Given their tight cap situation, the Bills will face a number of challenges this offseason with respect to roster moves.
In the case of edge rusher Von Miller, a release or trade would carry significant financial implications. Neither route appears to be in the team’s plans, however.
When speaking to the media about the Bills’ outlook, head coach Sean McDermott made repeated references, via The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia, to next season as it pertained to Miller remaining in Buffalo.
In spite of a forgettable 2023 campaign, therefore, the former Super Bowl MVP is likely on track for a third Bills campaign. Four years remain on Miller’s contract, and guarantees exist for 2024.
Miller is owed $17.5M in each of the next two seasons, and his pact calls for $6.44M in guaranteed compensation for the ’24 campaign. For that reason, designating him a post-June 1 cut would be necessary to avoid negative cap savings.
A trade before that date would create a dead cap charge of nearly $22M and only $2M in savings. No guaranteed money is in place beyond 2024, though, so next season will be imperative as Miller looks to rebound from a disappointing second campaign in Buffalo.
The 34-year-old posted zero sacks and only three QB hits in 12 games in 2023, finding himself a healthy scratch at one point late in the regular season. He was also held without a sack in the Bills’ two playoff games, a far cry from his production in 2022.
Of course, Miller began the campaign late as he recovered from an ACL tear, and he will aim to be in a better health situation in time for Week 1 of the 2024 season.
Wideout Stefon Diggs has also been the subject of recent speculation, though the Bills have made it clear he remains a central part of their plans moving forward.
In Miller’s case, McDermott’s stance points to at least short-term continuity. Gregory Rousseau still has term on his rookie contract, but fellow edge rushers A.J. Epenesa, Leonard Floyd and Shaq Lawson are each pending free agents.
As such, Buffalo could see considerable turnover at the position in the near future, and heavy losses could see Miller receive a higher workload than the 32% snap share he saw in 2023.
At a minimum, he should be expected to log a rotational role in a bounce-back bid with the Bills.
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