Bills Player Releases and Restructures--New League Year Begins 3/12/25

[jahnyc]

The Bills will need to be cap compliant by 4 pm (ET) on March 12th.  At this point, we have the release of Sam Martin, the non-tendering of Quintin Morris and the apparent conversations with Miller regarding his situation for 2025 and a possible compensation reduction.

 

I am surprised that we have not heard about any restructures, which must be coming to get under the cap, although there seems to be limited options for player restructures this year outside of Allen, Dawkins and Oliver.

 

I think there may be some surprise releases and players accepting reduced compensation before Wednesday.  It has been too quiet.

[BillsFanForever19]

21 minutes ago, jahnyc said:

The Bills will need to be cap compliant by 4 pm (ET) on March 12th.  At this point, we have the release of Sam Martin, the non-tendering of Quintin Morris and the apparent conversations with Miller regarding his situation for 2025 and a possible compensation reduction.

 

I am surprised that we have not heard about any restructures, which must be coming to get under the cap, although there seems to be limited options for player restructures this year outside of Allen, Dawkins and Oliver.

 

I think there may be some surprise releases and players accepting reduced compensation before Wednesday.  It has been too quiet.

 

Yes, it is a little surprising that Free Agency opens on Monday (officially on Wednesday) and it's basically Saturday now and no big restructures or cuts have happened as of yet and we're still over the cap.

 

He's cutting it really close to the wire this year.

[billsfan89]

4 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

Yes, it is a little surprising that Free Agency opens on Monday (officially on Wednesday) and it's basically Saturday now and no big restructures or cuts have happened as of yet and we're still over the cap.

 

He's cutting it really close to the wire this year.

 

Have teams done many restructures and major roster moves? I have seen a few like Devante Adams being released but I haven't seen much news about teams doing restructures and such. But maybe it's being reported and I am just focused on the Bills. 

[jahnyc]

I have not seen many restructures or roster moves disclosed for teams so far, certainly less than I would have expected at this point.  I would think teams need to know what kind of flexibility they will have to sign free agents with the negotiating window opening on Monday and then needing to be cap compliant by Wednesday.

[DCofNC]

It will be interesting to see who’s restructured and who’s just flat out released.  Allen could be extended as could Dawkins, I won’t be shocked to see some big names walking out the door.

[jahnyc]

Doesn't look like there are many options on our roster for outright release to free up significant cap space, other than Miller.  Wondering if the Bills are trying to get Milano to reduce his cap number.  Not suggesting the Bills do this, but if the Bills cut Milano with a post June 1st designation, it would free up almost $10 million (cutting him now (i.e., pre June 1st) would negatively impact our cap situation).  Edwards, if released now, would free up about $4 million in cap space.  Milano and Edwards would be my two surprise cuts, but I hope neither are released.

[Virgil]

Von and Josh alone could get us far under the cap.   I’m sure they are prioritizing Von first.  Then they will work on Josh as needed 

[BillsFanForever19]

2 hours ago, jahnyc said:

Doesn't look like there are many options on our roster for outright release to free up significant cap space, other than Miller.  Wondering if the Bills are trying to get Milano to reduce his cap number.  Not suggesting the Bills do this, but if the Bills cut Milano with a post June 1st designation, it would free up almost $10 million (cutting him now (i.e., pre June 1st) would negatively impact our cap situation).  Edwards, if released now, would free up about $4 million in cap space.  Milano and Edwards would be my two surprise cuts, but I hope neither are released.

 

Post June 1st doesn't get us under the cap now. We don't get that cap space until after June 1st. 

 

I would expect them to do something with Milano's contract. But I don't see him being cut.

 

Edwards was part of the best Offensive Line we've had under this regime. You're not messing with that. Edwards is a bargain for what he's bringing. You'd be hard pressed finding a new Guard on the 4m he'd save. He's not going anywhere.

[Pete]

30 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

Post June 1st doesn't get us under the cap now. We don't get that cap space until after June 1st. 

 

I would expect them to do something with Milano's contract. But I don't see him being cut.

 

Edwards was part of the best Offensive Line we've had under this regime. You're not messing with that. Edwards is a bargain for what he's bringing. You'd be hard pressed finding a new Guard on the 4m he'd save. He's not going anywhere.

I suspect Tyson Grable is too talented to keep off the field, and eventually wins LG this year.  Bills have a surplus of talented OL in a dearth of quality OL in the NFL.  Bills trade an OL or 2 for draft picks

[BillsFanForever19]

15 minutes ago, Pete said:

I suspect Tyson Grable is too talented to keep off the field, and eventually wins LG this year.  Bills have a surplus of talented OL in a dearth of quality OL in the NFL.  Bills trade an OL or 2 for draft picks

 

TYLAN Grable is an Offensive Tackle. We always carry 4 and he's our 4th. He played Tackle in College and played Tackle in the Pre-Season and he played Tackle in Week 18. He also spent most of his Rookie year on IR. Predicting a 6th Rounder who played in 4 total games is going to switch positions and immediately become a Starter is a wild take.

 

I don't see them converting him to Guard and I certainly don't see them thinking David Edwards needs to be replaced. He'll be at Tackle in Training Camp. And they're not going to want to mess with the continuity of an Offensive Line that was as good as it's ever been.

 

There's many ways we can come up with Cap. We finally got a good OL. Let's leave that alone.

 

Edited Saturday at 08:51 AM by BillsFanForever19

[Pete]

31 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

TYLAN Grable is an Offensive Tackle. We always carry 4 and he's our 4th. He played Tackle in College and played Tackle in the Pre-Season and he played Tackle in Week 18. He also spent most of his Rookie year on IR. Predicting a 6th Rounder who played in 4 total games is going to switch positions and immediately become a Starter is a wild take.

 

I don't see them converting him to Guard and I certainly don't see them thinking David Edwards needs to be replaced. He'll be at Tackle in Training Camp. And they're not going to want to mess with the continuity of an Offensive Line that was as good as it's ever been.

 

There's many ways we can come up with Cap. We finally got a good OL. Let's leave that alone.

 

I know Grable is a T, but like I stated I believe he is too talented to keep out of starting lineup.  Grable will not supplant Brown or Deon.  It is not uncommon to move Tackles inside.  Grable makes our OL bigger inside.

 

Dawkins- Grable-Connor-Torrence-Brown

 

Edwards

Van Pran Granger

Alec Anderson

Edwards

Van Dermark

Clayton

Gourage

 

This is 12 quality OL.  How many OL are you going to roster?  Like I stated, there is a shortage of decent OL in the NFL.  I don’t want to give away 2-3 OL to opponents. So it would be wise to trade a couple, and gain additional draft picks(which could be packaged on draft day for higher draft picks).

 

Bills have too many quality OL, and that is a wonderful problem.

 

 

Edited Saturday at 09:22 AM by Pete

[Pete]

Van DeMark

Gouraige

Clayton

Grable

Dion

Brown = 6OT

[GunnerBill]

6 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

Yes, it is a little surprising that Free Agency opens on Monday (officially on Wednesday) and it's basically Saturday now and no big restructures or cuts have happened as of yet and we're still over the cap.

 

He's cutting it really close to the wire this year.

 

But remember Beane said they were only around $4m over at the Combine when a lot of the sites were projecting $10m over. So there might not be as much work to do as some expect to just get cap compliant. Now getting to a place where they have space to make moves is different. But based on what Beane said last week if they cut Von today they are there. 

[BillsFanForever19]

35 minutes ago, Pete said:

I know Grable is a T, but like I stated I believe he is too talented to keep out of starting lineup.  Grable will not supplant Brown or Deon.  It is not uncommon to move Tackles inside.  Grable makes our OL bigger inside.

 

Dawkins- Grable-Connor-Torrence-Brown

 

Edwards

Van Pran Granger

Alec Anderson

Edwards

Van Dermark

Clayton

Gourage

 

This is 12 quality OL.  How many OL are you going to roster?  Like I stated, there is a shortage of decent OL in the NFL.  I don’t want to give away 2-3 OL to opponents. So it would be wise to trade a couple, and gain additional draft picks(which could be packaged on draft day for higher draft picks).

 

Bills have too many quality OL, and that is a wonderful problem.

 

You're acting like Undrafted Practice Squad Players, International Pathway Program Players, 6th and 7th Rounders are Pro Bowlers.

 

Clayton is still learning how to play Football and spent the entire year on IR. Grable is a Late 6th Rounder from UCF that also spent the majority of his Rookie year on IR. Gouraige is an Undrafted FA that has been cut two years in a row and could have been signed by anyone in the league and has lived in the Practice Squad.

 

These guys are nice developmental players. But they aren't "Oh my god - we have to have them in the Starting Lineup now" guys. 

 

I'm a little perplexed by the "Tylan Grable is so talented, we have to get him on the field and supplant a solid starter right now, at another position" take you have right now. He was essentially redshirted after Week 3 for 3 months on IR for a Groin injury. Only dressed for 4 games all last year.

 

He's a 6th Round developmental OT player. That's the type of prospect that's ceiling is generally a Backup. That's what he is right now and what he'll be. He's shown some flashes in Pre-Season and spot duty. But he hasn't done anything thus far that has me thinking he needs to be in the Starting Lineup immediately.

 

Dawkins

Edwards

McGovern

Torrence

Brown

-

Van Demark

Anderson

Van-Pran Granger

Grable

 

That's your OL for the 53. Same as it was at year end last year. Again, we *finally* had a very good Offensive Line. I can't fathom feeling like "yeah, we need to mess with this".

Edited Saturday at 09:54 AM by BillsFanForever19

[GunnerBill]

55 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

TYLAN Grable is an Offensive Tackle. We always carry 4 and he's our 4th.

 

He's actually our 3rd. He was the swing tackle when healthy last year. Van Demark was actually OT4. 

 

I agree with you on making him a guard though. Technically as well I worry a bit whether he has the knee bend for it. He plays a bit upright which is easier to get away with at tackle.

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

You're acting like Undrafted Practice Squad Players, International Pathway Program Players, 6th and 7th Rounders are Pro Bowlers.

 

Clayton is still learning how to play Football and spent the entire year on IR. Grable is a Late 6th Rounder from UCF that also spent the majority of his Rookie year on IR. Gouraige is an Undrafted FA that has been cut two years in a row and could have been signed by anyone in the league and has lived in the Practice Squad.

 

These guys are nice developmental players. But they aren't "Oh my god - we have to have them in the Starting Lineup now" guys. 

 

I'm a little perplexed by the "Tylan Grable is so talented, we have to get him on the field and supplant a solid starter right now, at another position" take you have right now. He was essentially redshirted after Week 3 for 3 months on IR for a Groin injury. Only dressed for 4 games all last year.

 

He's a 6th Round developmental OT player. That's the type of prospect that's ceiling is generally a Backup. That's what he is right now and what he'll be. He's shown some flashes in Pre-Season and spot duty. But he hasn't done anything thus far that has me thinking he needs to be in the Starting Lineup immediately.

 

Dawkins

Edwards

McGovern

Torrence

Brown

-

Van Demark

Anderson

Van-Pran Granger

Grable

 

That's your OL for the 53. Same as it was at year end last year. Again, we *finally* had a very good Offensive Line. I can't fathom feeling like "yeah, we need to mess with this".

 

I'm 100% with you on everything except Grable's ceiling. I love Grable. I suspect if he ever got on the field you'd never get him off again. But there is no need to mess with the chemistry of the current Oline right now. And Edwards wasn't the weakest member of the starting group anyway - Cybo was. So to take a good guard off the field to put a year 2 tackle who has never played guard in his place? Doesn't make a ton of sense. 

 

I am with you on those 9 locked into their spots going into the season. The only serious roster question for me is do they keep a 10th? If they do it will be instead of an extra tight end of DL or LB not instead of one of those nine guys.

[BuffaloBillyG]

3 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

Post June 1st doesn't get us under the cap now. We don't get that cap space until after June 1st. 

 

I would expect them to do something with Milano's contract. But I don't see him being cut.

 

Edwards was part of the best Offensive Line we've had under this regime. You're not messing with that. Edwards is a bargain for what he's bringing. You'd be hard pressed finding a new Guard on the 4m he'd save. He's not going anywhere.

Milano, Von and Samuel are 3 IMO to watch for possible pay cuts.

 

While it's true post June 1st cuts don't help immediately, they do allow you to not have to hold money for your draft picks and 2 and wave of free agency. So you can spend more of what you do have and worry about the rest with post June 1st money. A little robbing Peter to pay Paul action.

[BuffaloRebound]

Millers situation is the only thing that needs to be settled for Bills to be cap compliant by march 12th.  I assume any other cuts would’ve already happened as Beane likes to do right by his players to not screw them over before teams start committing their money to players on Monday.  

[davefan66]

7 minutes ago, BuffaloRebound said:

Millers situation is the only thing that needs to be settled for Bills to be cap compliant by march 12th.  I assume any other cuts would’ve already happened as Beane likes to do right by his players to not screw them over before teams start committing their money to players on Monday.  

To be compliant. Need some big moves cap wise if they want to acquire big contracts via FA or trades.

[BuffaloRebound]

2 minutes ago, davefan66 said:

To be compliant. Need some big moves cap wise if they want to acquire big contracts via FA or trades.

Yes, but Beane always operates on a pay as you go method in terms of restructures.  No need to create cap space until you need it.  It also helps him manage free agency expectations from both the fans and agents.  If your showing your up against the cap, fans can’t cry as loudly about not bringing in free agents and agents can’t try to bend you over as much in negotiations.