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

[davefan66]

8 minutes ago, BuffaloRebound said:

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.  

Fans who understand the cap understand that with one quick swoop of the pen restructuring or extending Josh opens space enough to go FA hunting or swing a trade.

 

That and addressing Bon with a few more extensions and cuts gets you the cap space they need to make moves.  Space that needs to be available before they can add to the cap.

 

Days of “cash to cap” are thankfully gone. 

Edited Saturday at 12:09 PM by davefan66

[khlax3]

We can free up a lot of room pretty easily:

 

Von cut or pay cut - 8 million

Allen ext. or restructure- 11 million

dawkins restructure- 9.8 million

oliver restructure- 8.7 million

 

That alone without cutting anyone frees up 36 million 

 

Restructure Knox- 6.7 million

extend groot- 9.7 million

extend McGovern- 4.7 Million

this fees up another 21 million and we still have not cut 1 person

 

there are other saving moves that could be made as well. 
 

What won’t happen is cutting Milano, Samuel, Knox. 
 

Cutting Milano reduces cap 1.5 million 

cutting Knox reduces cap 6.6 million 

cutting Samuel reduces cap 3 million 

 

Besides miller the only cuts that really save decent money are:

 

Epenesa- 3 million in savings

edwards- 4 million in savings

tribusky- 2.5 million in savings 

[Matt_In_NH]

3 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

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.

I think there is more optimsim with him because he won the swing tackle job over Vandemark who the Bills seem to really like.  Neither of these guys has enough real snaps for us to really know but the Bills staff has told us they are high on him.   Look at Christian Benford, is he a development guy?  He was a a 6th round pick who immediately popped, it happens.  Not all 6th round picks are just "development guys"

[BuffaloRebound]

1 hour ago, davefan66 said:

Fans who understand the cap understand that with one quick swoop of the pen restructuring or extending Josh opens space enough to go FA hunting or swing a trade.

 

That and addressing Bon with a few more extensions and cuts gets you the cap space they need to make moves.  Space that needs to be available before they can add to the cap.

 

Days of “cash to cap” are thankfully gone. 

I’m with you but not many fans understand the cap and even astute ones like some on this message board think the cap restricts you from signing people.  Heck even on mcafee show the other day they put up a screen showing everyone’s cap space and tried to guess what free agents were going where based on who has the most cap space.  

[SoCal Deek]

My only hope is that Beane understands the Cap because reading through all of these posts from armchair GMs makes my head hurt. 😉

[Don Otreply]

4 hours 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.

 

 

No such thing as too many quality O-Line players, it’s the backbone of the entire offense, just saying, 

[davefan66]

49 minutes ago, BuffaloRebound said:

I’m with you but not many fans understand the cap and even astute ones like some on this message board think the cap restricts you from signing people.  Heck even on mcafee show the other day they put up a screen showing everyone’s cap space and tried to guess what free agents were going where based on who has the most cap space.  

Media has to average out what teams actually do. Some stay under the cap, some go up to the cap, some are the Eagles.

 

Bills can spend whatever they want, as long as they have willing partners in FA or trades.  Just depends what they are willing to spend on keeping their own or mixing in new talent.

 

One wrinkle we have to consider this season is cost overruns on the new stadium? What bearing does that have on team spending, if any?

[BlueRed]

28 minutes ago, Don Otreply said:

No such thing as too many quality O-Line players, it’s the backbone of the entire offense, just saying, 

I actually wouldn’t mind the bills using one of their top 3 picks on an o-lineman (which I understand isn’t going to be a popular take here). 

Kromer gets the best out of his guys which is why we feel comfortable with day 3 and UDFA’s as depth - But imagine if he hand picked an early round prospect and got them to reach their potential - Scary. 

Leaning into the bills strength last year and making it even stronger might be a good way to win the offseason. 

[BuffaloBillyG]

9 minutes ago, BlueRed said:

I actually wouldn’t mind the bills using one of their top 3 picks on an o-lineman (which I understand isn’t going to be a popular take here). 

Kromer gets the best out of his guys which is why we feel comfortable with day 3 and UDFA’s as depth - But imagine if he hand picked an early round prospect and got them to reach their potential - Scary. 

Leaning into the bills strength last year and making it even stronger might be a good way to win the offseason. 

But what you're asking for has already/is in the process of happening with Torrence. He needs to finish getting him to his potential before we get him a new flashy toy.

[ColoradoBills]

5 minutes ago, BlueRed said:

I actually wouldn’t mind the bills using one of their top 3 picks on an o-lineman (which I understand isn’t going to be a popular take here). 

Kromer gets the best out of his guys which is why we feel comfortable with day 3 and UDFA’s as depth - But imagine if he hand picked an early round prospect and got them to reach their potential - Scary. 

Leaning into the bills strength last year and making it even stronger might be a good way to win the offseason. 

 

The only issue with drafting a high round OL this year is he would have to make the 53.

Right now, there would be no one to cut from the Top 9 already making the team.

It turns into a numbers game.

 

On the other hand, I would consider using a 6th on a good developmental IOL that could end up on the PS, if one is available and is

a Kromer kind of guy.  They may need another G next season.

[Pete]

59 minutes ago, Don Otreply said:

No such thing as too many quality O-Line players, it’s the backbone of the entire offense, just saying, 

We have 12 solid offensive lineman.  We only have 53 roster spots.  There is zero chance the Bills keep more than 10 OL.  What do you do with the other 2 OL?  Cut them, and gift them to an opponent?   Im guessing we trade OL between now and end of the draft.  

[BuffaloBillyG]

1 minute ago, Pete said:

We have 12 solid offensive lineman.  We only have 53 roster spots.  There is zero chance the Bills keep more than 10 OL.  What do you do with the other 2 OL?  Cut them, and gift them to an opponent?   Im guessing we trade OL between now and end of the draft.  

You take all 12 to camp. You worry about cuts or trading later in the off-season and hang onto them all in case of injury.

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

5 hours 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.

 

 

 

Sorry, but Gable's not available as I'm including him in my trade package for Miles Garrett!!  LOL

 

I do agree that Gable is too good to keep on the bench much longer, but also think the same can be said for VPG and he is a guard/center so if Edwards were to be released, he'd likely have a better shot at taking his spot.  Long term, I think he's likely McGoverns replacement, but can't be too long term as only 3 years left on his contract too now.   QB and O-line are two positions that starters play every snap barring injury and blow outs so do agree we have a glut of O-line talent that's not going to play so would be worth trading some there.

 

For similar reasons in that he is good I think he'd be someone Cleveland would value in a trade package.  I really don't want to give up 2 first rounders for anyone so would rather include players and ones that likely won't be playing in the near future barring injury. I'd offer Cleveland a package of Gable, Epenesa, Elam, & Kinkaid plus draft picks for Garrett.  Assuming they are able to reach a deal with Miller, if they have Garrett, Epinesa's not needed, Elams a throw away in the deal, Gable as agreed, doesn't have a spot to get on the field, the only potential talent the Bills are giving up would be Kinkaid and many of the brain trust here will tell you he's a bust.  Personally I do think he is talented and would do well here long term, but have to give up something of value to get a player like Garrett.

 

So I'd take those 4 players plus a 2nd round this year and a 2nd & 4th next year would be my offer.  I think a package alone including Gable and Kinkaid has more value than one 1st rounder.  Would that get it done, don't know, would potentially up this years 2nd to a 1st to get it done.  Maybe my package is too generous as I do know GM's value draft picks much more than most posters he do and NFL trades usually  involve less draft pick value than many expect.

 

So flame away!

[SoonerBillsFan]

It's gonna be one of those things where all the moves are going to be released really quickly. 

 

Odds are We are already under the cap,but the info hasn't been released.

[Low Positive]

1 minute ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

It's gonna be one of those things where all the moves are going to be released really quickly. 

 

Odds are We are already under the cap,but the info hasn't been released.

They'll get just under the cap, and then make the other moves as free-agent signings necessitate them. 

[wppete]

3 hours ago, khlax3 said:

We can free up a lot of room pretty easily:

 

Von cut or pay cut - 8 million

Allen ext. or restructure- 11 million

dawkins restructure- 9.8 million

oliver restructure- 8.7 million

 

That alone without cutting anyone frees up 36 million 

 

Restructure Knox- 6.7 million

extend groot- 9.7 million

extend McGovern- 4.7 Million

this fees up another 21 million and we still have not cut 1 person

 

there are other saving moves that could be made as well. 
 

What won’t happen is cutting Milano, Samuel, Knox. 
 

Cutting Milano reduces cap 1.5 million 

cutting Knox reduces cap 6.6 million 

cutting Samuel reduces cap 3 million 

 

Besides miller the only cuts that really save decent money are:

 

Epenesa- 3 million in savings

edwards- 4 million in savings

tribusky- 2.5 million in savings 

Nice write up! Beane has to start working in this and whatever happens he has to make a blockbuster move to improve our defense. No more excuses. 

[ColoradoBills]

27 minutes ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

You take all 12 to camp. You worry about cuts or trading later in the off-season and hang onto them all in case of injury.

 

Yes.  Also, as of now Edwards and McGovern are UFAs next season and both Anderson and Van Demark will need to be tendered as RFAs.

OTC estimates a 2026 RFA 2nd Round Tender is $5.6M.  Decisions will need to be made after this year.

Not all of them will be Bills next season.

 

The only option is if everyone is healthy going into cut down time to trade someone to a needy OL team.

There are always a few of those teams every year.

 

 

 

[MJS]

3 hours ago, khlax3 said:

We can free up a lot of room pretty easily:

 

Von cut or pay cut - 8 million

Allen ext. or restructure- 11 million

dawkins restructure- 9.8 million

oliver restructure- 8.7 million

 

That alone without cutting anyone frees up 36 million 

 

Restructure Knox- 6.7 million

extend groot- 9.7 million

extend McGovern- 4.7 Million

this fees up another 21 million and we still have not cut 1 person

 

there are other saving moves that could be made as well. 
 

What won’t happen is cutting Milano, Samuel, Knox. 
 

Cutting Milano reduces cap 1.5 million 

cutting Knox reduces cap 6.6 million 

cutting Samuel reduces cap 3 million 

 

Besides miller the only cuts that really save decent money are:

 

Epenesa- 3 million in savings

edwards- 4 million in savings

tribusky- 2.5 million in savings 

Good post. Saves me from doing the leg work. Fans worrying about the cap this year aren't aware of all the levers Beane can pull.

[balln]

3 hours ago, khlax3 said:

We can free up a lot of room pretty easily:

 

Von cut or pay cut - 8 million

Allen ext. or restructure- 11 million

dawkins restructure- 9.8 million

oliver restructure- 8.7 million

 

That alone without cutting anyone frees up 36 million 

 

Restructure Knox- 6.7 million

extend groot- 9.7 million

extend McGovern- 4.7 Million

this fees up another 21 million and we still have not cut 1 person

 

there are other saving moves that could be made as well. 
 

What won’t happen is cutting Milano, Samuel, Knox. 
 

Cutting Milano reduces cap 1.5 million 

cutting Knox reduces cap 6.6 million 

cutting Samuel reduces cap 3 million 

 

Besides miller the only cuts that really save decent money are:

 

Epenesa- 3 million in savings

edwards- 4 million in savings

tribusky- 2.5 million in savings 

Yea - normally I’d say all that is on the table with Terry. 
 

BUT he jsut sold a piece of the ownership. Has crazy over run costs w the new stadium he’s on the hook for. Asking the league for an EXCEPTION to go ABOVE the debt limit. 
 

and pay for the Sabres 

 

im not sure the cash flow is there anymore folks ….

[BillsFanForever19]

10 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

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.

 

I didn't word that as well as I'd have liked to. Apologies, I was half awake.

 

What I was trying to to get across is that, generally, what he is now is by and large the ceiling for a late 6th Round Offensive Tackle. Just as many late 6th Round OT's who make a 53 are outright cut in the first or second year. It's pretty rare that they develop into full time starters and exceedingly rare that they would become starters by Year 2.

 

My overall point was that Pete's idea that we're doing him and the team some kind of massive disservice by having him as one of our off the bench Offensive Tackles behind studs like Dawkins and Brown is a wild take to me. He's in a good spot right now for where he was Drafted.

 

7 hours ago, Pete said:

We have 12 solid offensive lineman.  We only have 53 roster spots.  There is zero chance the Bills keep more than 10 OL.  What do you do with the other 2 OL?  Cut them, and gift them to an opponent?   Im guessing we trade OL between now and end of the draft.  

 

You keep saying this and it's an overvaluation of the guys who aren't on the 53. 

 

We cut Gouraige every season. He's been made available to every team in the league since he's been here. We cut him, no one signs him, and then we have no issue bringing him back to the Practice Squad and keeping him on the Practice Squad.

 

We don't even know what Clayton is. He's a guy who has never played Football before. He's an International Pathway Program guy who's literally learning how to play the game. He's way behind most every Practice Squad lineman in the league.

 

Mike Edwards is like Richard Gouraige. An Undrafted Free Agent who we cut after Training Camp. Again, we had no problem getting back and keeping him on the Practice Squad, when he could have been poached at any time.

 

None of these 3 thus far have proven to be anyone we should be worrying about losing. Especially when the 9 we keep on the 53 and the starting OL performed so well last year. There are teams out there with better Offensive Lineman in their Practice Squad, as evidenced by OL poached from PS while Gouraige and Edwards stayed put.

 

If someone were to sign one of them, I'd say "good for them". As you said, we aren't going to keep more than 9, maybe 10 on the roster. You keep the best 9 or 10 and if anyone wants to give us something for another player, you take it. Otherwise, you cut them. Simple as that.

 

And I'd bet you dollars to donuts there's going to be other OL brought in with Late Round picks or as UDFA's that may push one or more of these guys off the team as well.

Edited Saturday at 10:03 PM by BillsFanForever19