Buffalo Bills wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie (6) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Trade deadline addition headlines potential cuts by Bills

By Andrew Marshall | Last updated 2/10/23

The Bills are roughly $20 million above the cap, per Spotrac, and must make cuts or re-do contracts. Here's who could be jettisoned:

Isaiah McKenzie, WR

Buffalo would save $2,617,647 if it cuts McKenzie, per OverTheCap.com. He had 42 receptions for 423 yards and four touchdowns in 2022. He's also a gadget player and had nine rushing attempts for 55 yards and one touchdown.

McKenzie saw his highest usage of his career in 2022, and his production and modest cap hit don't make him an obvious cut. But the Bills have a potentially cheaper replacement in receiver Khalil Shakir.

Shakir, a fifth-round pick out of Boise State in 2022, had 10 catches for 161 yards and one receiving touchdown in his rookie season.

Khalil Shakir had himself a day. #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/j0i2SLYItD
— Aaron Quinn (@AaronQuinn716) October 10, 2022

Nyheim Hines, RB/Returner

This one is probably surprising. Hines played well after Buffalo acquired him midseason via trade, scoring on two kickoff returns against the Patriots in Week 18.

Make that two kickoff TDs for Nyheim Hines. Absolute insanity pic.twitter.com/wiVgLkBAiA
— JPA (@jasrifootball) January 8, 2023

But James Cook played better late in the season after early struggles, finishing with 507 rushing yards on 5.7 yards per carry.

Hines' value was primarily in the return game. He played just 66 offensive snaps after coming over from the Colts. As a Bill, he had six carries for minus-3 yards and five receptions for 53 yards and one receiving touchdown.

Hines is slated to make $4,790,000 in 2023, but he has no guaranteed money. Buffalo could easily find a cheaper replacement via the draft. Contenders who need a receiving back with return value might be interested in trading a late-round draft pick for Hines.

KeeSean Johnson, WR

In 2019 and 2020, Johnson had 36 catches for 360 receiving yards and one touchdown with the Cardinals. But he hasn't had a catch since and has bounced around between teams and practice squads.

Johnson has 4.6 speed in the 40-yard dash, below the desired benchmark for receivers.

Buffalo would save $940,000 against the cap by dumping him and could easily find a replacement late in the draft.

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