The Buffalo Bills have made several hard decisions over the last several days involving plenty of free agents and players under contract. Whether it was outright releases, restructures, pay cuts, or trades, the Bills are reshaping the roster to not only stay competitive but to reinvent themselves with a youth movement.
Several players have been detailed as to whether to stay or go, they will be included in the lists, but below are the remainder of the players’ contracts that have expired. The Bills must decide whether to bring them back or let them find new work elsewhere.
Every player on this list could contribute in 2024 and still be productive to an extent. But whether it is contract, injuries, age, or something else, that may influence whether they call Buffalo home in 2024
Leave & Go Elsewhere
WR Gabe Davis
I like him but I just think the market will be too rich for the Bills to match any significant offers. They have to set their price and move on if Davis finds greener pastures. For more information, check out the link above.
LB Tyler Matakevich
While he hasn’t shown up on the injury report once since he arrived in Buffalo, Matakevich is aging and only has usefulness on special teams. Even after signing a 1-year, $2.5 million contract last year, his price tag may be too rich for the Bills to keep around especially if they cut fellow ST Siran Neal.
DT Jordan Phillips
Phillips came out after locker cleanouts that he believed this might be it terms of discussing retirement. At 31 years old, he has had a hard time staying healthy. He suffered a dislocated wrist that ended his season in 2023 and dealt with a lingering hamstring strain along with a rotator cuff and labrum tears in his shoulder in 2022. Add in the variety of injuries during his time in Arizona, he appears to be at the end of his career and even on a veteran minimum deal, it’s not guaranteed he could make it through the season.
WR Trent Sherfield
Sherfield only suffered a left ankle injury that cost him one game this season but has otherwise been healthy. However, his contract was 1-year, $1.77 million to be here in 2023. While that is not much, he also did not warrant a contract due to rather significant stats. The team could draft someone or bring in another veteran receiver on a minimum deal that could produce more.
DT Linval Joseph
Joseph was signed midway through the season and did not appear on the injury report at all. While he did produce during his time in Buffalo, he is an aging vet who has taken deals midway through the season the last two seasons. If he does return, it would possibly be under a similar situation. Let him hit the market and save his number if they need him back.
RB Latavius Murray
Murray was another player who did not appear on the injury report but is ancient in terms of running backs. While he did have moments this season, he did fade down the stretch in favor of Ty Johnson and Leonard Fournette. Unless Murray wants a camp invite, he’s best to move on elsewhere or retire.
QB Kyle Allen
Despite Allen not seeing meaningful playing time this year, he was still in a position that needed to be upgraded in the event that Josh Allen is unavailable. With the recent signing of QB Mitch Trubisky, Allen would only return if there are injuries if he doesn’t find a home elsewhere.
LB Tyrel Dodson
Dodson could be a player worth bringing back, but the depth on the roster and likely hot market for his services may price the Bills out of bringing him back. For more thoughts, check out the link above.
S Micah Hyde
This is the hardest one to put on this list because of what he meant to the team since 2017. He was a consistent force and elevated his play to heights that no one could have imagined when he signed here.
Unfortunately, he dealt with neck injuries throughout his career and they came to a head in 2022 when he suffered a neck injury severe enough to require a cervical fusion. He did come back in 2023 but suffered a series of stingers that caused him to miss a total of three games.
He also dealt with back and hamstring injuries early in the season and was also suggestive that his body started breaking down. With the release of Jordan Poyer and the injuries that Hyde suffered this year, it would be hard to imagine that he would want to come back to play football.
He could still find another team or re-sign with the Bills, but it’s more likely that he retires. Hopefully, he makes a decision that is in his best interest for him and his family.
It Depends
RB Damien Harris
Harris suffered a concussion and neck injury in Week 6 against the New York Giants when he got hit behind the line on a routine run and went down. He suffered a concussion and potentially also a spinal cord contusion that led to him being stretchered off to be taken to the hospital for further evaluation. He was later placed on injured reserve and did not return for the rest of the season.
He did sign a 1-year, $1.77 million contract after four years in New England. Considering how he ended his season, he may want to come back for another shot on a cheaper contract. On a personal note, he and his wife are expecting their first child and they may want to stay around to create stability for their growing family. Retirement could be an option as well, but where Harris plays next season will be dictated by his decision on his future.
DT Tim Settle
Settle has been with the Bills since 2022 and has been a contributor on the defensive line. He was brought here to hopefully increase his role after playing behind the defensive line in Washington.
While Settle did contribute during his two years in Buffalo, he never really took that next step and was inconsistent. He originally signed a 2-year, $9 million contract, and based on his production, he wouldn’t warrant another contract at that rate. If he wants to come back at a vet minimum contract, that could be reasonable but he potentially wants to go elsewhere for more opportunities.
DT Poona Ford
Ford didn’t see much playing time this year and did not see any time on the injury report. He at times sounded unhappy about his role here but did produce when called upon. He was only on a 1-year deal and may look for another opportunity for more playing time elsewhere.
His return will dictate if the coaching staff provides him with the opportunity to increase his playing time.
I only included Rapp in this group because it did depend on what his role would be on whether he was brought back. With the release of Jordan Poyer and the possible retirement of Micah Hyde, Rapp steps into a starting role next season. That was the only way I felt he was worth bringing back and the Bills felt the same way. For more information, check out the link above.
I like the idea of Floyd coming back, but only if the Bills don’t get into a bidding war. He’s worth the money in my opinion to a certain extent. For more information, check out the link above.
Bring Back
DT Daquan Jones
Jones would be best served to come back as a player at his position age well and he was playing at a high level until his injury. The Bills should make every attempt to re-sign him. For more information, check out the link above.
DE AJ Epenesa
Epenesa could have a hot market if he entertains other offers, but the Bills should make a strong play to re-sign him as they drafted and developed him. He won’t ever be a game-wrecker at the position, but the Bills need steady play and availability on the defensive line. Epenesa gives them that. For more information, check out the link above.
CB Dane Jackson
Another player that will benefit from the turnover in the secondary, Jackson has a strong chance to return in 2024. After getting waived as a seventh-round draft pick in 2020, he bounced between the practice squad and the active roster before finding a home on the 53-man roster in 2021. This has led to him signing shorter contracts at a lesser rate than his initial rookie contract which means he is a free agent now.
Jackson worked through a foot injury earlier this year missing one game. The exact details were never provided but from what I heard through sources, this was plantar fasciitis. He also missed time due to a concussion in Week 11 against the Jets when he took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Jets TE Jeremy Ruckert.
He has mostly been available when called upon and his market value according to Spotrac is $3.1 million AAV. Considering the Bills re-signed Taylor Rapp to a similar AAV deal, they could do the same for Jackson with the idea he can continue in a steady-depth role or compete for a starting spot.
G David Edwards
As the jumbo tight end and reserve lineman, Edwards carved out a nice niche last season. With the trade of Ryan Bates and the release of Mitch Morse, this moves Edwards up to compete for a starting spot. He did come from the Rams with plenty of starting experience and hopefully can slide in nicely. He was re-signed on Wednesday.
DE Shaq Lawson
Lawson has found his home in Buffalo after being drafted here in the first round in 2016. He parlayed strong play into a nice free-agency contract following the 2019 season but never took that next step in his progress. He saw time in Miami, Houston, and New York before finding his way back to Buffalo.
He only missed one game against Jacksonville in Week 5 with a late week toe injury, but otherwise played reasonably well for a depth option. Lawson hasn’t lived up to his first-round draft status but he has proven to be an effective depth option on the defensive line. On the Centered on Buffalo podcast with Eric Wood, Lawson said that he’s chasing a ring and that he’s made his money. This means that Lawson should stick around for a cheap contract to get a championship. Unless the Bills don’t see value in him, I expect him to be back in 2024.
CB Cam Lewis
While Lewis was not someone they drafted, he is another UDFA that they have spent considerable time on and developed. Coming to the team in 2019, Lewis has had several opportunities in the defense and special teams over the years.
Injuries at times have derailed chances for him to see more time on defense, but he has seen significant increases in playing time over the last two seasons. This season saw him miss 0 games and suffer a right shoulder injury that appeared to be an AC joint sprain after he spent three weeks on the injury report. He was also briefly on for a thumb injury but did not miss any time.
With the turnover in the secondary, Lewis has a strong opportunity to step into a starting role or at least a strong depth option. He has been exposed to waivers plenty of times in the past without teams making a move. He could go elsewhere if he feels his market is strong, but the familiarity and stability of Buffalo would make for a nice return. I would expect that his contract comes reasonably priced.
RB Ty Johnson
A late signing in training camp, Johnson spent a portion of the season on the practice squad before getting elevated to the active roster. He proved that he warranted a full-time roster spot once Damien Harris went down with his neck injury.
Once Johnson got on the field, he ran like his hair was on fire. His rough playing style led to a right AC joint sprain against the Cowboys and a concussion in Week 18 against the Dolphins, but he only missed one game due to the shoulder. He had signed a 1-year, $1.08 million contract and proved his value.
The Bills should at the bare minimum bring him back for camp but consider him in their 2024 plans. While they could get a cheaper running back in the draft or free agency, Johnson could be a nice transition piece that knows the offense. Unless he finds a better offer in free agency, he’s best to stick around for at least another year.
TE Quintin Morris
As Morris was an exclusive-rights free agent, the Bills either had the option to re-sign him or he wouldn’t play elsewhere in 2024. They made his signing official on Friday.
Final Thoughts
The Bills have a lot of decisions to make and at the time of this article’s publication, most of these decisions have possibly been made.
Whether to bring back certain players based on injuries or costs are just some of the variables they have to consider. These are some of my thoughts but are not necessarily the right decisions. We will get the results of these decisions very soon that will help shape the 2024 roster.
The NFL is a hard business and injuries sometimes lead to missed chances for some players and opportunities for others.
Top Photo Credit: WHEC.com
