Bills Make Bold Salary Cap Moves And Dolphins, Chargers, Saints, Broncos, Cowboys, Ravens And 49ers Are Next

One way to describe what the Buffalo Bills did on Wednesday is to call it a salary cap reset. Yes, artful.

Another way to describe it is to call it a bloodletting.

The Bills cut starting safety Jordan Poyer. They cut starting center Mitch Morse. They released core special team player Siran Neal and kick returner Nyheim Hines, as well as receiver Deonte Harty. Then the Bills set a post-June 1 release on starting cornerback Tre'Davious White, who has had consecutive season-ending injuries in 2022 and '23.

That wasn't all.

The Bills then reduced edge rusher Von Miller's pay to save $8.645 in cap space.

Von Miller #40  looks on during Bills training camp. (Photo by Joshua Bessex/Getty Images)

 Bills Perform Salary Cap Surgery

The Bills, in perhaps the NFL's worst salary cap situation at the start of the day, amputated approximately $40.6 million off their cap and are now within distance of cap compliance. And because the White move will give them an additional $4 million in cap space after June 1, they can use that money to sign their draft class then if necessary. 

The Bills still have to cut approximately $7 million more off their cap to reach the $255.4 million salary cap limit, but that should happen fairly easily – so much so that Buffalo already signed safety Taylor Rapp to a three-year contract extension and intends to sign Mitch Trubisky as their backup QB.

So this was salary cap surgery. But it was surgery from the 1860s when doctors used whiskey and saws.

And what we witnessed in Buffalo will happen to some degree with more than half-a-dozen other NFL teams currently over the cap. They similarly need to make moves to get into cap compliance by the start of the league year at 4 p.m. on March 13.

So what might that look like for those teams needing to make such moves? Check out the teams and their possible moves:

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 16: Joey Bosa #97 of the Los Angeles Chargers runs around the edge during an NFL football game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Dallas Cowboys at SoFi Stadium on October 16, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Is Joey Bosa A Cap Casualty?

Chargers ($29 million over the cap)

EDGE Joey Bosa : He's only 28 and still is a dangerous pass rusher when he's healthy. The problem is he's rarely been healthy the past two seasons. He suffered a foot injury Nov. 22 and didn't play the remainder of the season, missing the final seven games. Bosa has missed 20 games the past two seasons and there can be little certainty the injury plague will stop in a season he's scheduled to cost $36.6 million against the cap. The Chargers can save $14.3 million on a release or trade pre-June 1 and save $22 million in a post-June 1 cut or trade.

WR Keenan Allen: The production is still there, as his 1,243 yards and 7 TDs last year proved. But he's about to turn 32, and he's in the final year of his contract. So moving on one year earlier may be better than waiting a year too late. Plus cutting or trading him (if the team can find any takers) would save $23.1 million in cap space.

EDGE Khalil Mack: The problem is not his production because he collected a career-high 17 sacks last year. The problem is he's 33-years-old, he's in the final year of his contract, and he's scheduled to cost $38.5 million against the cap. So the Chargers have some choices. They can cut or try to trade Mack and save $23.25 million in cap space. They can try to extend Mack – if they can agree to a reasonable team-friendly number – or try to cut his pay to lower his cap number. Prideful veterans rarely go for such moves when they think they can make more on the open market. 

WR Mike Williams: The Chargers probably will not address both Allen and Williams, but one or the other makes sense. And Williams, while a couple of years younger, has been less productive and more often injured. That was the case last year when he played only three games. The Chargers can save $20 million in cap space by releasing or trading Williams. But a trade seems the harder option to fathom, given his $20 million cost to a new team and the fact he's in the final year of his contract.

Tyreek Hill will start wearing socks, to try to avoid getting more fines/ (Getty Images)

Hill Move Would Be Easy

Dolphins ($28 million over the cap)

The Dolphins have already tried to slash Xavien Howard's salary, and failing that, will release him. They've also released defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah and linebacker Jerome Baker. So, what now?

WR Tyreek Hill: He's not going anywhere despite the fact he's now 30 and has had some off-the-field civil issues, including a pending one that will almost certainly go away. He's scheduled to cost $31 million on the cap, but the club can save $12 million of that with a simple contract restructure.

CB Jalen Ramsey: Another 30-year-old not going anywhere. The Dolphins can save $18.667 million with a restructure.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 02: Taysom Hill #7 of the New Orleans Saints runs the ball against the Dallas Cowboys during an NFL game at Caesars Superdome on December 02, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Taysom Hill A Luxury For Saints

Saints ($21 million over the cap)

Spec Taysom Hill: He's a luxury from years ago that the team seemingly cannot afford anymore. Cutting him with a post-June 1 designation would save $10 million. Hill is 34-years-old.

OT Ryan Ramczyk: If they want to simply save as much as possible, NOLA can release him and save $17 million, but that would mean a very good right tackle is gone and no one is on the roster as an obvious upgrade. The more likely move is restructuring his contract and moving money into the future while saving $11.8 million in cap space in 2024.

RB Alvin Kamara: The receiving numbers dropped after 2020 and the rushing yards dropped some last year. But he's still only 28-years-old and a threat. The easy move here is a restructure that saves $8 million in cap space. 

LB Demario Davis: If the Saints were starting over, this would be the place to cut a 35-year-old linebacker and save up to $12 million in cap space. But the Saints ain't starting over. Davis is still productive, and a restructure will push money into the future but save almost $8.1 million in cap space this year.

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 1: Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy #10 of the Denver Broncos warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on October 1, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois.  (Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images)

Jeudy Trade Makes Sense For Broncos

Broncos ($20 million over the cap)

LT Garett Bolles: He's done nothing wrong and has performed well enough to keep. But if Sean Payton were to get a wild hair idea, he could cut the player who'll be 32 years old soon and save $16 million in cap space in one curious but effective move.

RT Mike McGlinchey: The Broncos can save $10.4 million in a restructure and, because he's only 29 and was more than solid last year, that move makes sense.

SS Justin Simmons: He's a former Pro Bowl player but cutting him saves $14.5 million.

WR Courtland Sutton: He was a Pro Bowl receiver in 2019 but hasn't been that good since. Cutting him with a post-June 1 designation would save $13.5 million. Trading him would save $9.7 million and bring a mid-to-lower round draft pick. Maybe.

WR Jerry Jeudy: Trading him would save the club $12.987 million, which is great. But who is going to take an inconsistent wide receiver on an expiring contract and give up a pick for him? 

Dak Prescott celebrates with Michael Gallup during the third quarter against the New York Giants. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

Gallup Production Not Matching Cap Hit

Cowboys ($13.6 million over the cap)

DE DeMarcus Lawrence: He's been a Pro Bowl player each of the last two seasons but hasn't been dynamic since, oh, 2018. The Cowboys can save $10 million on a post-June 1 cut but is Sam Williams ready to step up?

RG Zack Martin: Restructuring the contract of a 34-year-old player is tough business because the club will likely have him on the books well past his playing days. But the Cowboys can save $12.5 million in a restructure here.

WR Michael Gallup: He's a 400-yard-ish receiver getting paid like a 700-yard-ish receiver. Cutting him post-June 1 saves $9.5 million. 

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 28: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs scrambles under pressure from Justin Madubuike #92 of the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter in the AFC Championship Game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Franchise Tag Killing Ravens

Ravens ($12.5 million over the cap)

DT Justin Madubuike: He's costing $22 million on the non-exclusive franchise tag. It's pretty simple … sign him to a multi-year deal and that will lower the cap hit. The issue is negotiating that contract, which might take a few weeks.

QB Lamar Jackson: A quickie restructure here saves $11 million.

CB Marlon Humphrey: He played only 10 games last season and was extremely limited in the playoffs, missing one game and playing only 13 snaps in the AFC Championship game loss to Kansas City. So it can be argued the microscope should be on him because that's a gaudy $22.8 million cap charge on him. But the Ravens extended him in 2020 because he's very good (when healthy) and a great leader.  

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 03: Arik Armstead #91 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes the line of scrimmage during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 3, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images)

Time For 49ers To Reallocate Cap Charges

49ers ($3.5 million over the cap)

DT Arik Armstead: He's solid, good even. But a post-June 1 cut frees up $18 million in cap space. What if the 49ers can use that money to add Joey Bosa?

DT Javon Hargrave: A simple restructure can save $6.2 million in cap space.

RB Christian McCaffrey: Another restructure candidate, with nearly $8.1 million in cap space saved by the exercise.

FB: Kyle Juszczyk: Yes, the 49ers feel they need a fullback for their offense. But he's the highest paid FB in the NFL, is 33-years-old, and the club can save $6.25 million with a post-June 1 release. It probably doesn't even have to go that far. A pay cut makes sense here.