The Buffalo Bills' path toward retaining pending free agents and improving the team for next season isn't a clear one.
OverTheCap has the Bills projected to be $51.28 million over the cap, and they have several key contributors set to hit free agency, including outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, defensive tackle DaQuan Jones and receiver Gabe Davis. While finding a way to at least re-sign those three should be a priority for a team with its sights on a Super Bowl, Sports Illustrated said the Bills should let most of their free agents walk this offseason to retain flexibility with their cap space.
"Buffalo needs to maintain flexibility down the road, and it starts with this offseason," SI writes. "While it might be tempting to retain Leonard Floyd or DaQuan Jones, the reality is Buffalo must have a soft reset in 2024, with any big moves coming in the draft with the incoming talent being cheap."
Floyd was the team's leading pass rusher with 10.5 sacks and 19 quarterback hits. Jones appeared to be on the verge of a big season before injuring his pectoral muscle, which landed him on the Injured Reserve and forced him to miss 10 games. In the seven games he played, the veteran defensive tackle had 2.5 sacks, five quarterback hits and four tackles for loss.
Age and depth will factor in the Bills' decision to potentially re-sign Floyd and Jones as well. Floyd turned 32 next season, while Jones will be 33. While Buffalo has one of the NFL's better defensive tackles in Ed Oliver to soften the blow of losing Jones, there isn't as clear of a replacement for Floyd.
Outside linebacker A.J. Epenesa was third on the team in sacks with 6.5, but he's set to hit free agency as well. Leaning on Von Miller after he didn't have a single sack last season is a lot to ask of the 34-year-old pass rusher. Gregory Rousseau has shown flashes, as he had five sacks and 18 pressures and was tied for the team lead in quarterback knockdowns (25) with Floyd.
On the other side of the ball, Davis has been a steady presence with at least 500 receiving yards and six touchdowns in his four seasons with the Bills, but the emergence of Khalil Shakir and Buffalo's cap situation can cushion the blow of him leaving in free agency more compared to losing Floyd.
Having a clean cap beyond this season would be ideal, but having that while remaining a top team in the AFC will be a steep hill to climb. Buffalo will either have to cut players who were key contributors or restructure a bevy of contracts to get under the cap this offseason. And given everything the Bills will have to do to get out of the hole financially, they might as well go all-in and not worry about potential future repercussions.
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