The Buffalo Bills had an impressive season, winning 13 games, earning the No. 2 seed, and advancing to the AFC Championship Game. Unfortunately for Josh Allen and Co., they once again ran into Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the postseason.
The Bills lost to the Chiefs, 32-29, and will now shift their attention to the offseason. Teams have until March 4 at 4 p.m. ET to designate franchise-tag or transition-tag players, and then the NFL‘s free-agency period gets underway on March 10 at noon ET. With free agency right around the corner, let’s examine the Bills’ pending free agents.
Buffalo Bills’ 2025 Free Agents
- WR Amari Cooper
- CB Rasul Douglas
- S Damar Hamlin
- WR Mack Hollins
- RB Ty Johnson
- EDGE Dawuane Smoot
- RG Alec Anderson (ERFA)
- IDL Austin Johnson
- IDL Jordan Phillips
- LS Reid Ferguson
- FB Reggie Gilliam
- IDL Quinton Jefferson
- TE Quintin Morris (RFA)
- QB Shane Buechele (RFA)
- LT Ryan Van Demark (ERFA)
- LT Tommy Doyle
Bills’ Cap Space and Potential Cut Candidates
The Bills will have some tough decisions to make this offseason. They are effectively $10 million over the salary cap when you project out, and they are currently set to have only 47 players under contract. There is quite a lot they can do in terms of restructures and extensions, but they may also look to clear some cap space with cuts.
Von Miller is naturally going to be someone they consider cutting. His contract has been ugly for them since they signed it, and he still has more than $60 million in cash owed over the next three years. That starts with a $17.1 million salary in 2025, which comes with a $23.8 million overall cap number.
In 2024, Miller only played 25% of the snaps despite being active for 13 games. He did finish the season with 16 pressures and six sacks, but they came at a high price tag. The cost-to-production ratio does not add up. The Bills could designate him a post-June 1 cut, which would save them $17.4 million in 2025, but they would not feel the benefit of that until that June 1 date passes.
Additionally, the Bills could consider some other post-June 1 cuts, but they can only designate two. Dawson Knox’s role diminished with the emergence of Dalton Kincaid, but he has a $14.6 million cap number in 2025.
Meanwhile, Matt Milano has a $15.8 million cap number in 2025 and has only played nine games in the last two years due to injury.
Here’s a look at each of Buffalo’s cut candidates and how much money they would save:
- Von Miller, LB
2025 Cap: $23.8 million
Cap Saving: $8.4 million (pre-June 1), or
$17.4 million (post-June 1) - Dawson Knox, TE
2025 Cap: $14.6 million
Cap Saving: -$2.4 million (pre-June-1), or
$5.0 million (post-June-1) - DaQuan Jones, DT
2025 Cap: $9.4 million
Cap Saving: $1.8 million (pre-June-1)
$5.5 million (post-June-1) - A.J. Epenesa, EDGE
2025 Cap: $7.5 million
Cap Saving: $3.3 million (pre-June-1)
$6.2 million (post-June-1) - Matt Milano, LB
2025 Cap: $15.8 million
Cap Saving: -$1.4 million (pre-June-1)
$9.6 million (post-June-1)