ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The salary cap-squeezed Buffalo Bills have to first start cutting players or restructuring contracts before they can even begin addressing their needs in free agency.
The Bills began the process by agreeing to sign linebacker Matt Milano to a two-year contract extension that saved $6 million in cap money. The team needs to shed close to $11 million in payroll in order to get under the cap once the league year begins.
And the Bills will have several needs to address with the likelihood they'll be unable to re-sign key defensive fixtures, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and safety Jordan Poyer.
BUFFALO BILLS (14-4)
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: LB Tremaine Edmunds, S Jordan Poyer, RB Devin Singletary, DL Jordan Phillips, DE Shaq Lawson, QB Case Keenum, LB Tyler Matakevich, P Sam Martin, RB Taiwan Jones, WR Cole Beasley, WR Jamison Crowder, WR Jake Kumerow, TE Tommy Sweeney, OL Bobby Hart, OL Rodger Saffold, OL David Quessenberry, OL Greg Van Rotten, LB A.J. Klein, DB Jaquan Johnson, S Dean Marlowe.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: LB Tyrel Dodson, CB Dane Jackson, DB Cam Lewis.
NEEDS: More salary cap space. The Bills have to first start cutting players or restructuring salaries before they can even begin filling their numerous needs, which will include the likelihood of having to replace long-time defensive fixtures Edmunds and Poyer. The process began Sunday, with linebacker Matt Milano agreeing to sign a two-year contract extension in a move that frees up $6 million against the cap, with additional moves yet to be made. Edmunds’ anticipated departure leaves a huge hole in the middle of Buffalo’s defense, while Poyer was part of a veteran defensive secondary that included starters Micah Hyde and Tre’Davious White. The Bills could use more experienced depth at receiver after Gabe Davis failed to establish himself at the No. 2 role opposite Stefon Diggs. Both lines are once again in transition, though Saffold and Phillips expressed interest in returning under relatively modest contracts.
AVAILABLE SALARY CAP SPACE (approximately): $11 million over the cap.