The Buffalo Bills have made some tough decisions to free up salary cap space ahead of the free agency period. The team announced on Wednesday that it has released five players, including safety Jordan Poyer and center Mitch Morse, who have been key contributors to the Bills’ success in recent years.
Poyer’s legacy in Buffalo
Jordan Poyer joined the Bills in 2017 and quickly established himself as one of the best safeties in the league. Along with Micah Hyde, he formed a formidable duo in the secondary that helped the Bills end their 17-year playoff drought and win four consecutive AFC East titles. Poyer was a team captain for four seasons and earned First Team All-Pro honors in 2021. He ranks 10th in franchise history with 22 interceptions and holds the record for the most tackles for a loss by a defensive back with 35. He also recorded 682 tackles, 48 pass breakups and 11 sacks in his seven-year stint with the Bills.
Poyer played through injuries for most of the 2022 season, but still managed to produce four interceptions, a forced fumble and eight passes defended. He showed his dedication to the team by taking a 15-hour van ride from Buffalo to Kansas City for a Week 6 game after a rib injury prevented him from flying. He played 100% of the defensive snaps and helped the Bills win 24-20. Poyer signed a two-year extension with the Bills before the 2023 season, but his $9.5 million cap hit for 2024 proved to be too costly for the team.
Morse’s impact on the offensive line
Mitch Morse was another key addition to the Bills in 2019, when he signed a four-year, $44.5 million contract that made him the highest-paid center in the NFL at the time. Morse brought stability and leadership to the offensive line, as well as a strong rapport with quarterback Josh Allen. He started 45 games for the Bills and was part of an offense that ranked among the best in the league in passing yards, points and touchdowns. Morse also helped the Bills improve their running game, especially in 2023, when the team averaged 4.6 yards per carry and scored 19 rushing touchdowns.
Morse dealt with some concussion issues during his time with the Bills, missing five games in 2020 and one game in 2021. He also suffered a hand injury in the 2023 season finale that kept him out of the playoffs. Morse had a $10.3 million cap hit for 2024, which was too high for the Bills to afford.
Neal, Harty and Hines also released
The Bills also parted ways with three other players who had smaller roles on the team. Defensive back Siran Neal was a versatile player who could line up at cornerback, safety or linebacker. He was also a core special teams player who led the team in special teams tackles in 2020 and 2021. He played in 63 games for the Bills since 2018 and had one interception, two forced fumbles and three sacks.
Wide receiver Deonte Harty was a speedy and elusive playmaker who joined the Bills in 2020 as an undrafted free agent. He made the roster as a return specialist and also saw some snaps on offense. He averaged 23.8 yards per kickoff return and 9.5 yards per punt return in his two seasons with the Bills. He also caught 12 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown.
Running back Nyheim Hines was a late-season addition to the Bills in 2023, when he was claimed off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts. He played in four games for the Bills and rushed for 88 yards on 18 carries. He also caught four passes for 32 yards. He was expected to compete for a backup role behind Devin Singletary and Zack Moss in 2024.
Bills’ cap situation and future moves
The Bills made these moves to create more cap space for the upcoming free agency period, which begins on March 14. According to Over The Cap, the Bills were $9.8 million over the projected cap of $208.2 million before releasing these five players. By cutting them, the Bills saved $28.8 million in cap space, but also incurred $10.8 million in dead money. The Bills now have about $8.2 million in cap space, which is still not enough to make any significant signings or re-sign their own free agents.
The Bills have 18 players who are set to become unrestricted free agents, including linebacker Matt Milano, defensive end Jerry Hughes, cornerback Levi Wallace and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders. The Bills may have to make more cuts or restructure some contracts to keep some of their key players or add new ones. The Bills may also look to the draft to fill some of their needs, such as edge rusher, cornerback and offensive line.
The Bills are coming off a disappointing 2023 season, in which they finished 10-7 and lost in the wild card round to the Miami Dolphins. The Bills are hoping to bounce back in 2024 and contend for the Super Bowl, but they will have to do so with a different roster and a tighter budget.
