Bills $16 Million ‘Indispensable’ Starter Expected to Exit
The Buffalo Bills will still be vying for the Super Bowl in 2024, but they will appear very different in the upcoming campaign.
The Bills are around $51 million over the salary cap limit, per OverTheCap.com. There isn’t much wiggle room, even though Bills general manager Brandon Beane can almost cut that number in half with a straightforward deal restructuring for quarterback Josh Allen.
Leonard Floyd, a defensive end, is regarded as the best possibility to join the market out of the team’s 22 prospective free agents. In the previous offseason, Buffalo signed the linebacker to a one-year, $7 million contract, considering him a steal. Floyd is expected to sign a two-year, $16.2 million contract this year.
Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic stated, “The Floyd signing produced a team leader in sacks this season with 10.5 and an every-week starter. Floyd, who is 31 years old, was one of the defense’s key players from the start and teamed with Greg Rousseau as the team’s best two pass rushers.
However, Floyd did slow down towards the conclusion of the season; in his final seven games, he had just one sack. In any case, Floyd’s length and pass-rushing knowledge make him a potentially significant factor. He declared his intention to play for a Super Bowl contender and that he would follow the money.
Floyd expressed his desire for the bag quite bluntly following the premature conclusion of the Bills’ postseason run. Sal Maiorana of the Democrat & Chronicle reported that Floyd stated, “For me, I’m always going where the money goes.” “It’s unfortunate, but I would prefer to remain here. It’s an enterprise. I’m going to travel where my agency thinks we can make the most money. That also won’t originate in Buffalo.
In Addition to Leonard Floyd, Buffalo Is Predicted to Lose A.J. Epenesa in Free Agency
The Bills are expected to lose more defensive ends this summer than Floyd. A.J. Epenesa, the Bills’ second-round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, is ranked by Buscaglia as the team’s third-best pending free agent. Epenesa is also anticipated to exercise his right to free agency due to financial limitations and his failure to meet expectations.
Epenesa is expected to sign a $11.2 million, two-year contract. For a player that is used little, that is a high number.
Epenesa has a fantastic combination of speed and strength that makes him unblockable in certain situations, but his game is still a little inconsistent, according to Buscaglia. Nevertheless, Epenesa, who is only a part-time player, enters his 26th season with 13 sacks from the previous two seasons, giving him the kind of profile that teams look for in free agency. He may receive a larger contract than what some people anticipate.
The Bills Desperately Need Von Miller to Return to Form Next Season
Bills edge rusher Von Miller at Arrowhead Stadium on December 10, 2023.
The $120 million contract for Von Miller is a major contributor to the Bills’ financial difficulties. Despite his season-long recuperation from an ACL tear, the 34-year-old never quite reached All-Pro status. He totaled 5 tackles and 0 sacks in 14 games, including the postseason.
The Bills won’t be able to let Miller go until 2025, despite the dismal numbers.Mark Gaughan of The Buffalo News stated, “The Bills would be forced to pay $32 million in dead money if they had to release him this spring, which is an outrageous amount.” It would cost them $17 million this year and $15.4 million in 2024 if they spread that out over two years. That makes him more affordable by $6 million than if he plays for the team this season.
Epenesa and Floyd are both expected to depart, so Buffalo needs Miller—who turns 35 next month—to perform like the potential Hall of Famer that he is. “It will be difficult to find anyone with a higher upside than Miller,” Gaughan predicted. “At a realistic cost in free agency or the draft.” Emily Bicks is an NFL reporter for Heavy.com that focuses on the Bills, Seahawks, and Chiefs. She has been with Heavy since 2019 and has conducted interviews with some of the biggest names in sports, such as Jerry Rice, Shaquille O’Neal, and Stefon Diggs. Read more about Emily Bicks.