The Buffalo Bills have many decisions to make to shape the roster for 2025 and get cap-compliant for the beginning of the league year. Last year, hard decisions were made by letting several veterans go in cost-saving measures to restock the roster. These decisions were expected to allow Buffalo to have a soft reset and potentially a step backward in talent. However, the Bills exceeded expectations and made the AFC Championship game.
Even through all of the successes, decisions must be made to determine who comes back next season and who needs to find a new home. Today’s article will look at potential cap casualties and who may stay or need a restructure/extension from an injury perspective.
Note: All contract data courtesy of Spotrac.
Potential Cut
QB Mitch Trubisky
Trubisky is the easy choice to move on from for 2025 considering his current contract was 2 years, $5.25 million as QB2. While he did get some garbage time play, he did not play consistently because Josh Allen has been incredibly durable. Trubisky did suffer a high-grade MCL sprain in his right knee during the preseason that would have sent many players to injured reserve, but he stayed on the active roster and rehabbed until he was healthy.
His decision to be let go is simply financial and he will find a new home without injuries affecting his market. The Bills will incur a $750,000 dead cap but save $2.5 million.
P Sam Martin
Martin has been the incumbent punter since the 2023 season when he was brought in at the last minute following the release of Matt Araiza. He has been a steady player, especially this season, and can still get the job done when called upon. Injuries have not been an issue outside of when he suffered a hamstring strain in 2023 trying to chase down a special teams tackle that affected his punting against the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round.
He is 34 years old and the team recently signed Jake Camarda for competition this upcoming season. Martin can make nearly $2.5 million if he makes the team but if he is cut, would incur a dead cap hit of $400,000 but save the Bills $2.085 million. The Bills won’t make a decision now until they begin to compete, but there is incentive to move on from Martin if Camadra finds his groove.
LB Baylon Spector
Spector has been a mess injury-wise dating back to college. He battled calf injuries to both sides last year that saw him have two stints on injured reserve. Add in multiple hamstring strains and a back injury in 2023 shows that he continues to have difficulty staying healthy. If he were to be cut, the team would save $1.1 million and only incur a $25,931 dead cap hit.
They don’t necessarily need to cut him immediately, but he would be an easy cut to save some money if they need to create roster space. I’ll be surprised if he makes the active roster in 2025 for the Buffalo Bills.
DT DaQuan Jones
Jones never really bounced back to his pre-injury level after tearing his pectoral muscle early in the 2023 season. That type of injury is not something we typically see a performance decline once they return to the field which makes his production all the more frustrating.
Even during the 2024 season, Jones didn’t miss any games but played through foot and shoulder injuries that lingered midway through the season. That in itself isn’t concerning but he is getting older and the production simply isn’t there anymore. Jones is a 34-year-old player with a lot of miles on him and while I still do believe he can play in the NFL, is he worth his contract? Probably not.
The Bills would be best suited to see if he could take a pay cut or be forced to cut him during roster cut downs which would spread his dead cap hit out and save the team $5.5 million dollars. If they cut him before, they only save $1.7 million. If Jones can guarantee his roster spot for this season, he might be willing to take a pay cut, but otherwise, he may be a casualty of getting older with less production. Injuries may have contributed to Father Time catching up with Jones, but ultimately, he is fading as a player.
EDGE Von Miller
Von Miller was supposed to be IT. Brandon Beane took a swing at bringing in a difference-maker when Miller signed with the Bills in 2022 and it worked until he tore his ACL. Despite his previous history with an ACL tear and a freak ankle injury, there was nothing to suggest he would have suffered another tear. Unfortunately, at his age and positional demands, it took a long time for Miller to get back up to speed. He was simply awful in 2023 and got partially back in 2024 with six sacks.
Remarkably, Miller did not suffer any other injuries during his time here in Buffalo with the ACL tear and decline in performance being the main limitation. The Bills have a difficult decision on what to do in that if they release him now, they incur a $15.4 million cap hit in 2025 but save $8.4 million. If they wait until after June 1st, they could spread that cap out between this year and next and save $17.4 million.
The team also has the opportunity to restructure like he did last year and convert all his money into bonuses which allow him to stay on the team but have the chance to earn the money back. Miller could sign elsewhere and play a few more years, but if he can stay here, help the younger guys develop, and finish his career here, that may be better than trying to be a 36-year-old player looking for one last shot. Given his age and lack of injuries besides the ACL, he would do best to stay here under a restructure unless Beane decides they want to move on.
DE AJ Epenesa
Epenesa has been a steady depth option at defensive end but has never really taken that next step as the pass rusher he was drafted to be. His skill set is more of a limiting factor rather than his injuries. Despite not suffering any injuries in 2024, he dealt with a quad and rib cartilage injury in 2023, none in 2022, along with a foot and ankle injury in 2021 along with a concussion in 2020, he has had relatively minor injuries.
He proved the team right by staying healthy following his 2023 contract extension. He is acceptable depth heading into 2025, but if the Bills think he simply isn’t worth the money anymore, they could cut him before March 16 and save $3.3 million while incurring a $4.1 million dead cap. If they keep him after March 16, there is no financial benefit. He could be a cap casualty especially if a trade for a bigger player like Myles Garrett is made or if the team extends Greg Rousseau. He is a very serviceable defensive end, but he may have reached his peak.
Can’t Cut
WR Curtis Samuel
This section seems almost like an oxymoron in that Samuel’s contract keeps him around but his health should see him leave. Samuel spent an astonishing 13 weeks on the injury report with some type of injury during the season. He dealt with turf toe in the preseason, a foot injury in Week 5, a right pectoral strain in Week 7, another issue with his turf toe and foot, and a rib injury in Week 15. He missed a total of three games but was highly ineffective all season besides an occasional burst of production.
At the time, I didn’t believe this was a great contract that he signed at 3 years, $24 million last year. He lived up to why this was not a great contract and now the Bills are stuck. Cutting his isn’t an option as they would incur a $11.085 million dead cap hit and add $3.02 million in dead cap. Even a post-June 1 cut only saves them $1.43 million. Furthermore, his contract is already guaranteed as he was on the roster one day after the Super Bowl. The only way the Bills could move on from him is a trade but I don’t think anyone trades for him straight up.
Samuel will be a Buffalo Bill in 2025 with the hope that he will increase his production heading into the season. Right now, Samuel was a huge waste of money despite the market stating he was worth that much. The Bills would be wise to not alter anything about his contract.
CB Kaiir Elam
There is no benefit to cutting Elam while he is on a rookie deal. Doing so would cost the team $4.3 million in dead cap and not provide any savings. Considering he has had a pair of ankle bone bruises in his first two seasons and a labrum tear this past season, injuries are beginning to mount.
He is damaged goods and the only way he is not a Buffalo Bill in 2025 is if he is traded. Hopefully, the Bills can do something for him and get him into a better situation via trade rather than keeping him as a depth option in 2025. Until then, he will be on the team.
TE Dawson Knox
Knox will stick around in 2025 despite only catching 22 passes for 311 yards and 1 touchdown and being paid $12 million a season. Looking back at his contract, it was certainly too high for the level of production and his injury history. However, he appears to have turned a corner, suffering only an ankle injury this year after missing time last year with a wrist ligament tear, back, and quad injuries in 2023, and foot, back, hip, hamstring, and hip pointer injuries in 2022.
The Bills do have a chance to get out of his contract in 2026 with a $7.4 million cap hit but if he manages to stay healthy, he may still be a primary target if Dalton Kincaid doesn’t take that next step.
Staying on Roster
G David Edwards
After coming from Los Angeles as a free agent with concussion concerns, Edwards has not appeared on the injury report over the last two seasons. He did a fine job starting at left guard this year and shows no concerns moving forward. While he carries a $4.9 million cap hit heading into 2025, his availability and experience indicate that he should be a key contributor once again.
S Taylor Rapp
Rapp took over as a starting safety and proved his worth but suffered several injuries including a concussion, back, and hip issues. he also indirectly injured Taron Johnson and Rasul Douglas which cost both players time.
After signing a contract extension last offseason, he could be cut before March 16 to save $2.3 million and incur a dead cap hit of $1.3 million. I think cutting him would do more harm than good as this would create a void at safety if Hamlin moves on in free agency.
LB Matt Milano
Milano’s case may be the trickiest out of the players whether to keep. He has been injured often throughout his career and he is coming off a right tibial plateau fracture in 2023 and a distal biceps tear in 2024. His injury history is long and he will be 30 years old heading into the 2025 season. The common sense approach would be to cut Milano and move on, but he started to flash during the final part of the season once he finally returned.
Even when he does return, the biceps is not the issue, it is how his leg will continue responding. The biceps bought him more time for the leg to heal but the toll of what is 15-20 years of football may catch up to him.
This may be unpopular, but give Milano an offseason to actually train instead of focusing on rehab. I believe he can bounce back and provide the Bills a solid season to live up to his contract. He won’t reach his All-Pro level, but a step above replacement-level starter should be the goal. Pair him one full season with Terrel Bernard and maximize what they can do together.
If he still doesn’t bounce back, then it’s a far more cut-and-dry decision for the Bills to move on from him in 2026.
K Tyler Bass
Bass has had his struggles over the last two years which isn’t uncommon at his position but not what you want to deal with when you’re paying him just over $5 million a season on average. Injuries have not been an issue for him over his career, he just needs to play up to the level of his contract.
While there is no competition on the roster yet, I expect the Bills to bring in another UDFA to compete for the job so that the competition can push Bass for 2025.
CB Ja’Marcus Ingram
Ingram is an exclusive rights free agent which means the team has full control of his contract and either decides if they want to re-sign him or he doesn’t play in 2025. He has played well coming up from a UDFA and he has not dealt with any injuries since his time on the active roster.
CB Cam Lewis
Lewis has been a very dependable depth option for the Bills since he assumed a larger role beginning in 2022. He has been relatively healthy, not missing a game over the last three seasons. This is despite dealing with a right forearm chronic bone infection dating back to when he broke his arm in college in 2022 followed by a right shoulder/stinger injury and thumb in 2023. Finally, in 2024, he dealt with a right shoulder injury later in the season but his play has not greatly suffered.
He is entering the final year of his contract and another strong year should lead to another contract extension. Currently, there is no need to change anything after signing last year.
C Connor McGovern
McGovern has been a steady presence on the offensive line when he began his Bills career as a guard in 2023 before moving to center this past season. He has been incredibly healthy, only suffering a pair of AC joint sprains this past year with the left one putting him on the injury report briefly during the playoffs.
He is entering the final year of his deal and I would hope can get extended to free up some cap space. He is a safe bet to keep around with minimal injury concerns.
DT Ed Oliver
Oliver signed his extension before the 2023 season which locked him in until 2027. He did miss two games due to a hamstring strain in practice this past season and had a toe injury in 2023 and a high-ankle sprain in 2022. He has been fairly durable otherwise and his contract does have a potential out in 2026.
The Bills are better served to restructure or extend him to free up cap space as he continues to be fairly healthy.
CB Taron Johnson
Despite missing four games due to injury followed by a fifth due to a healthy scratch, Johnson worked through several injuries in 2024. A right forearm fracture that cost him four games and a neck/shoulder injury that limited him late in the season led to his decline in performance after an All-Pro nod last year. While he has had his injuries, he is not going anywhere for the time being as he is signed through 2027.
He does have a notable injury history including five concussions which could factor into his future. There are potential outs after the 2025 season, but Johnson should continue his high level of play barring injury into 2025. If injuries begin to increase, then a deeper discussion can be had. The team may be best served to leave things as is for now contract-wise.
OT Dion Dawkins
Dawkins is as healthy as they come, having only missed one game since 2022 due to a high-ankle sprain. He signed a contract extension in 2020 and has since restructured twice to push his cap number out to 2027 but he is not going anywhere for the time being.
OT Spencer Brown
He signed a huge extension last year and has proven to be one of the best young offensive tackles in the game. Outside of restructuring to free up cap space, he’s not going anywhere.
QB Josh Allen
He’s the NFL MVP. He deserved a contract extension which will help the cap and should never be in another uniform other than the Buffalo Bills.
Final Thoughts
Brandon Beane certainly has a lot of options when looking at players to cut, players to restructure or ask for a pay cut, and then players to extend or keep at their current contracts. There is roster turnover every year and this is simply the latest iteration. Some decisions are pretty straightforward while others may require more thought.
The worst thing they can do is hold onto players who are no longer performing or sucking up financial resources that can be used elsewhere. They showed last year they were not afraid to make the tough moves and we could see similar moves if they have some big targets in free agency.
We will see what happens when free agency hits beginning on March 10 as the 2025 Buffalo Bills take shape.
Top Photo Credit: USA Today
Discover more from Banged Up Bills
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
