Indianapolis, Ind. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Bills are approximately $20 million over the 2023 salary cap, and have to be compliant by the start of the new league year on March 15.
To do that, general manager Brandon Beane will have some tough decisions to make, while also getting creative.
There will most likely be players released as there are every year to save money, but Beane has the option of restructuring other players’ contracts, as well, to help shave that number.
“Probably more restructuring than outright releases,” Beane told One Bills Live on WGR on Tuesday from the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. “Not to say no one will be released, but we are definitely looking at everything. We've got our plan kind of laid out, working through that with certain players’ representatives and things like that.”
Beane said the team will strongly consider restructuring quarterback Josh Allen's contract to reduce his cap hit. Allen is scheduled to have a base salary of $27.5 million in 2023. The team can convert a large chunk of that into a signing bonus, enabling them to spread that money out over the duration of the next five years.
“Obviously we've got to create money to be able to add some players back and then sign your draft picks and all the above, so (we are) working through that right now and those conversations will continue between now and the start of the league year.”
The Bills will get under the salary cap by March 15. They have to. But they'd also like to create enough space to sign free agents, including some of their own. Notably, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and safety Jordan Poyer. Beane addressed their situations Tuesday.
“We'll have dialogue with those guys,” Beane said. “I don't want to get into how deep we are with either but yes, we will have dialogue, if we haven't already with their reps. I spoke to those guys at the end of the season, and they know we love them, and respect them, and appreciate them, and this is the business part.”
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