Buffalo Bills Purge $37 Million in Salary

Article ByKyle Garlett

March 7, 2024

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Posted in: US Sports Betting News, US Gambling News

After multiple near-misses in the playoffs that have seen the Buffalo Bills fall just short of making the Super Bowl, the Bills were busy on Wednesday, remaking their roster and clearing cap space.

Safety Jordan Poyer was released, saving the team $5.7 million against the cap in 2024. Poyer was a seventh-round draft pick in 2013 of the Philadelphia Eagles, but his best years were all in Buffalo. Poyer was First-Team All-Pro in 2021, a Pro Bowler in 2022, and in his first five years, he had two interceptions. But in his seven seasons with the Bills, he had 22.

Also leaving the Bills is former Pro Bowl cornerback Tre’Davious White. He was drafted in 2017 with one of the picks they received from the Kansas City Chiefs in the trade for Patrick Mahomes. White was twice a Pro Bowler for the Bills, and in 2019, he was First-Team All-Pro. Injuries have gotten the better of White in recent years, and he’s played just 10 games over the last two seasons.

White will be released with a June 1 designation, giving the Bills $10.2 million in cap relief when that happens.

Mitch Morse was the center in Buffalo for the last five years, making the Pro Bowl in 2022. He has also been released, saving the team $8.5 million. The Bills will incur a $3 million dead cap hit on Morse for 2024.

Also released by the Bills were wide receiver and former All-Pro punt returner Deonte Harty, defensive back Siran Neal, and running back Nyheim Hines, which saves the team $4.6 million for 2024.

Contracts were also reworked for cornerback Rasul Douglas and pass rusher Von Miller, giving the Bills a combined $11.14 million in savings.

New York online sportsbooks have the Bills as +130 favorites to win their sixth straight AFC East title.

Zach Ertz Goes to D.C.

After getting a shoutout during the tear-filled retirement press conference by former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, former Eagles tight end Zach Ertz has signed with the division rival Washington Commanders.

Ertz played for the Eagles from 2013 to 2021, winning a Super Bowl and making three Pro Bowls as an Eagle. He was traded to the Arizona Cardinals during the 2021 season, and spent two years there.

The move to Washington reunites Ertz with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who was his head coach in Arizona.

Washington has the No. 2 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, and D.C. online sportsbooks have the Commanders as the favorites to draft Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Dak Prescott and Cowboys Not Talking Extension

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is in the final year of his current contract, and his cap hit in 2024 is a mammoth $59.4 million. He has an incentive to sign a new deal, and the Cowboys have an incentive to sign him to a new deal that will bring that cap hit down.

According to reports, the two sides have not engaged in any negotiations. At the NFL Scouting Combine last week, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said that the Cowboys were going “all-in” for 2024 and “not building for the future,” and that Prescott could play better in 2024.

It’s possible that the Cowboys have Prescott play out his contract and not sign a new deal, since they also have future contracts due with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and linebacker Micah Parsons.

The Cowboys are letting running back Tony Pollard hit free agency, and NFL online sportsbooks have Dallas as the second betting favorite to draft former Michigan running back Blake Corum.