[Misleading Title] Beane doubles 2022 cap space releasing Beasley and Star this offseason

[Inigo Montoya]

Even with the cap going up next year the Bills are only projected to have $9.5 million in cap space in 2022.  I think the development of McKenzie and Harrison Phillips have put Beasley's and Star's roster spot in jeopardy.  Releasing Beasley and Star this offseason will free up over $10 million in cap space, more than doubling what the Bills are projected to have right now.

 

If you look at the Bills cap space / roster next year there isn't a whole lot of fat to trim.  Outside of restructuring deals to make space, I think releasing Beasley and Star are the two places where some real savings can be had.   Beane having $20 million in his pocket to spend next year should give him a lot of flexibility.

 

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/cap/2022/
 

Mckenzie in - Beasley out

2022 Beasley  

Salary-  $7.6 million

Dead Cap Hit-  $1.5 million

 

The way McKenzie stepped up in the Miami game last year and then again this week, I don't think we lose that much letting Beasley go.  If McKenzie can produce again next week versus the Falcons, I think it will be a done deal.  Beasley is going to get paid by someone, and deservedly so, but we have a servicable, inexpensive replacement already on the roster.  More importantly, we have a QB who elevates the play of any WR on the field.  I'm a huge Beasley fan, the guy is a helluva football player, but I think he ends up being traded or released to free up money.   

 

Phillips in - Star out

2022 Star

Salary-  $9.35 million

Dead Cap Hit-  $5.2 million

 

Horrible Harry is coming on strong, and honestly, I think Star just looks like he's finished to me.  I'm not sure what his personal issues were this week, and I wish him the best, but I think Harrison Phillips can take his spot and Ankou has flashed a bit as well.  The Bills can try to find a cheaper run stuffing big guy out there in the draft or free agency.  This is another move I'd be shocked if it doesn't happen.

 

[Saxum]

McKenzie needs to be re-signed before he can replace Beasley.  Would not be bad to do so before playoffs.

[Inigo Montoya]

3 minutes ago, Limeaid said:

McKenzie needs to be re-signed before he can replace Beasley.  Would not be bad to do so before playoffs.

 

You're right.  I forgot McKenzie is on a one year deal.  There are still some savings to be had there if Beane can get McKenzie on a 2-3 year deal around $2.5 -3 million  a year.  Some of you contract gurus out there will have to chime in if that kind of contract seems reasonable.

[SydneyBillsFan]

What about Butler, Addison and Hughes - how much space would that create?

[MJS]

2 minutes ago, SydneyBillsFan said:

What about Butler, Addison and Hughes - how much space would that create?

Hughes is a free agent. Addison has one more year, but there is a note on his contract that the 2022 year automatically voids 23 days before the 2022 league year. Not sure what exactly that means as far as cap implications.

[Matt_In_NH]

48 minutes ago, SydneyBillsFan said:

What about Butler, Addison and Hughes - how much space would that create?

0

[DrPJax]

20 minutes ago, Inigo Montoya said:

Even with the cap going up next year the Bills are only projected to have $9.5 million in cap space in 2022.  I think the development of McKenzie and Harrison Phillips have put Beasley's and Star's roster spot in jeopardy.  Releasing Beasley and Star this offseason will free up over $10 million in cap space, more than doubling what the Bills are projected to have right now.

 

If you look at the Bills cap space / roster next year there isn't a whole lot of fat to trim.  Outside of restructuring deals to make space, I think releasing Beasley and Star are the two places where some real savings can be had.   Beane having $20 million in his pocket to spend next year should give him a lot of flexibility.

 

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/cap/2022/
 

Mckenzie in - Beasley out

2022 Beasley  

Salary-  $7.6 million

Dead Cap Hit-  $1.5 million

 

The way McKenzie stepped up in the Miami game last year and then again this week, I don't think we lose that much letting Beasley go.  If McKenzie can produce again next week versus the Falcons, I think it will be a done deal.  Beasley is going to get paid by someone, and deservedly so, but we have a servicable, inexpensive replacement already on the roster.  More importantly, we have a QB who elevates the play of any WR on the field.  I'm a huge Beasley fan, the guy is a helluva football player, but I think he ends up being traded or released to free up money.   

 

Phillips in - Star out

2022 Star

Salary-  $9.35 million

Dead Cap Hit-  $5.2 million

 

Horrible Harry is coming on strong, and honestly, I think Star just looks like he's finished to me.  I'm not sure what his personal issues were this week, and I wish him the best, but I think Harrison Phillips can take his spot and Ankou has flashed a bit as well.  The Bills can try to find a cheaper run stuffing big guy out there in the draft or free agency.  This is another move I'd be shocked if it doesn't happen.

 

Really overreacting from one game.  Beas is a good vet , tough , let’s see how it plays out.  He is one of the best slot receivers in the league still. Dabolls play calling has limited him , just like he limited mckenzie as this is ONE GOOD game.  Will need depth , also depends on Stevensons development.    Covid willl eventually be handled like the endemic it is becoming, and we will soon have e oral meds to treat its variants just like Tami flu works for influenza.   Cole is an elite route runner, let’s hope we can keep him for the length of his contract.   Let it play out. Mckenzie is not getting a new contract as we are facing the playoffs. It’s not like someone is coming to scoop him off the roster.   Time to be smart , not overreact to single games , and keep moving forward looking at both lines.  
We lost another lineman and he may not be 100% for 9 months or more depending on severity if Achilles tear. He had immediate foot drop so probably tore gastrocnemius opposed to smaller soleus.  Going to take 6 months at least for full recovery So Will need improvement and depth for o line so that becomes a major priority. 

 

I agree tho about Starr. I think his career is ending and it could even happen before the end of the year. Warning signs are present.  At the very least , this is his last Bills year.  There is a lot of time between now and next year and many players contracts have to be dealt with. Work on that part of the roster to free money first, then deal with your star players. 

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

I mean, we've gotten production out of these guys. Don't get me wrong. 

 

Beasley is an excellent safety blanket for Josh, and he has a great ability to beat zone coverage. The problem is that Allen is growing to a point where he doesn't need a safety blanket as much (you always can use one!) and Beasley is getting outstripped by Davis and McKenzie.

 

I don't hate Star. He helps us in the run defense, which is a weakness of ours. But I can't say that his presence means that an opponent's run game gets shut down and he doesn't do all that much.

 

I am ok with cutting both, and replacing with mid-price free agents while drafting to replace. It's the pattern of teams that win long term.

[Albanybillsbacker]

Star will be a post 6/1 cap casualty.  That will spread his dead cap over two seasons instead of all 5.2 in 2022.  So we will save an extra 2.6 million by waiting.  

 

If they draft a LBer, they could do something with Klein too. 

 

Honestly, they have tons of flexibility to create room if they need to.  Beane is pretty good with the cap. I don't think Edmunds is a $12 million dollar middle linebacker.  Maybe they work out a more reasonable long term deal.  I'd love to see a Milano type deal for edmunds.  

[Bruffalo]

If McKenzie can keep getting the amount of separation that he got today in the next two games I'm frankly fine with getting rid of Cole. His speed is dangerous and he showed he has the hands to make plays when it matters.

[Bleedbuffaloblue]

Agree. Seems like a no brained to me.

[TBBills]

Need McKenzie  to be consistent,  he does this all the time. One good game then disappears for a spell. Do not get fooled until they consistently perform.

[Your Brown Eye]

Star yes, Beasley no

[Matt_In_NH]

There will likely some amount of cap casualties...not sure these guys are it, maybe but there are some others too that will get considered.  Personally I think all these guys can still help them make a run this year and I would rather focus on that.  

[Adam727]

I don't really understand which team takes the cap space on a 5th year option... but if the other team takes the salary I'd rather see Beane trade Edmunds and use the draft pick they get to replace him.  I'd rather have Star, Beasley, $4mil, and the draft pick.  

 

Otherwise I could see them cutting Star and/or Beasley.  Although we don't save a ton cutting Star, his dead money is a lot less the following year.  The year off for Covid kind of messed that up a little bit.  

 

The only players on the roster that the Bills save any real money if they cut are Morse, Star, Williams, Beasley, Klein, Feliciano, Matakevich in that order.  

 

However it plays out, I would like to see McKenzie back with the team next year.  

[RichRiderBills]

2 hours ago, Inigo Montoya said:

Even with the cap going up next year the Bills are only projected to have $9.5 million in cap space in 2022.  I think the development of McKenzie and Harrison Phillips have put Beasley's and Star's roster spot in jeopardy.  Releasing Beasley and Star this offseason will free up over $10 million in cap space, more than doubling what the Bills are projected to have right now.

 

If you look at the Bills cap space / roster next year there isn't a whole lot of fat to trim.  Outside of restructuring deals to make space, I think releasing Beasley and Star are the two places where some real savings can be had.   Beane having $20 million in his pocket to spend next year should give him a lot of flexibility.

 

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/cap/2022/
 

Mckenzie in - Beasley out

2022 Beasley  

Salary-  $7.6 million

Dead Cap Hit-  $1.5 million

 

The way McKenzie stepped up in the Miami game last year and then again this week, I don't think we lose that much letting Beasley go.  If McKenzie can produce again next week versus the Falcons, I think it will be a done deal.  Beasley is going to get paid by someone, and deservedly so, but we have a servicable, inexpensive replacement already on the roster.  More importantly, we have a QB who elevates the play of any WR on the field.  I'm a huge Beasley fan, the guy is a helluva football player, but I think he ends up being traded or released to free up money.   

 

Phillips in - Star out

2022 Star

Salary-  $9.35 million

Dead Cap Hit-  $5.2 million

 

Horrible Harry is coming on strong, and honestly, I think Star just looks like he's finished to me.  I'm not sure what his personal issues were this week, and I wish him the best, but I think Harrison Phillips can take his spot and Ankou has flashed a bit as well.  The Bills can try to find a cheaper run stuffing big guy out there in the draft or free agency.  This is another move I'd be shocked if it doesn't happen.

 

 

We are losing Butler, Hughes, Addison....will need to get some DL help. I agree we should resign McKenzie, but need to be patient. Let's not forget he basically lost his job. 

 

This guy came through for us but let's not go wild in thinking he's god.

[Solomon Grundy]

2 hours ago, SydneyBillsFan said:

What about Butler, Addison and Hughes - how much space would that create?

And Morse?

[JimKelly12]

Ever see Rounders?  Allen didn't bite on the Pats gameplan of making him hold and throw deep?

 

Instead of taking the home run he checked down quite a bit yesterday.  Whereas earlier in the year it seemed like the min distance he was looking to throw was 15+ yards per toss.

 

He fed motor the ball and McKenzie who came up huge on shorter high % passes...never connecting on the big play but didn't need to because of efficiency.

 

Point being Beasley shouldn't be crapped on until he plays in a game with a similar gameplan.  I think he is better at finding holes, Mckenzie is clearly more gifted with speed etc..so the whole COVID debate aside if this is how they play headed into the playoffs the next two weeks should be fun for comparison.

 

 

 

 

[frogger]

He offers more in the vertical game,  Which by itself creates separation.  I wouldn’t be surprised seeing our starting 3 WR being Dirty, Davis and Diggs.

We have cap issues, adding a WR in Free agency might not be an option, I’d rather improve the lines and RB and if a vet WR falls into our laps…that’s great.

 

also Dane Jackson will start opposite White.  He has played well and is physical against the run (for a CB)

[CSBill]

Beasley is on his last days in Buffalo, even before yesterday. Signing McKenzie would make that even more probable. I think Beane and McDermott have tolerated him this year because they had to. Next year, they won't do that, especially when a competent replacement is already on the roster.

 

As for Star. I'm withholding judgment. Let's see what this personal issue is. When he is not playing, he is missed. Even yesterday, the run defense was adequate but certainly not great. When he is 100% all-in, he makes a difference. And let's face it, almost every team is trying to find that behemoth athletic guy who can be the run stopper in the middle. Star may not be a star, but he is compelling--and I do not see any easy replacements like in Beasley's case.