couple a times 

 

Might have gone a little early in hindsight  …

It got ignored lol. If you want to bump it again that would be cool

 

[Aussie Joe]

Just now, SoonerBillsFan said:

It got ignored lol. If you want to bump it again that would be cool

 

I might have to wait for something new to happen … but some guy living on Twitter always beats me 

[TheyCallMeAndy]

Cover1 mentioned they saw on an NFL transaction list Bills have a second restructure on the books, it just didn’t list who. They speculated Ed Oliver. 

[GASabresIUFan]

18 minutes ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

Also remember, that $40M over the cap is NOT official. The sites we see on line are close guesses. Just a couple of weeks ago the NFLPA had us listed at $36M and change over the cap before either of these moves were made.

What Spotrac does is calculate the cap based on the top 51 contracts including futures contracts.  Thus a move like releasing Hines only saves 3.66 because someone on a futures deal takes his roster spot.  I'm not sure if this is the proper way or not to view the cap, but it does make sense.  

[BillsFan130]

26 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

Allen restructure

Dawkins extension (not thrilled with the idea)

Taron extension

Douglas extension or trade

possible Milano restructure? 

Diggs? 

Von?

Tre?

Poyer?

Knox?

 

Can cut Harty as well and save around 4.5-5. (Not sure of the exact number)

 

 

[Rubes]

For those of you that read the Buffalo News, there is a good article there today about the moves Beane could make to create up to $60 million in cap space.

 

Pretty reasonable set of moves presented, nothing dramatic, and allows the team to stand pat on Diggs and Miller.

 

 

[CA OC Bills Fan]

22 minutes ago, GASabresIUFan said:

What Spotrac does is calculate the cap based on the top 51 contracts including futures contracts.  Thus a move like releasing Hines only saves 3.66 because someone on a futures deal takes his roster spot.  I'm not sure if this is the proper way or not to view the cap, but it does make sense.  

That's absolutely the correct way to calculate since during the off-season the top 51 contracts of players still under contract with the team is how the cap is calculated. So, when a player is cut he obviously is no longer one of the top 51 and whomever was the 52nd highest now takes his place.

[John from Riverside]

I’m wondering why we would not be happy with a Dawkins extension
 

He is playing at an extremely high-level

[GASabresIUFan]

1 hour ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

Cover1 mentioned they saw on an NFL transaction list Bills have a second restructure on the books, it just didn’t list who. They speculated Ed Oliver. 

Would not be  a huge surprise.  Cover1 had him on their list as a possible move before the off-season started.  Not sure how much savings there will be.  My guess is about 3.5 .  

[Punching Bag]

1 hour ago, John from Riverside said:

I’m wondering why we would not be happy with a Dawkins extension
 

He is playing at an extremely high-level

 

And he is also a good representative to the community.

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

On 3/3/2024 at 4:51 PM, Warriorspikes51 said:

Allen restructure

Dawkins extension (not thrilled with the idea)

Taron extension

Douglas extension or trade

possible Milano restructure? 

Diggs? 

Von?

Tre?

Poyer?

Knox?

 

 

With the release of Bates, I'd add Morse to the restructure and extend list

[GASabresIUFan]

Bates traded 1.44 saved.  Still 37+ million to go to get to cap compliance.  
 

Many moves to go and so little time. 

Edited March 5 by GASabresIUFan

[BuffaloBill]

11 hours ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

 

With the release of Bates, I'd add Morse to the restructure and extend list

 

 

No to adding more to Morse - he is aging in NFL years and has a concussion history.  

[ngbills]

11 hours ago, GASabresIUFan said:

Bates traded 1.44 saved.  Still 37+ million to go to get to cap compliance.  
 

Many moves to go and so little time. 

Allen alone is $20m+ of that

[BeastMaster]

1 minute ago, BuffaloBill said:

 

 

No to adding more to Morse - he is aging in NFL years and has a concussion history.  

His replacement will be drafted this upcoming draft so we can move off of him next season

[GASabresIUFan]

1 minute ago, BuffaloBill said:

 

 

No to adding more to Morse - he is aging in NFL years and has a concussion history.  

The guy started all 17 this past year and has only missed 4 games in the last three.  His grades for the season were good.  No reason not to extend him with a non-guaranteed year or two to bring down the cap hit.

1 minute ago, BeastMaster said:

His replacement will be drafted this upcoming draft so we can move off of him next season

This is also possible even with an extension.  

[Buffalo_Stampede]

On 3/3/2024 at 4:42 PM, SoonerBillsFan said:

I think 24 more will come from Allen's conversion of base salary to bonus.  That's still 12+ mill needed, which is very doable. 

I would extend Allen. But that’s just me. QB contracts flying up!

[Matt_In_NH]

The Bates move saves 5.4 million in 2025 which is also important.  It is mostly cap neutral this year since the savings will be used on a different guy.

[78thealltimegreat]

This is very easy to do now with Josh restructuring and more then likely Ed Oliver and Dawkins we are pretty much cap compliant.

I don’t know what the Bills want to do now since next year with Diggs and Millers deadcap hits going way lower and they can be back to being major players in free agency. 

[Albany,n.y.]

On 3/3/2024 at 5:25 PM, Rubes said:

For those of you that read the Buffalo News, there is a good article there today about the moves Beane could make to create up to $60 million in cap space.

 

Pretty reasonable set of moves presented, nothing dramatic, and allows the team to stand pat on Diggs and Miller.

 

 

If you have today's BN, check out page 4 where they mistakenly put a photo of Edward Snowden instead of Jack Teixeira.   

[Buffalo_Stampede]

Just now, 78thealltimegreat said:

This is very easy to do now with Josh restructuring and more then likely Ed Oliver and Dawkins we are pretty much cap compliant.

I don’t know what the Bills want to do now since next year with Diggs and Millers deadcap hits going way lower and they can be back to being major players in free agency. 

If you know you will have future cap space open up then you’re a free agent player now. Thats the great thing about the cap.

[TheyCallMeAndy]

2 minutes ago, Matt_In_NH said:

The Bates move saves 5.4 million in 2025 which is also important.  It is mostly cap neutral this year since the savings will be used on a different guy.

Cover1/Locked On Bills speculates next year will be the ‘just eat it’ year where they don’t restructure his contract. Apparently we already have a good amount of cap room in 2025 with a relatively low amount of FAs. 

[Matt_In_NH]

1 hour ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

Cover1/Locked On Bills speculates next year will be the ‘just eat it’ year where they don’t restructure his contract. Apparently we already have a good amount of cap room in 2025 with a relatively low amount of FAs. 

He wont be on the team, he will have no dead cap or anything?  The Bills do not have a good amount of cap in 2025, the Bills are 29th with 27 mil in space but that is before they push a ton of money from this year to next year, that will be negative by the time they are done.

 

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cap/2025/

 

[TheyCallMeAndy]

18 minutes ago, Matt_In_NH said:

He wont be on the team, he will have no dead cap or anything?  The Bills do not have a good amount of cap in 2025, the Bills are 29th with 27 mil in space but that is before they push a ton of money from this year to next year, that will be negative by the time they are done.

 

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cap/2025/

 

I meant Josh Allen, totally messed that post up, my mistake!! 

[dollars 2 donuts]

On 3/3/2024 at 4:42 PM, SoonerBillsFan said:

I think 24 more will come from Allen's conversion of base salary to bonus.  That's still 12+ mill needed, which is very doable. 

 

 

Diggs, too.

 

As they've been saying he may not like it, but the Bills have the full power to convert it.

 

What they might get from his I have no idea.

 

 

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

4 hours ago, BuffaloBill said:

 

 

No to adding more to Morse - he is aging in NFL years and has a concussion history.  

 

So you're going to pay him $11 mil this year?

 

When exactly did he have his last concussion?  Believe he's been 2 seasons without one.

[SoonerBillsFan]

57 minutes ago, dollars 2 donuts said:

 

 

Diggs, too.

 

As they've been saying he may not like it, but the Bills have the full power to convert it.

 

What they might get from his I have no idea.

 

 

I don't touch his contract so we can move on next year if need be.

[BuffaloBill]

29 minutes ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

 

So you're going to pay him $11 mil this year?

 

When exactly did he have his last concussion?  Believe he's been 2 seasons without one.

The basis for you even asking this question is that he was extended once before. The Bills need to stop kicking the can down the road on a 32 year old with a concussion history (no - it does not matter how long ago - whet does matter is his history of them).

 

The Bills, having now traded Bates, are likely to draft his eventual replacement and pay him the $11mil this season.  

[billsfan89]

Josh's 24 million restructure is an easy one. They can cut Harty and have a few other restructures and extensions they can do. The key is can they get to 30-40ish million in space to where they can resign some of their own free agents and maybe add a mid-level Connor McGovern style piece? McBeane manages the roster well. The Bills are usually pretty low in dead cap and they don't carry many "Bad" contracts (the only outright bad contracts they have are Von and Knox and even Knox is not that terrible as while he is overpaid he does play a role well). 

Edited March 5 by billsfan89

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

35 minutes ago, BuffaloBill said:

The basis for you even asking this question is that he was extended once before. The Bills need to stop kicking the can down the road on a 32 year old with a concussion history (no - it does not matter how long ago - whet does matter is his history of them).

 

The Bills, having now traded Bates, are likely to draft his eventual replacement and pay him the $11mil this season.  

 

I'll be surprised if that happens considering the overall cap position they are in.   My bet is an extension with void years.  Initially I thought they may cut Morse and give the job to Bates, but that's not happening now.

 

We shall see!

Edited March 5 by Ed_Formerly_of_Roch

[mjt328]

18 hours ago, GASabresIUFan said:

Bates traded 1.44 saved.  Still 37+ million to go to get to cap compliance.  
 

Many moves to go and so little time. 

 

I've seen several media folks break it down:

• Josh Allen's restructure is already written into his contract and an absolute guarantee at this point.  That will clear over $23 million alone.
• Extending Dion Dawkins and Taron Johnson (both are free agents in 2024) also seem like no-brainer moves.  Those would clear another $10 million plus.
• Make a decision about cornerback between Tre White and Rasul Douglas.  Keep one.  Cut one.  And boom, we are back to a positive number.

That's without putting a significant burden into future years, or making a significant cut from the roster.  Depending on how active we choose to be in free agency, the Bills could clear an additional $30-40 million with additional restructures, cuts, extensions, etc.

 

[GASabresIUFan]

13 minutes ago, mjt328 said:

 

I've seen several media folks break it down:

• Josh Allen's restructure is already written into his contract and an absolute guarantee at this point.  That will clear over $23 million alone.
• Extending Dion Dawkins and Taron Johnson (both are free agents in 2024) also seem like no-brainer moves.  Those would clear another $10 million plus.
• Make a decision about cornerback between Tre White and Rasul Douglas.  Keep one.  Cut one.  And boom, we are back to a positive number.

That's without putting a significant burden into future years, or making a significant cut from the roster.  Depending on how active we choose to be in free agency, the Bills could clear an additional $30-40 million with additional restructures, cuts, extensions, etc.

 

This is all great in theory, but until it’s done, it’s not done. Beane has until 4pm on March 13th to get his top 51 contracts under the 2024 cap. Even if he accomplishes that goal, he still needs to clear another 10-11 million to sign his draft picks and at least 20 mill more to complete his roster unless he chooses to just use draft picks and guys on futures/reserve deals as his depth next season.