Breaking; Bills Trade Proposal Ships $120 Million EDGE After ‘Problem’ Season
One analyst predicts that the Buffalo Bills may make an even larger salary cap reduction move this offseason, following their previous significant efforts to cut costs.
Several veteran players, such as safety Jordan Poyer and cornerback Tre’Davious White, along with center Mitch Morse were released by the team. These releases resulted in nearly $30 million saved in salary cap overall. Additionally, top receiver Stefon Diggs was traded to the Houston Texans by the Bills.
According to Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report, trading Von Miller may be the team’s next move. Despite agreeing to a pay cut, Miller is still expected to have a significant impact on the salary cap with his $15.2 million cost for 2024 especially as he continues to struggle in returning from injury after tearing his ACL.
According to Ballentine, although his new contract offers ample incentives that could enable him to pocket a staggering $20 million this season, Miller’s ability to reign as a prominent edge rusher at 35 years old has presumably come and gone.
The Bills could save $8.8 million through trade.
According to Ballentine, the Bills could potentially save about $8.8 million against their cap if they were to trade Miller beyond June 1st. This move would enable them to distribute the dead cap expense throughout two subsequent seasons. It may prove valuable later on when fresh requirements emerge in upcoming periods, as per Ballentine’s observation.
Ballentine stated that the amount of money provided would enable the Bills to establish an in-season reserve fund, which could be utilized for signing players and even trading before the deadline. Miller’s $1.5 million base salary for this season might still make him a viable candidate despite his performance decline.
Last season, Miller found it difficult to create pressure against rival quarterbacks and consequently descended to the bottom of his team’s defensive line rotation.
In the 2023 campaign, Miller’s performance was far from impressive as he failed to justify his value. Due to injuries, he only played in 12 games and didn’t manage to get a sack while being involved in just about one-third of snaps which contributed towards the defensive issues, elaborated Ballentine.
Bills Prepared to Make Tough Decisions
This offseason, Bills’ GM Brandon Beane has made some tough calls regarding the roster. One such decision was trading Diggs to the Texans mere weeks after losing their second receiver Gabe Davis to free agency.
Beane clarified that it was imperative for the team to eliminate the hefty contract of their receiver and preferred to do so promptly. The Bills successfully acquired a second-round draft pick by trading Diggs presently.
During his appearance on The Athletic Football Show, Beane expressed that they believe in competing and taking action immediately instead of delaying it until next year. He emphasized avoiding splitting up the resources too much as it could result in a financial burden throughout the upcoming season. Continuously being reminded about how much money is still unused would only be problematic for them, akin to having an albatross hanging around their neck all year long.
By trading Miller, the team could experience a comparable outcome where they end up with some dead cap at present but gain increased flexibility in the future.
